As I was researching the origins of Christmas, I happened to come across many articles from Christians having at some point asked themselves whether to celebrate Christmas or not. I understand that Christmas is a sensitive matter for many Christians (and even for unbelievers as strange as it might be), however I don’t think remaining silent by fear of hurting people’s sensibility is the way to go. I chose to share my findings here and let every C-W make an informed decision.
There are lots of misconceptions and untruthfulness surrounding Christmas and I think the greatest of them all is about the date of birth of the Messiah. December 25th is most unlikely Jesus’ birth day. The main reason can be found in the gospel of Luke where it is recounted that shepherds were keeping their flocks in the fields when they saw an angel who announced them the birth of the Christ. According to my findings the month of December being too cold it would be too hard to keep the flock in the fields, which is commonly done from spring to autumn.
The account of the conception of John the Baptist cousin of Jesus and son of Zachariah the priest found in Luke 1:5- 17 gives another precision on the possible time when Jesus might be born. The Gospel of Luke relates that Zacharias, was a priest from the division of Abijah serving in the temple when he was visited by an angel who announced him that he and Elisabeth his wife would have a child. Historical calculations indicate this course of service corresponded to June 13-19 of that year (The Companion Bible , 1974, Appendix 179, p. 200). Therefore we can place the birth of John more likely in march. Since Elizabeth (John’s mother) was in her sixth month of pregnancy when Jesus was conceived (Luke 1:24-36), we can determine that Jesus was born approximately in the month of September.
Historically around 273 AD, Western “Christians” decided to celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25. The choice of this date probably arose from the desire to provide an alternative to the Roman “birthday of the unconquered sun” and the Persian birthday of Mithras, for both of them were celebrated on or around the winter solstice. In 320 AD, a Theologian writer talking about the choice of the December 25, explained: “We hold this day holy, not like the pagans because of the birth of the sun, but because of him who made it.”
When it comes to the feast itself, there is no record of the apostles celebrating Jesus’ birthday anywhere in the scriptures. Beside, scholars agree that the birthday celebration was more a western custom than a Jewish practice. For example in Mark 6:21 it is written: “Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.” It is also mentioned that the first celebration of Jesus birthday as an official holiday appeared centuries later (300 years to be more precise) under emperor Constantine in Roma.
In his desire to neutralize the new christian believers who where gaining in number and hinder their influence on his empire, Constantine came up with the idea of officially identifying Christianity as a religion and declared himself and his whole empire Christian. Thus, pagan traditions of idol worship mixed with popular culture were incorporated to true Christianity: Catholicism was born.
We can all agree that the origins of Christmas are pagan, and even the decoration used during the celebration testify of the wickedness behind the feast. As an example, the evergreen tree used as the centerpiece in many homes at Christmas time is said to be an adaptation of an old German pagan ritual of tree worship surrounding the winter solstice (the Yule log was burned to symbolize death and a tree was set up in the morning as a symbol of rebirth) ; the evergreen was then used as sign of eternity and fertility. The lights are commonly said to enlighten the path of Santa Claus and his elves (the deities of Christmas) but were originally meant to cheer up the sun which is at its lowest during the month of December. The top of the tree would be garnished with either a Balphomet re-baptized “star of Jerusalem” for the occasion; or a representation of Gabriel the angel while the Lord has commanded “you shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.”Exodus 20:4-5.
My concern is if celebrating the savior’s birthday was so important, wouldn’t the Lord have done it during the time of his life on earth, and commanded us to do the same? Since when has it become okay to mix profane practices with what is Godly and think we’re worshiping the Lord. Hasn’t Paul recommended in his second letter to the Corinthians 6:14-15 “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?”
Knowing all that precedes are you still willing to join the celebration?
There is nothing of Christ in Christmas, so my family and I have made the choice of the truth.