With Easter around the corner, I feel it’s time to talk about pagan habits and traditions, not just about the paganism that snuck into our holidays, but also about pagan habits that are less obvious and extremely common among Christians. So, I’ve put together the most common pagan habits that perhaps even you practice, without realizing it. For each of these, we’ll discuss why adopting these practices can be more dangerous than you think, and how to stay rooted in the Truth.
You can watch this as a video podcast or read the article with all the Scripture references below.
Paganism in Christian holidays
Let’s start with the elephant in the room: the contamination of our yearly holidays. The word holiday is a derivative of the words holy and day. Yet, what we allow to seep into these holy days is anything but holy.
Pagan traditions in Easter
I think that most Christians know that Easter is filled with pagan symbols such as the Easter bunny, Easter eggs, and even the name Easter itself. According to many, these symbols came from pre-Christian German “Teuton” traditions. From there, they spread to the Netherlands and the United States. All of these symbols refer back to myths about a “spring goddess” named Ostara, who changed a wounded bird into a hare. That hare would then return each year to lay colored eggs. That is why, at least here in the Netherlands, Easter is celebrated with images of hares, decorated eggs, and Easter egg hunts. Easter is still called Pasen here, from Paascha or Passover.
Some scientists claim that it wasn’t about Ostara at all, but about another goddess, named Eostre, who was celebrated throughout April. Either way, it is said that missionaries tried to convert pagans by fusing the pagan traditions with the Christian beliefs.
The problem:
For many Christians, Resurrection Day is the most important Christian holiday, and I believe uncoincidentally, it’s the most watered down. Why are we passively sitting back, or even actively replacing commemoration of Jesus’s miracle with pagan rituals? Why are we giving room to the devil to distract people from the Truth? Many young people don’t even know what we celebrate on this day since hardly anyone outside churches talks about the amazing Truth Jesus’s resurrection represents. By His death and resurrection, Jesus paid the fine for our sins, and if He hadn’t, we would all be doomed forever!
The solution:
So, instead of filling our houses with pagan symbols, it would be better to place Jesus at the center and glorify God on this beautiful day of celebration. Remember what He did for you and where you would have been if it weren’t for Jesus’s sacrifice. Honor Him by sharing your testimony and spreading the joy of New Life through the Good News.
Being able to celebrate this important day is a privilege, and since nobody knows how long we will have this opportunity, we should not take it for granted.
Pagan traditions in Christmas
Another German pagan tradition that took over large parts of the world is the Christmas tree. Both the Germans and the Romans used the evergreen pine tree branches as a symbol for fruitfulness, as in fertility, and godliness. They would decorate their houses with these branches and lights. And the Germans would place a pine tree in the centers of their villages on midwinter, and decorate it with apples, stars, and moons.
In the Middle Ages, Catholics started to embrace these traditions. Around the 1800s, the Germans brought the tradition into the United States. Then, about 100 years ago, the Protestants slowly caught on to the tradition.
Now that we are talking about Christmas, Santa Claus wasn’t invented by Coca-Cola. It was actually a Dutch tradition that was brought to America. Some of you may know that the Dutch have celebrated Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) in December for ages. You may have heard of this event a few years ago due to the black facing tradition that was attached to it, and the international uproar that it caused.
The story goes that Sint Nicolaas was a generous Bishop on a white horse who would rescue slaves and hand out presents. It was said that he was from Spain, even though the real man was either Greek or Turkish. According to the stories, he would ride his horse on the rooftops and send his helpers down the chimneys to give presents to every child who had been well-behaved.
Weeks before, children were often told by their parents that being naughty would have consequences. They would not get any presents, or they would be punished with the “roe” (an old-fashioned hand broom), or even worse, they would be taken to Spain in Sinterklaas’s empty bag!
Since my childhood, the traditions have changed a bit, and many have begun to embrace the American Christmas traditions instead. But almost every Dutch child grew up believing in and fearing Sint Nicolaas and his helpers. Until, at a certain age, their parents told them that they had been lied to for years, which for some children, of course, was somewhat of a traumatizing experience.
Most children enjoyed celebrating Sinterklaas. The main reason for their enjoyment: the large amounts of candy and the anticipation of receiving their desired gifts, usually toys. And this is not much different from the American and English Christmas celebrations, which feature candy and presents under the Christmas tree.
