Paganism
Paganism is a broad term given by early Christians to any faith that lies outside of Islam, Christianity, or Judaism, which are considered to be the three Abrahamic religions. Pagan worship is typically centered on nature, but is also applied to astronomy with the use of the zodiac calendar which tracks and marks the sun’s and star’s movements. While this typically applies to a pantheistic, polytheistic, or animistic view of worship, it can also include monotheism and all its followers are still referred to as heathen, pagans, or Hellenes as a slur or slight. Therefore, by this broad definition, this term would apply to all religions except the three most prominent.
This concept of paganism applies to ANYTHING that is forbidden and is offense to Elohim (gods, or heavenly family) of the Hebrew Torah/Tanak, which include, but are not limited to; idolatry- exalting people above all others for worship, the use of idols to worship and even using the stars or astrological events to worship or praise other Elohim; blaspheme- profaning or making the name of the creator YHWH come to naught by forgetting it or changing it altogether; forgetting the set-apart days and feasts- honoring or keeping the celebrations or the feast days of other Elohim while ignoring the ones designated by YHWH Elohim. While each of the three Abrahamic religions accuse and label all other religions as pagan, they themselves are heavily steeped in sun worship, the use of idols for the purpose of worship, and the use of astrological events to worship like aligning all of their holidays (Holy-days) with the celebrations of the zodiac. The Hypocrisy of organized religion knows little bounds and exerts its control over the world’s perspectives and understanding. Thousands of years ago Semiramis, the wife/mother of Nimrod convinced many people to worship herself and her son/husband as strange Elohim (other gods) and by partaking in any of the traditions associated with Christmas, Easter or Lent specifically, many of us still worship them today (see origin of religion).
Paganism is a broad term given by early Christians to any faith that lies outside of Islam, Christianity, or Judaism, which are considered to be the three Abrahamic religions. Pagan worship is typically centered on nature, but is also applied to astronomy with the use of the zodiac calendar which tracks and marks the sun’s and star’s movements. While this typically applies to a pantheistic, polytheistic, or animistic view of worship, it can also include monotheism and all its followers are still referred to as heathen, pagans, or Hellenes as a slur or slight. Therefore, by this broad definition, this term would apply to all religions except the three most prominent.
This concept of paganism applies to ANYTHING that is forbidden and is offense to Elohim (gods, or heavenly family) of the Hebrew Torah/Tanak, which include, but are not limited to; idolatry- exalting people above all others for worship, the use of idols to worship and even using the stars or astrological events to worship or praise other Elohim; blaspheme- profaning or making the name of the creator YHWH come to naught by forgetting it or changing it altogether; forgetting the set-apart days and feasts- honoring or keeping the celebrations or the feast days of other Elohim while ignoring the ones designated by YHWH Elohim. While each of the three Abrahamic religions accuse and label all other religions as pagan, they themselves are heavily steeped in sun worship, the use of idols for the purpose of worship, and the use of astrological events to worship like aligning all of their holidays (Holy-days) with the celebrations of the zodiac. The Hypocrisy of organized religion knows little bounds and exerts its control over the world’s perspectives and understanding. Thousands of years ago Semiramis, the wife/mother of Nimrod convinced many people to worship herself and her son/husband as strange Elohim (other gods) and by partaking in any of the traditions associated with Christmas, Easter or Lent specifically, many of us still worship them today (see origin of religion).
Christmas
A huge misconception, by design, has the vast majority of society believing Christmas is the common way to describe Christ’s Mass and is a remembrance of his birth. The date of December 25th is remembered as the birth of Jesus Christ, but the tree, yule log, candles and gifts do not immediately appear to have any connection to the Mashiach (Messiah) because they don’t. These traditions existed long before the Mashiach and YHWH Elohim warned about following them among others as documented in the Book of Yirmeyahu (Jerimiah) 10:1-4 “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, though the nations are terrified by them. For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. 4 They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter."
