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The History of Christmas and an Answer to the Question: Should Christians Celebrate It?
Over 2 billion people in 160 countries around the world celebrate Christmas each year on December 25th.[1] Some consider it to be a joyous time of year filled with special traditions, family gatherings, and joyful giving. Others find it the most stressful time of year with pressure to find just the perfect gifts for loved ones. Some families even go into debt to give their children a satisfactory Christmas. Still, others claim that Christmas is a pagan holiday and should not be celebrated by Christians at all.
Christmas certainly has become a confusing holiday. Is it pagan or Christian? And where do all the traditions come from, anyway? Was Jesus actually born on December 25th? And if Christmas is the celebration of his birth, why do we give gifts to family and friends? Why do we bring fir trees into our homes and adorn them with tinsel and lights, hang stockings by the fireplace to be filled with treats, and tell children that Santa Claus brings them toys? Why do we even call it Christmas? So many questions!
A quick search of the internet will produce a plethora of explanations that this beloved holiday, along with its traditions, is pagan. Others state that the celebration of Christmas was established by the church. What are we to make of all these mixed messages about this beloved holiday?
To better understand the origin of Christmas, we need to go back several centuries. The word “Christmas” comes from the Old English phrase “Cristes Maesse,” which means “Christ’s Mass.” The earliest recorded use of the phrase was in 1038 AD and marked a special service honoring Christ’s birth.
Since birth dates were not commonly recorded in ancient Israel, no one knows for certain which month Jesus was born. However, there are a variety of theories as to the reason for the date being ascribed to December 25th. Many claim it is because of the winter solstice when longer periods of light return to the earth. Remember, Jesus called himself “the light of the world.” While we don’t know for sure why this date was chosen, the earliest mention of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th comes from Saint Hippolytus in 204 AD.[2]
Where does Santa Claus come from? And why is he connected to the celebration of Jesus’ birth? This tradition goes back to 4th century Greece, where a bishop named Saint Nicholas was known for his generosity and secret gift-giving.
Where does Santa Claus come from? And why is he connected to the celebration of Jesus’ birth? This tradition goes back to 4th century Greece, where a bishop named Saint Nicholas was known for his generosity and secret gift-giving. The day of his death, December 6th, became known as St. Nicholas Day. In Europe, children would set out their shoes to be filled with candy on this date. Eventually, St. Nicholas Day was combined with Christmas since the dates are so close together. The celebration of Jesus’ birth seemed to be a fitting time also to celebrate this man who, like Jesus, loved and helped others. The Dutch word for St. Nicholas is “Sinterklaas.”
There are also a variety of explanations regarding the origin of the Christmas tree, as well as those who say that the Bible forbids them in Jeremiah 10:3-4.[3] While these verses do condemn a practice that involves cutting down trees and decorating them with silver and gold, they have nothing to do with Christmas trees. As always, context matters! This passage of scripture condemns making idols, not having holiday decorations.
The Christmas tree itself is full of symbols of Christ’s birth. The evergreen tree represents the everlasting life Jesus came to provide. It’s a widely held belief that Martin Luther, the 16th-century protestant reformer, was the first to add lighted candles to the tree as a symbol of Jesus, the light of the world. A star on top of the tree reminds us of the special star that guided the Magi to the Christ child, and the gold ornaments represent the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh they gave to Jesus.
Undoubtedly, over the years, as people from various faiths and cultures began to intermingle, so did their holiday traditions. Eventually, nearly every European culture adopted these traditions: Christmas trees, stockings and gift-giving, baking cookies, having parties, singing carols, and participating in many other Christmas traditions.
So, what are we to make of all this? Should Christians celebrate Christmas or not? Should we have Christmas trees in our homes and teach our children about Santa Claus, or only focus on the birth of Jesus with the aid of nativity scenes?
Whether we’re celebrating Christ’s birth or going about our daily lives any other time of year, our goal as Christians should be to keep our focus on Christ. When it comes to Christmas, let the Holy Spirit be your guide. Spend time with your family and friends, bake, give gifts, decorate a tree, or whatever you feel inclined to do. Just make sure that Jesus is at the heart of all your celebrations. Above all, look out for the less fortunate in your community and do your best to keep a Christ-like attitude toward your family, friends, and neighbors.
This is especially important to the parents out there. Our children are always watching us and will follow our lead as to what and who is most important to us, especially at Christmas time. Keeping Christ at the center of our lives, including our homes and holiday festivities, is the most important gift we can give our children, both at Christmas time and every other day of the year.
Merry Christmas!
[2] Source: https://catholicecho.org/2023/12/01/faith-fact-why-do-we-celebrate-christmas-on-december-25/
[3] Jeremiah 10:3-4 “For the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move.”
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