Interestingly, Sinterklaas and Santa Claus may not have started with the remembrance of this bishop at all, but rather with the celebration of the Northern god of war, Wodan. Similar to our depictions of Sinterklaas and Santa Claus, he had a white beard, he was riding an eight-legged airborne white horse, and he wore a red robe. This god of war sounds like a demonic imitation of The Rider on the White Horse in Revelation 19 verses 11-16. Let’s read those verses and see if you can spot the similarities:
“I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has names written and a name written which no one knows but he himself. He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called ‘The Word of God.’ The armies which are in heaven, clothed in white, pure, fine linen, followed him on white horses. Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the wine press of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, ‘KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.’” (WEB)
Jesus on a white horse in heaven, waging war in a robe stained red with blood, followed by an army of helpers. Interesting, right?
The problem:
The problem with following traditions that aren’t based on Biblical truth is that young children embrace whatever parents teach them. So, why does almost every child learn to love Sinterklaas or Santa Claus, anticipate his coming each year, while so few children are taught about Jesus, whose coming and gifts we should really long for? Why is the focus on being “good” to receive candy and worldly gifts, rather than on being “good” to please God with Jesus’s help? Why are the children egged on to store up treasures for themselves on earth by asking them to make lists of the worldly things they most desire? If children learn that parents are willing to lie about something that is so important to them, why would the Gospel be believable? Why do all people know about Santa Claus, but the prophecy about Jesus coming on a white horse is forgotten by almost everyone? If Biblical truth isn’t taught by the parents, and if the parents themselves don’t model righteous behavior, who will teach them?
The solution:
I would be the last person to tell you how to raise your children, but I do know that answering these questions is the first step to dealing with the situation wisely.
Let me tell you my own experience. Before I was born again, I lived in deep darkness and embraced all kinds of occult and pagan beliefs. So, as soon as I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I hated the Christmas tree. In the Netherlands, we even have a children’s song that literally honors the Christmas tree by singing to it and telling it how beautiful it is. It sends shivers of horror down my spine thinking about it.
I try to be very aware of my actions and consider if they glorify God or not. To me, that meant not having a Christmas tree in our house, to the disappointment of my husband, who grew up with the English tradition, which involves many Christmas decorations.
A few years later, a more mature Christian told me she still had a tree with decorations because she looked at it differently: Candy cane is the “J” from Jesus, the stars refer to the star of Bethlehem, lights to the Light of the world, etc. That changed my perspective, too. My husband and I now do decorate for Christmas, but with Jesus at the center. And each time I see the decorations, I think of Jesus, His birth, His mission to save us, His Light, and His awesome wonders.
Speaking of wonders, there is great, prophetic spiritual significance in the nativity events, as you can read in this article.
Pagan habits in our daily lives
Let’s move on to the pagan habits that many Christians, naively, have adopted into their daily lives. I realize this is not going to be a popular message, but I’m talking about it anyway because it’s a necessary one.
Keeping your fingers crossed
Let’s start with the saying “keeping your fingers crossed.” This tradition stems from the pagan belief that when two people crossed their fingers, it would keep their wishes safe in the area where their fingers crossed. It was a form of capturing good fortune. It is said that later it became a symbol of the cross and was adopted by Christians in a secret handshake in times of persecution. They would cross their index fingers while their thumbs were touching, so that their hands would create a fish sign (the Ichthus).
Later, keeping your own fingers crossed became a superstition among the general population. They thought it would protect them from all sorts of harm.
This superstition is where the modern-day crossing of fingers comes from. People now do it for good fortune. Or, if the fingers are crossed behind one’s back, to lie without consequences.
The problem:
You can understand why these modern-day uses of crossing fingers are offensive to God. If we need help, protection, or provisions, we call upon Jesus through prayer. Crossing our fingers is not going to do anything good; on the contrary, it’s creating a distance between God and us. This tradition basically says: “I don’t need God, my fingers can do the job.”
If we say it to other people, to wish them luck, it’s even worse! Because we are teaching them that we don’t rely on God, but on each other’s fingers. If that sounds weird, it’s because it is. There is no logic here whatsoever.