A huge misconception, by design, has the vast majority of society believing Christmas is the common way to describe Christ’s Mass and is a remembrance of his birth. The date of December 25th is remembered as the birth of Jesus Christ, but the tree, yule log, candles and gifts do not immediately appear to have any connection to the Mashiach (Messiah) because they don’t. These traditions existed long before the Mashiach and YHWH Elohim warned about following them among others as documented in the Book of Yirmeyahu (Jerimiah) 10:1-4 “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, though the nations are terrified by them. For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. 4 They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter."
The Traditions of Christmas
The use of trees, candles, yule logs, and even the exchange of gifts are all traditions of men that have nothing to do with the Mashiach or his birth, but they do have deep origins in the occult and paganism.
THE TREE
The myriad of traditions associated with Christmas are steeped in occult and mystery origins. The most prolific symbol of this holiday is the Christmas tree. While some can agree to its phallic nature, the tree actually symbolizes the resurrection of Nimrod and has always been celebrated during the winter solstice, thousands of years before the Mashiach (Messiah). In Ancient Sumer, Queen Semiramis told her subjects that a full-grown evergreen tree spawned in the place of a dead stump, which symbolized Nimrod’s resurrection or rebirth through a tree. The Mistrians (Egyptians) saw evergreens as a symbol of life over death and used green date palm leaves, which they brought into their dwellings, during the winter solstice observance. The Romans utilized many practices during Saturnalia including; mistletoe which men were given free rein to rape any woman who crossed under where they hung; the burning of a yule log, which paid homage to the sun god.
THE YULE
The term Yule is the modern English pronunciation of the Old English words ġéol or ġéohol and ġéola or ġéoli, all are symbolic of the 12-day festival or month of "Yule" which was later termed "Christmastide" by the Greeks. In Britannia and the regions north of Greece, the Yule log was viewed as a magical amulet which eventually became a tool of Father Christmas. This festival spread across all of Europe and then onto the Grecian dominated lands. In Italy the Yule log is currently burned for the "Festa di Ceppo". In Catalonia, the log is “wrapped” in a blanket until Christmas Eve, when it's “opened” and burned to observe the tradition of "fer cagar el tio". As far as Serbia, families still bring the Yule log or "badnjak" into their homes on Christmas Eve to be burned along with prayers to their "god" for prosperity and happiness.
THE MISTLETOE
The origins of the mistletoe is found in Britannia, used by Druid priests who also used evergreen plants in concert with mistletoe for their pagan ceremonies, with the mistletoe being the symbol for the birth one of their "gods." The Celtic Druids and Norseman of the Scandinavian region also used mistletoe in one of their mystery ceremonies at the end of the winter solstice.
The use of trees, candles, yule logs, and even the exchange of gifts are all traditions of men that have nothing to do with the Mashiach or his birth, but they do have deep origins in the occult and paganism.
THE TREE
The myriad of traditions associated with Christmas are steeped in occult and mystery origins. The most prolific symbol of this holiday is the Christmas tree. While some can agree to its phallic nature, the tree actually symbolizes the resurrection of Nimrod and has always been celebrated during the winter solstice, thousands of years before the Mashiach (Messiah). In Ancient Sumer, Queen Semiramis told her subjects that a full-grown evergreen tree spawned in the place of a dead stump, which symbolized Nimrod’s resurrection or rebirth through a tree. The Mistrians (Egyptians) saw evergreens as a symbol of life over death and used green date palm leaves, which they brought into their dwellings, during the winter solstice observance. The Romans utilized many practices during Saturnalia including; mistletoe which men were given free rein to rape any woman who crossed under where they hung; the burning of a yule log, which paid homage to the sun god.
