The day is upon us. Many have heard us out about why we no longer participate in any holidays or birthdays, but go on to ask, “But you do Thanksgiving, right?”
No.
Interestingly, but not surprisingly, it is yet another day of Ancient Fertility Rights worship.
Here are a couple of interesting tidbits we’ve come across over the years:
“The pagans in Rome celebrated their thanksgiving in early October. The holiday was dedicated to the goddess of the harvest, Ceres, and the holiday was called Cerelia. The Catholic church took over the pagan holiday and it became well established in England, where some of the pagan customs and rituals for this day were observed long after the Roman Empire had disappeared. In England the “Harvest Home” has been observed continuously for centuries.
In our own hemisphere, among the Aztecs of Mexico, the harvest took on a grimmer aspect. Each year a young girl, a representation of Xilonen, The goddess of the new corn, was beheaded. The Pawnees also sacrificed a girl. In a more temperate mood, the Cherokees of the American Southeast danced the Green Corn Dance and began the new year at harvest’s end.
No wonder Chief Massasoit and his ninety braves felt right at home with the Pilgrim Fathers on that day in 1621!! Obviously, the idea for this “first Thanksgiving” did not just “pop” into the mind of Governor Bradford as most people believe! On the contrary Thanksgiving, in the guise of the pagan harvest festivals, can be traced right back to ancient Babylon and the worship of Semiramis!”
SYMBOLS OF THANKSGIVING
OR
SYMBOLS OF THE FRUITFUL GODDESS AND HER
FERTILITYRITES
Cornucopias- In Greek Mythology, the horn of Amalthea (the name of the goat who suckled Zeus) became known as the cornucopia or horn of plenty. ISIS (the Egyptian faithful wife, mother, and goddess) was identified with Hathor, the HORNED COW Goddess. Horns are still used in pagan festivals today.
Harvest Queen- A name given to Ceres the Roman goddess of agriculture and crops or to a young woman chosen from among the reapers to whom was given a post of honor at the harvest home. Also the 1948 edition of The Universal World Reference Encyclopedia tells us, “Demeter, the Greek version of the Egyptian goddess Isis and Roman version of Ceres, is one of the principle Grecian deities, the great mother goddess, the nourishing and fertilizing principles of nature.”
Corn- represents Ceres, the corn goddess (agriculture and crops) or Xilonen- goddess of the new corn.
Poppies- Ceres corresponds with Isis of the Egyptians and Demeter of the Greeks. She is represented with a garland of ears of grain on her head, holding in one hand a lighted torch and in the other a poppy, which was sacred to her.
Piglet (Sow)- Demeter was presented with a cow and a sow as well as honey, poppies, corn and fruit indicating thanksgiving for a land of plenty.
When we considered Luke 16:15 “….for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God,” we realized that if the world esteems any day, it is an abomination to God. We are exhorted in Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
2 Kings 17:15 describes His people emulating the heathen nations surrounding them and gives us a scathing example of what true Christians ought not to do, “…and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.”
Deuteronomy gives several admonishments to not inquire after the ways of the heathens.
Amos 5:21 “I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.”
Mark 7:13 “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”
Many justify it (Luke 16:15 Ye are they which justify yourselves before men) by saying it is a time for family to gather together. Matthew 12:50 says “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Further, Luke 14:26 says, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”
1 Corinthians 10:21 says “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.” And yet, is this not exactly what many are doing? Sitting round about, unequally yoked, professing Christians with devils?
It is, indeed, no light thing to dabble with the written Word of God. He is not concerned with your emotional comfort or carnal desires. He wants, He demands, He deserves our obedience. His standards were the same when Israel played the harlot and were, in turn, given a writ of divorcement. Are we any different? Has God softened His stance on our touching not the unclean thing (2 Cor 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”)
Malachi 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I change not.” Sums that up.
Consider today, your profession of faith before an Holy God. Are we ‘thankful’? Yes, absolutely. My God is mighty and gracious. Do we assimilate and participate in heathen traditions to show our “thanks”? I say, It is a foul stench to the Lord.