The solution:
If you have made yourself guilty of this sin against God, repent. Re-accept Jesus as Lord of your life, and actively allow Him to do so. Then, each time you are tempted to cross your fingers, pray. If you are planning to send a text to an unbeliever with that symbol in it, change it to prayer hands, or simply pray. If others won’t accept your prayers, fine, but don’t do things to please the world that don’t please God. It’s more than okay if they don’t like you, for Jesus says,
“If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:19, WEB).
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Astrology
Let’s discuss believing in horoscopes. I’m always astonished to see how many Christians still value horoscopes and other forms of astrology as truth. According to figures you can look up online, the percentage of Christians believing in astrology ranges between 25% and 65%!
Actually, I should not be surprised, as Isaiah already prophesied that on the last day, many of God’s people would embrace Eastern traditions, fortune-telling, idols, etc. (Isaiah 2:6-22). But these Scriptures also teach us that God rejects people like these. He hands them over to their idols to save them. In Isaiah 47:13, it says,
“You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels. Now let the astrologers, the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from the things that will happen to you.” (WEB)
God says that astrology is useless. Astrologers know nothing about God’s plans. In the Book of Daniel, we can read how Nebuchadnezzar needed Daniel, God’s prophet, to tell him what his dream meant after no astrologer could figure it out.
The problem:
Not only does astrology teach us nothing about how to live, what to do, and where to go, we should be asking these questions only to God. There is no other way if we truly believe that following God’s will and His Word is best for us. If we don’t, we should not be surprised if weariness, misery, sickness, and other kinds of misfortune come our way – we’ve opened the door to the enemy and closed the door to God’s protection ourselves.
The solution:
God did create the bodies in the skies as signs for us to interpret (Genesis 1:14). But those interpretations are meant to indicate the seasons, days, and years, and point us to Jesus.
For example, the star of Bethlehem led the wise men straight to Jesus (Matthew 2:2), and Jesus calls Himself the bright Morning Star (Revelation 22:16). The sunrise is often used as a symbol of Jesus (2 Peter 1:19, Habakkuk 3:4, Luke 1:78). But there is no spiritual power in the stars, planets, or their alignment themselves. This is another distraction from the enemy, trying to steer us away from actually understanding what God says through His creation. And that is that the whole of His creation points to Jesus.
Knock on wood/touch wood
The act of knocking on wood, or even just saying “knock on wood,” or “touch wood,” to ward off bad luck, is much more evil than you may realize. This tradition originated in Europe, too, and it came from the people who believed that trees had protective powers (hence the Christmas tree) as a result of spirits living inside the tree. Knocking on wood was done to appease the spirits, as a sign of gratitude for good fortune. Forgetting to knock after saying something like “That never happened to me” still makes many Christians believe, deep down, that the thing they feared will happen as a kind of punishment, jinx, or curse. Many laugh when they do it, as if it’s a joke, but it is anything but funny.
The problem:
This habit is very unwise for a variety of reasons. Believing that anything has more power than God is idol worship, which is not only a grave sin, but it’s also bad for the “good fortune” we crave so badly. Because when we believe that a curse of any kind has more power over us than God, what do you think will prevail in our lives? Christianity stands on the foundation of faith, the faith that Jesus is Lord…
Besides, isn’t the belief that there is power in wood the reason so many of God’s people started crafting wooden idols throughout the Bible? They cut down those pine trees and other trees, and used the same wood they worshiped, to make a fire (Isaiah 44:14-20). God calls those people ignorant (Isaiah 45:20, Jeremiah 10:8) because it doesn’t make sense at all.
We see that this kind of sin is particularly persistent throughout the ages. In the end times, when great suffering will be upon the earth, there will still be those who have not repented of this sin and never stopped worshiping demons and wooden idols. We can read this in Revelation 9:20. This is not something that happens in a foreign, far-away country, in the distant future; many of us do these things now, without realizing it.
The solution:
Paul warned Timothy to have nothing to do with silly myths, but to train himself for godliness, and to point these things out to the brothers and sisters (1 Timothy 4:6-7). So, if you have this habit too, repent now and change your ways. Be grateful to God for keeping you safe from misfortune, and pray to Him for protection. The only thing that prevents you from failing and becoming weary and miserable is living according to God’s Word and His will for your life. And that, by definition, excludes knocking on wood.