THE YULE
The term Yule is the modern English pronunciation of the Old English words ġéol or ġéohol and ġéola or ġéoli, all are symbolic of the 12-day festival or month of "Yule" which was later termed "Christmastide" by the Greeks. In Britannia and the regions north of Greece, the Yule log was viewed as a magical amulet which eventually became a tool of Father Christmas. This festival spread across all of Europe and then onto the Grecian dominated lands. In Italy the Yule log is currently burned for the "Festa di Ceppo". In Catalonia, the log is “wrapped” in a blanket until Christmas Eve, when it's “opened” and burned to observe the tradition of "fer cagar el tio". As far as Serbia, families still bring the Yule log or "badnjak" into their homes on Christmas Eve to be burned along with prayers to their "god" for prosperity and happiness.
THE MISTLETOE
The origins of the mistletoe is found in Britannia, used by Druid priests who also used evergreen plants in concert with mistletoe for their pagan ceremonies, with the mistletoe being the symbol for the birth one of their "gods." The Celtic Druids and Norseman of the Scandinavian region also used mistletoe in one of their mystery ceremonies at the end of the winter solstice.
The use of December 25th for Christmas
December 25th is winter’s solstice and symbolizes death due to the sun being visible for the least amount of time on this day. The beginning of winter (death) and end of life (spring) was kept in ancient times to ensure the proper times to plant crops and track the seasons. In Ancient Sumer this day was representative of the birth of Tammuz/Nimrod (Ba’al/Bel the sun god). The Mistrians (Egyptians) considered it to be the birthday of Horus/Osiris and later Ra (god of the sun). The Greeks celebrated this for numerous deities, but the fashion in which they celebrated it is what was grafted onto the Messianic Faith with many of its customs and traditions still visible today.
This date was used in Rome initially to represent the holiday of Saturnalia, which was a festival that lasted for a week in where law and order was suspended and chaos was celebrated in the period of December 17th-25th. The courts were closed, and the Roman law decreed that no one would or could be punished for infractions of the law even destruction of property or the injuring of individuals during the celebration. At the onset of this festival, the Roman authorities would choose someone whom would be considered “an enemy of the Roman people” and one from each Roman community would put forth a victim that they would force to partake in any physical punishments they indulged themselves with during the week. Once concluded on December 25th, the Roman authorities would authorize the death of this man or woman believing they were destroying evil.
An ancient Greek author, poet and historian Lucian describes in his dialogue entitled Saturnalia the festival’s practices during his life: “In addition to human sacrifice, he mentions these customs: widespread intoxication; going from house to house while singing naked; rape and other sexual license; and consuming human-shaped biscuits (still presented as gingerbread men in some English and most German bakeries during the Christmas season).” The earliest forms of the newly christened Christmas was celebrated by drinking, sexual indulgence and singing naked in the streets (a precursor to modern carolling).
The very first mention of a Nativity feast appears in the Philocalian calendar, which is a Roman document from 354 CE and it recognizes December 25th as the day of Iesus’ (Jesus) birth. During the 4th century CE in the era of Constantine I, Christianity super-imposed the rituals of the Saturnalia festival over the new state-established religion of Christianity in an attempt to unify the pagan masses with those of the Messianic faith (see Christianity). These Christian leaders used torture, intimidation and murder in order convert the largely pagan Roman society into Christians by allowing them to continue to celebrate the Saturnalia as they had always done, but now as Christians. The only issue was that there was no connection between this new Christian (renaming of Messianic) faith and the Saturnalia festival, so they simply labeled the winter solstice as the birthday of Iesus on December 25th, the same as many of the other pagan deities.
December 25th is winter’s solstice and symbolizes death due to the sun being visible for the least amount of time on this day. The beginning of winter (death) and end of life (spring) was kept in ancient times to ensure the proper times to plant crops and track the seasons. In Ancient Sumer this day was representative of the birth of Tammuz/Nimrod (Ba’al/Bel the sun god). The Mistrians (Egyptians) considered it to be the birthday of Horus/Osiris and later Ra (god of the sun). The Greeks celebrated this for numerous deities, but the fashion in which they celebrated it is what was grafted onto the Messianic Faith with many of its customs and traditions still visible today.
