Holidays (Satanic Influence and Origin)
"Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them."  (Jeremiah 10:2)

Tisha B'Av, Lent (Tammuz) / Ash Wednesday / Mardi Gras / Shrove Tuesday / Fat Tuesday / Quinquagesima Sunday:

Ezekiel 8:13-15 speaks of weeping for Tammuz (Satan). This appears to still being done today at least two different ways. "Christians" weep for Tammuz by celebrating "Lent" / "Ash Wednesday" (same event, different name, different date), many "Hebrews" weep on "Tisha B'Av" (same name [the month is named after him], same date [if you look up the time Tammuz was weeped for, it is the same time the holiday "Tisha B'Av" is weeped for).

In the month of Tammuz, a solstitial feast is held in this false deity's honor.  (This holiday [Tammuz] is claimed by those that should be following the one True God as a time "to commemorate many calamities"...). 
Ash Wednesday / Mardi Gras / Shrove Tuesday / Fat Tuesday is purportedly a period some have set aside for repentance and "remission of sin", however there appears to be much drunkenness and reveling.
Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.


[Saint] Valentine's Day:

Saint Valentine's Day allegedly commemorates the martyrdom of St. Valentine, but due to it’s true satanic origin, coincides with the pagan fertility rite Lupercalia (festival of sexual license).  Romans practiced this fertility rite to the false god Lupercus.  Cupid, a symbol of love used on this day, is the false god of love and also known as the son of Venus, a false goddess. (God is love, not Cupid...).

Does your walk with the Lord include partaking in the pagan custom of setting set aside time on February 14th in honor of Lupercia, the false goddess of flocks and fertility?

Hallowe'en / Samhain / Jack-o'-lanterns:

Head of Protection - Jack-o'-lanterns: "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image"

The most famous head of protection was that of the Celtic god, Bran the Blessed. (Bran Fendigaid [the Blessed] was the son of the Sea god). In battle the Celtic warriors would take the heads from their enemies and mount them on top of poles to guard their villages and encampments. For them, the head was not only seen as the center of learning, but also as the seat of the immortal soul, and therefore a repository for all knowledge.

Jack-o'-lanterns were designed to frighten away evil spirits who were following deceased loved ones and blocking their way into the Land of the Dead, and also to protect the living.

(See also http://www.britannia.com/celtic/gods/bran.html
or
 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6299249/)

Exodus 20:4-5 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

Selling idols (pumpkins for conversion to jack-o'-lanterns) and using the proceeds to fund youth missions [programs] and/or using the proceeds to build homes for the needy are not righteous actions.  There is nothing innocent in symbolically appeasing spirits [of the dead].
Habakkuk 2:12   Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!


Christmas (commemoration of Winter Solstice) and Easter (Eostre / Ostare [commemoration of Vernal Equinox]):

Many ask, how can a Christian not celebrate Christmas and Easter?  For some this inaction is puzzling and even considered sacrilegious [by man], since these days are considered [by man] as two of the most holy days.  The reign of God's approval, power and glory not accomplished through commemoration of the Lord’s birth and commemoration of His resurrection from the dead.
Romans 14:17   For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

A person can do the right thing (such as recognizing the Lord's sacrifice) at the wrong time, at the wrong place, the wrong way and for the wrong reason.  The recognition of these "holidays" is not spiritual growth, not based on faith, and is not a "fruit of the Spirit".   These holidays are full of myths (falsehoods and half-truths [e.g., reindeer, easter bunny, etc.]).
Ephesians 5:8-10  For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Romans 14:23b (Weymouth New Testament)  for all conduct not based on faith is sinful.

These holidays are customarily carried out with idolatrous symbolisms (which is not goodness and righteousness).  These representations are based on nature (honoring the nature goddess), sun worship and regeneration (transformation of false gods).  Wreaths, mistletoe, et al., are in the likeness and symbolism of the false "fertility and nature goddess" and her associate.    Example:  The mythology of elves advocates that they have magical powers, etc.  (See 1 Timothy 1:3-5 &1 Timothy 4:7).
1 Timothy 4:7   But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

Spiritual growth is based on faith (faith is realized when accompanied with obedience [actions of obedience being an evidence / confirmation]).  Spiritual growth is not based on self-will and confusion (the weak will be perplexed and ask, are idols okay or not?). 

Deuteronomy 5:8  Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:

1 Samuel 15:22 (NLT) But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. Listening to him is much better than offering the fat of rams.

Many need to ascertain and see whether they believe 1 Samuel 15:22 or not.

1 Kings 18:21   And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
John 4:23   But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

If one wants to be pious and reverence the Lord on His birthday, consider taking notice of Pentecost, the anniversary of the birth of the New Testament Church (See Acts 2:1-4), the Body of Christ.  Furthermore, if one wants to be devout and commemorate the Son of Man's death, consider Passover.


[Feast Day of] Our Lady of Guadalupe / Virgen de Guadalupe:

Obviously, this "messenger" delivers a different gospel than the good news taught and practiced by the first Apostles and Jesus Christ, the Messiah...

e.g., rosary and purgatory are not teachings of Jesus and the Apostles, but rather spoken by an "angel of light" (See 2 Corinthians 11:14).

Galatians 1:8 (NLT) Let God's curse fall on anyone, including myself, who preaches any other message than the one we told you about. Even if an angel comes from heaven and preaches any other message, let him be forever cursed.


revised:  03/01/06

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