Practicing Yoga
Not many are going to like that I put yoga on the list, but I’m going to remain unapologetic, for understanding the origins of this practice is very important. Before I was a born-again Christian, I practiced yoga myself, and I really liked it; that is why I can fully understand that practicing yoga has become normalized in the last ten years or so, even among Christians.
I’m going to quote from the website of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs for the official definition of yoga. “Yoga is essentially a spiritual discipline based on an extremely subtle science, which focuses on bringing harmony between mind and body. It is an art and science of healthy living. The word ‘Yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘Yuj’, meaning ‘to join’ or ‘to yoke’ or ‘to unite’. As per Yogic scriptures the practice of Yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness with that of the Universal Consciousness, […]”
The text goes on to tell us that yoga is as old as the earliest civilization, and that it contains elements that are offerings to gods. It talks about how it involves worship of the sun, and claims that it is the way to finding wisdom and peace. What it doesn’t mention is that the poses all have some kind of spiritual significance. If we were confronted with a statue of Nebuchadnezzar, we would hopefully be as brave as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and not bow down to it. Why, then, are some of us so willing to bow down to these ancient gods?
It also states: “Yoga is also commonly understood as a therapy or exercise system for health and fitness. While physical and mental health are natural consequences of yoga, the goal of yoga is more far-reaching. “Yoga is about harmonizing oneself with the universe. It is the technology of aligning individual geometry with the cosmic, to achieve the highest level of perception and harmony.”” So, everybody who thought yoga was just some innocent stretches and breathing exercises, think again. There are real spiritual forces behind it, with a goal that opposes God’s.
The problem:
Besides the obvious idol worshiping, the problem is that the purpose of yoga is literally to yoke us to the universe and unite us with the cosmos, which goes even further than the practice of astrology. And have you noticed how many people around the world have lately started believing in the irrational concept that the universe has some sort of will and consciousness? Instead of providing true wisdom and peace, it seems to lull us to sleep, as we become dazed and blinded to reality. But that is what you get when you shift your focus away from God to creation – you become more worldly and less Godly.
In order for us to see the spiritual Truths and experience spiritual growth, joy, peace, and nearness to God, we need to walk in step with the Spirit of God. If we start walking in step with the created world, which includes the universe, we achieve the exact opposite. We need harmony with God, not with the world. Romans 12:2 says,
“Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.” (WEB).
The same webpage says that yoga works on the level of one’s body, mind/intellect, emotions, and energy, which are the places where Jesus wants to be:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.” (Mark 12:30).
The solution:
There is nothing wrong with stretching your muscles, doing exercises, and monitoring your breathing when you do it for God’s glory. For whatever we do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
I realize that there are Christians who say they do these exercises while thinking only about God and listening to praise music. But why do it at all? Why do they value yoga so much that they would put their relationship with God on the line for it? Okay, if God sent you to a yoga class to minister to someone, you obviously should go there, but in all other circumstances, test yourself if you are glorifying God with your actions: Is paying for a yoga class a way to magnify God and His Kingdom? Am I giving the devil a foothold by stepping into his territory without God’s permission? Am I bold enough to refuse to do exercises that violate my conscience in a class where the guru is my authority? Am I treating my body, the temple of God, in a way that exalts God? Can I do exercises in a way that brings me closer to God?
A final word
We are part of a Kingdom that is not of this world (John 18:36). Let’s live Godly lives among unbelievers, especially now that we are so close to the end of times. The Bible warns us that in these days, some will fall away from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons (1 Timothy 4:1). Make sure that you are not one of them.
It’s not too late to rid yourself of these pagan traditions, habits, and superstitions. And if you really want to thrive and lead a fruitful, joyful, and peaceful life with Christ, you need to be all in. So, return to Christ, focus on Him, and make Him the Lord of your life. Teach other Christians about the origins and dangers of these and other seemingly innocent pagan habits. Help them remember that Satan masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). He will do anything to deceive us, so stay rooted in the Truth of God’s Word.
External sources:
https://scientias.nl/waar-komt-die-paashaas-toch-vandaan/
https://historiek.net/kerstboom-geschiedenis-oorsprong/87878/
https://www.bbc.com/videos/cjr4pz189zwo
https://theconversation.com/why-we-knock-on-wood-for-luck-129864
https://www.mea.gov.in/search-result.htm?25096/Yoga:_su_origen,_historia_y_desarrollo