This date was used in Rome initially to represent the holiday of Saturnalia, which was a festival that lasted for a week in where law and order was suspended and chaos was celebrated in the period of December 17th-25th. The courts were closed, and the Roman law decreed that no one would or could be punished for infractions of the law even destruction of property or the injuring of individuals during the celebration. At the onset of this festival, the Roman authorities would choose someone whom would be considered “an enemy of the Roman people” and one from each Roman community would put forth a victim that they would force to partake in any physical punishments they indulged themselves with during the week. Once concluded on December 25th, the Roman authorities would authorize the death of this man or woman believing they were destroying evil.
An ancient Greek author, poet and historian Lucian describes in his dialogue entitled Saturnalia the festival’s practices during his life: “In addition to human sacrifice, he mentions these customs: widespread intoxication; going from house to house while singing naked; rape and other sexual license; and consuming human-shaped biscuits (still presented as gingerbread men in some English and most German bakeries during the Christmas season).” The earliest forms of the newly christened Christmas was celebrated by drinking, sexual indulgence and singing naked in the streets (a precursor to modern carolling).
The very first mention of a Nativity feast appears in the Philocalian calendar, which is a Roman document from 354 CE and it recognizes December 25th as the day of Iesus’ (Jesus) birth. During the 4th century CE in the era of Constantine I, Christianity super-imposed the rituals of the Saturnalia festival over the new state-established religion of Christianity in an attempt to unify the pagan masses with those of the Messianic faith (see Christianity). These Christian leaders used torture, intimidation and murder in order convert the largely pagan Roman society into Christians by allowing them to continue to celebrate the Saturnalia as they had always done, but now as Christians. The only issue was that there was no connection between this new Christian (renaming of Messianic) faith and the Saturnalia festival, so they simply labeled the winter solstice as the birthday of Iesus on December 25th, the same as many of the other pagan deities.
Easter
This holiday has been grafted onto the Hebraic faith on an annual basis during the spring equinox, the vast majority of the mainstream Christian world celebrates this holiday as "Easter." Many assume that this holiday originated with the commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but as the information provided here will demonstrate, this spring tradition recognized by man is much older and far less 'holy' than one would imagine. There are many scholarly sources as well as recorded history found in antiquity that expose the real origins of the spring festival of Ishtar (Easter) and how it became a 'Christianized' pagan holiday.
This holiday, like most non-scriptural holidays, are old satanic traditions and customs that were passed off as orthodox Christianity by the early Holy Roman Catholic Church (HRCC). The term “Easter” was not derived from the Messianic Faith, but is rather another term for Semiramis (Ishtar, Asheroth or Astarte). This Chaldean worship system centers on this goddess, the queen of heaven and almost every from of religion can be traced directly back to her practices (see origin of religion). The festival of Pesach (Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread) is a remembrance of the Hebrew feast ordered by YHWH Elohim to keep for all time as seen in the Book of Shemoth (Exodus) 12:14 “And this day shall become to you a remembrance. And you shall celebrate it as a festival to YHWH throughout your generations — celebrate it as a festival, an everlasting law.” There was a clear distinction between the Hebrew festival of Pesach and the pagan festival of Easter, but when it was introduced into the apostate Western religion, it was acclimated to the already existing pagan holiday in order to adapt the heavily pagan-practicing Roman society into festivals of the Messianic Faith (W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White, Jr., Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, article: Easter, p.192).
This holiday has been grafted onto the Hebraic faith on an annual basis during the spring equinox, the vast majority of the mainstream Christian world celebrates this holiday as "Easter." Many assume that this holiday originated with the commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but as the information provided here will demonstrate, this spring tradition recognized by man is much older and far less 'holy' than one would imagine. There are many scholarly sources as well as recorded history found in antiquity that expose the real origins of the spring festival of Ishtar (Easter) and how it became a 'Christianized' pagan holiday.
