Every December, the debate resurfaces: Should Christians celebrate Christmas?
My family and I generally do not get carried away with the traditional Christmas trappings – the trees, the overindulgence, the commercial chaos. For us, it is simply a good time for the family to enjoy one another and for the church to focus on mass evangelism.
However, as a believer, it is vital to be objective about the season. To understand Christmas, we must look at its origins, the likely timing of Jesus’ birth, and how Scripture guides us in navigating holidays or entities with pagan roots.
The Origins of Christmas: Not in Scripture
The celebration of Christmas as it exists today did not originate in the Bible. Jesus or His disciples did not institute it. Neither did the first-century post-apostolic fathers. In fact, historically, the current celebration has little to do with the actual birth date of Christ.
The only winter celebration observed by the Jews during the time of Jesus was the Feast of Dedication (mentioned in John 10:22). This feast, known today as Hanukkah, commemorated the rededication of the Temple by Judas Maccabeus after Antiochus Epiphanes had desecrated it. The historical record is found in 1 Maccabees 4:36-59. It began on Chislev 25th (roughly mid-December) and lasted for eight days.
So, where did our December 25th traditions come from? They are broadly eclectic, borrowed from various pre-existing winter festivals. Several ancient civilizations celebrated solar deities around the 25th day of the 12th month of the year – the time of the Winter Solstice, when they believed the sun was reborn as the days grew longer. The major ancient festivals impacting modern Christmas celebrations are:
- Saturnalia (Roman): A festival honoring the god Saturn, held from December 17th to 24th. It involved feasting, gift-giving, and decorating evergreen trees and hanging greens (like holly) to praise Saturn for agricultural blessings.
- Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (Roman): Meaning “The Birthday of the Unconquered Sun.” This was a climax festival on December 25th, celebrating the sun’s “rebirth” at the Winter Solstice.
- Yule (Scandinavian): A winter festival honoring their gods, including Thor and Odin, gods associated with thunder and fertility. It involved a 12-day celebration with wild feasting and gift-giving (a likely origin for the “12 Days of Christmas” concept).
The Roman festivals played a significant role in shaping Western ideas of Christmas. Emperor Constantine claimed conversion to Christianity in the third century CE and became both head of state and head of the church. On December 25th, 336 AD, the Roman church under Constantine inaugurated the public celebration of the “Mass of Christ” (sending of Christ) during the festival of Sol Invictus. The move unified Sun-worship and Christianity, conflating the birth of the Sun god with that of the Son of God. Malachi 4:2 “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings” was speciously attached to the celebration to solidify its identity with Christ and make the concession easier for the church. Over time, the “Mass of Christ” became popularized as Christmas, a highly commercialized global holiday.
Was Jesus Born on December 25th?
The short answer is: No! Sextus Julius Africanus (160-240), an early third-century Christian historian known for chronographing major biblical events, is among the first to speculate that Jesus was conceived on March 25 and, therefore, by simple calculation, was born nine months later on December 25. While there is no specific birth record in Scripture or history, the evidence in Luke 2 strongly indicates that Jesus was not born in winter:
1. The Census (Luke 2:1–7): Jesus was born during a major government-sponsored Roman census. Such an event would not have been scheduled during the Saturnalia festival season (Dec 17-25), when public business was suspended, and travel was difficult.
2. The Shepherds (Luke 2:8): Shepherds were “abiding in the field” with their flocks. In Judea, shepherds typically kept sheep outdoors from Passover (Spring) until October. By December, the sheep would have been brought in to shelter from the cold and rain. Therefore, if Shepherds were still in the field at the time of Jesus’ birth, it could not be any time before mid-March or beyond October.
So, Should Christians Celebrate?
If the date is wrong and the roots are pagan, should Christians opt out of Christmas entirely? We must indeed beware of the “Christmas spirit” defined by the pagan antecedents and modern commercialization: revelry, drunkenness, debt, and the elevation of mythical figures like Santa Claus. Attributing attributes like omniscience (“he knows if you are naughty or nice”) and omnipresence (“all over the world in one night”) to Santa is, in essence, ascribing incommunicable God-like qualities to a myth.
However, the Apostle Paul gives us a framework for navigating this complex issue in 1 Corinthians 8. Addressing the issue of eating food offered to idols, Paul argued that “an idol has no real existence.” If a believer eats with a clear conscience, knowing there is only one true God and aiming to glorify Him alone, they are not defiled.
Applying this framework to Christmas:
- If we celebrate not to venerate Saturn, Thor, or any other sun god;
- If we do not engage in gluttony, debauchery, or debt;
- But instead use the day as a time for family fellowship and evangelism;
Then we are free to do so. As Paul advised in Colossians 4:5, we should be “redeeming the time.” The Christmas season offers a unique global euphoria where people are open to hearing about Jesus. We can avoid the sinful behaviors while seizing the opportunity to preach the reason Christ came – to save humanity from their sins – even if we know December 25th was not the day He arrived.
Conclusion
We cannot rewrite history. Christmas undoubtedly has dark pagan roots. But for the modern Christian who celebrates without venerating false gods or indulging in carnal practices, Paul’s words hold: “An idol has no real existence.” Let us use this season wisely – not for pagan worship, but for the worship of the Living God – Jesus Christ – and the spreading of His Gospel.