This holiday, like most non-scriptural holidays, are old satanic traditions and customs that were passed off as orthodox Christianity by the early Holy Roman Catholic Church (HRCC). The term “Easter” was not derived from the Messianic Faith, but is rather another term for Semiramis (Ishtar, Asheroth or Astarte). This Chaldean worship system centers on this goddess, the queen of heaven and almost every from of religion can be traced directly back to her practices (see origin of religion). The festival of Pesach (Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread) is a remembrance of the Hebrew feast ordered by YHWH Elohim to keep for all time as seen in the Book of Shemoth (Exodus) 12:14 “And this day shall become to you a remembrance. And you shall celebrate it as a festival to YHWH throughout your generations — celebrate it as a festival, an everlasting law.” There was a clear distinction between the Hebrew festival of Pesach and the pagan festival of Easter, but when it was introduced into the apostate Western religion, it was acclimated to the already existing pagan holiday in order to adapt the heavily pagan-practicing Roman society into festivals of the Messianic Faith (W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White, Jr., Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, article: Easter, p.192).
This is not an issue of worship or belief, it is an issue of obedience and the symbolic rituals and mystery practices that cause humanity to stumble by going against the wishes of the creator. Does a little acclimation of pagan rituals distort a person’s entire faith? The Mashiach tells us in scripture that the tiniest bit of corruption can spoil the entire faith and take you off the path. During the Feast of Unleavened Bread (after of the Pesach), no leaven (yeast) is to be found at all in your house. If any leaven is found, that entire house would be cut off from Yisra’el for disobedience to the creator. The Book of Shemoth (Exodus)12:19 “For seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, that same being shall be cut off from the congregation of Yisra’el, whether sojourner or native of the land.”
This holiday, like most, was clearly not of the Hebraic or Messianic Faith and was recognized by early philosophers such as Socrates in respects to its real origin.
"The festival, of which we read in Church history, under the name of Easter, in the third or fourth centuries, was quite a different festival from that now observed in the Romish [and Protestant] Church, and at that time was not known by any such name as Easter. It was called Pasch, or the Passover, and though not of Apostolic institution [Ordered by YHWH and practiced by Yahushua as well as his taught ones or disciples (Lev 23; Matt 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-25; Luke 22:7-20), was very early observed by many professing Christians in commemoration of the death and resurrection of Christ [It is a memorial of His death, not His resurrection--I Cor 11:26]. That festival agreed originally with the time of the Jewish Passover, when Christ was crucified.... That festival was not idolatrous, and it was preceded by no Lent" (Alexander Hislop, The Two Babylons, p.104).
This holiday, like most, was clearly not of the Hebraic or Messianic Faith and was recognized by early philosophers such as Socrates in respects to its real origin.
"The festival, of which we read in Church history, under the name of Easter, in the third or fourth centuries, was quite a different festival from that now observed in the Romish [and Protestant] Church, and at that time was not known by any such name as Easter. It was called Pasch, or the Passover, and though not of Apostolic institution [Ordered by YHWH and practiced by Yahushua as well as his taught ones or disciples (Lev 23; Matt 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-25; Luke 22:7-20), was very early observed by many professing Christians in commemoration of the death and resurrection of Christ [It is a memorial of His death, not His resurrection--I Cor 11:26]. That festival agreed originally with the time of the Jewish Passover, when Christ was crucified.... That festival was not idolatrous, and it was preceded by no Lent" (Alexander Hislop, The Two Babylons, p.104).
The practices and customs of this holiday such as the eggs, rabbits and even Good Friday are of pagan origin and have absolutely nothing to do with scripture. The symbols of the eggs are a reference to fertility as Ishtar was a fertility goddess and many of the religions of the world revolve around an egg. The actual practice of painting them was originally in red to symbolize blood.
The rabbit symbolism is a tribute to the son of Ishtar Tammuz, her son who was killed by a boar at a young age and who loved rabbits, thus they were worshipped and adored by ancient Sumer and Babylon. This is also the reason that a pig is feasted upon on Easter Sunday.
Tammuz: ancient nature deity worshiped in Babylonia. A "god" of agriculture and flocks, he personified the creative powers of spring. He was loved by the fertility goddess Ishtar, who, according to one legend, was so grief-stricken at his death that she contrived to enter the underworld to get him back. According to another legend, she killed him and later restored him to life. These legends and his festival, commemorating the yearly death and rebirth of vegetation, corresponded to the festivals of the Phoenician and Greek Adonis and of the Phrygian Attis. The Sumerian name of Tammuz was Dumuzi. In scripture his death is mourned by the women of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) in the Book of Yehizq’el (Ezekiel) 8:14 (The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001)
The rabbit symbolism is a tribute to the son of Ishtar Tammuz, her son who was killed by a boar at a young age and who loved rabbits, thus they were worshipped and adored by ancient Sumer and Babylon. This is also the reason that a pig is feasted upon on Easter Sunday.
Tammuz: ancient nature deity worshiped in Babylonia. A "god" of agriculture and flocks, he personified the creative powers of spring. He was loved by the fertility goddess Ishtar, who, according to one legend, was so grief-stricken at his death that she contrived to enter the underworld to get him back. According to another legend, she killed him and later restored him to life. These legends and his festival, commemorating the yearly death and rebirth of vegetation, corresponded to the festivals of the Phoenician and Greek Adonis and of the Phrygian Attis. The Sumerian name of Tammuz was Dumuzi. In scripture his death is mourned by the women of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) in the Book of Yehizq’el (Ezekiel) 8:14 (The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001)
Lent
The festival of Lent, which is believed to be in honor of the 40 days and 40 nights the Mashiach spent in the wilderness, is actually a much older festival practiced long before the actions of the Mashiach. This is yet another of the countless pagan customs, vein practices and traditions of men that the HRCC instituted when acclimating their worship system onto the Hebraic Faith.
The liturgical calendar which most Christian holidays and festivals adhere to, is nothing more than a grafting of the zodiac calendar onto set apart days and feasts of the Hebrews. Lent is the period of time that lies between Ash Wednesday and Easter, but this period was initially a topic of much contention as many members of the early HRCC recognized its true origins. The term Lent is actually a shortened form of the word Lenten, which is derived from the Old English word lencten meaning spring (Online Etymology Dictionary, www.etymonline.com). This is where the current word lengthen has evolved from. This is another case of the zodiac and its impact on the HRCC. This holiday is recognized on a global scale by practicing Roman Catholic Christians, but it is also kept by certain sects of Protestants, including the Episcopals, Lutherans, Methodists, and some Presbyterians as well as Anglicans.
Fasting
The practice of fasting is supposed to be about walking in the path of the master Yahushua Mashiach as described in the Book of Mattithyahu (Matthew) and fast as he did following his baptism for forty days and nights. Today, this fasting usually takes the form of personal sacrifice by avoiding ones favorite food, indulgence, or simply denying yourself certain bad habits or carnal pleasures during lent. The Lenten season follows the New Orleans festival of Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday and is typically viewed as a reason to indulge in excesses of food, drink and all forms of depravity before the period of fasting. This festival is most popular in Rio de Janeiro, but is honored worldwide including New Orleans. This is viewed as the final chance to indulge yourself before the Pesach and then on "Ash Wednesday," the Christians have the mark of a cross placed on their foreheads in ash to signify the beginning of the festival.
The festival of Lent, which is believed to be in honor of the 40 days and 40 nights the Mashiach spent in the wilderness, is actually a much older festival practiced long before the actions of the Mashiach. This is yet another of the countless pagan customs, vein practices and traditions of men that the HRCC instituted when acclimating their worship system onto the Hebraic Faith.
The liturgical calendar which most Christian holidays and festivals adhere to, is nothing more than a grafting of the zodiac calendar onto set apart days and feasts of the Hebrews. Lent is the period of time that lies between Ash Wednesday and Easter, but this period was initially a topic of much contention as many members of the early HRCC recognized its true origins. The term Lent is actually a shortened form of the word Lenten, which is derived from the Old English word lencten meaning spring (Online Etymology Dictionary, www.etymonline.com). This is where the current word lengthen has evolved from. This is another case of the zodiac and its impact on the HRCC. This holiday is recognized on a global scale by practicing Roman Catholic Christians, but it is also kept by certain sects of Protestants, including the Episcopals, Lutherans, Methodists, and some Presbyterians as well as Anglicans.
Fasting
The practice of fasting is supposed to be about walking in the path of the master Yahushua Mashiach as described in the Book of Mattithyahu (Matthew) and fast as he did following his baptism for forty days and nights. Today, this fasting usually takes the form of personal sacrifice by avoiding ones favorite food, indulgence, or simply denying yourself certain bad habits or carnal pleasures during lent. The Lenten season follows the New Orleans festival of Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday and is typically viewed as a reason to indulge in excesses of food, drink and all forms of depravity before the period of fasting. This festival is most popular in Rio de Janeiro, but is honored worldwide including New Orleans. This is viewed as the final chance to indulge yourself before the Pesach and then on "Ash Wednesday," the Christians have the mark of a cross placed on their foreheads in ash to signify the beginning of the festival.
This cross is not a cross, but rather a T in commemoration of Tammuz, the son of Semiramis, who died at a young age. The ancient Babylonian commemoration of this event is what the HRCC used for their spring equinox or Lent/Easter.
“The forty days' abstinence of Lent was directly borrowed from the worshippers of the Babylonian goddess. Such a Lent of forty days, "in the spring of the year," is still observed by the Yezidis or Pagan Devil-worshippers of Koordistan, who have inherited it from their early masters, the Babylonians. Such a Lent of forty days was held in spring by the Pagan Mexicans, for thus we read in Humboldt, where he gives account of Mexican observances: "Three days after the vernal equinox...began a solemn fast of forty days in honour of the sun." Such a Lent of forty days was observed in Egypt, as may be seen on consulting Wilkinson's Egyptians. This Egyptian Lent of forty days, we are informed by Landseer, in his Sabean Researches, was held expressly in commemoration of Adonis or Osiris, the great mediatorial god.” (Alexander Hislop, The Two Babylons, in the section entitled, Easter)
Lent officially became a "Christian" celebration at the edict of the Council of Laodicea in A.D. 360. Nevertheless, even the well-known Catholic Saint Abbot John Cassianus, monk of Marseilles, in the fifth century contrasted the primitive Church with the Church in his day, "It ought to be known that the observance of the forty days had no existence, so long as the perfection of that primitive Church." (Alexander Hislop, The Two Babylons)
“The forty days' abstinence of Lent was directly borrowed from the worshippers of the Babylonian goddess. Such a Lent of forty days, "in the spring of the year," is still observed by the Yezidis or Pagan Devil-worshippers of Koordistan, who have inherited it from their early masters, the Babylonians. Such a Lent of forty days was held in spring by the Pagan Mexicans, for thus we read in Humboldt, where he gives account of Mexican observances: "Three days after the vernal equinox...began a solemn fast of forty days in honour of the sun." Such a Lent of forty days was observed in Egypt, as may be seen on consulting Wilkinson's Egyptians. This Egyptian Lent of forty days, we are informed by Landseer, in his Sabean Researches, was held expressly in commemoration of Adonis or Osiris, the great mediatorial god.” (Alexander Hislop, The Two Babylons, in the section entitled, Easter)
Lent officially became a "Christian" celebration at the edict of the Council of Laodicea in A.D. 360. Nevertheless, even the well-known Catholic Saint Abbot John Cassianus, monk of Marseilles, in the fifth century contrasted the primitive Church with the Church in his day, "It ought to be known that the observance of the forty days had no existence, so long as the perfection of that primitive Church." (Alexander Hislop, The Two Babylons)
