How do we Celebrate Christmas with Honesty and Meaningful Traditions?
When it comes to celebrating the holiday season, I find joy in the tradition of Christmas. It’s a time to come together with loved ones, exchange gifts, and reflect on the birth of Jesus. However, I believe it’s important to be honest with our children about Santa Claus. While Santa may be a beloved figure in popular culture, perpetuating the myth of his existence can ultimately erode trust and sow doubt in our children’s minds.
As harmless as it may seem, a lie is a lie at the end of the day. The idea of Santa Claus, with his magical abilities and omniscient nature, bears a striking resemblance to the characteristics of God. It’s essential to distinguish between the two and avoid conflating the two figures. Instead, we can use the story of Santa as a way to explore the joy of giving and the spirit of generosity that the holiday season embodies.
By being honest with our children about the origins of Santa Claus and emphasizing the true meaning of Christmas, we can instill in them a deeper understanding of the holiday’s significance. Let’s use this time to teach our children about the love and blessings that come from our faith in God, rather than perpetuating a fictional myth that may overshadow the true message of Christmas.
Let’s begin…
The time of year that Jesus was born is a matter of some debate, but the exact timing of Jesus’ birth is nothing to be dogmatic about, given the Bible’s lack of detail on the subject. Of course, the traditional date of celebrating Jesus’ birth is December 25, but the Bible nowhere points to Him being born in mid-winter. One alternative theory is that Jesus was born sometime in September.
Those who propose that Jesus was born in September make their case using the following points:
First, at the time of Jesus’ birth, there were shepherds in the fields watching their flocks (Luke 2:8). According to some sources, shepherds were not normally in the fields during December, due to the cold and wet conditions in Judea during that time of year. Therefore, Luke’s account suggests that Jesus may have been born in late summer or early fall (i.e., in September). The problem with this argument is that the average low temperature in Bethlehem in December is in the low-to-mid-forties, the same as Jacksonville, Florida.
Second, the idea of a September birth of Jesus includes a consideration of the census affecting Mary and Joseph (Luke 2:1-4). Some argue that Roman censuses wouldn’t have been taken in winter, as cold temperatures and poor road conditions would have made participation in a census difficult. However, others point out that Roman officials were not all that concerned with the burdens they placed on the citizenry. It was either obey Caesar or else; ease and convenience did not factor into the law-making process.
Third, and most significant, the theory that Jesus was born in September depends on the timing of John the Baptist’s birth. These biblical facts lay the groundwork: John’s father, a priest named Zechariah, was taking his turn to serve in the temple when the angel Gabriel appeared to him and announced that Elizabeth, Zechariah’s wife, would conceive a son (Luke 1:8-13). After Zechariah returned home, his wife conceived, just as the angel had said (Luke 1:23-24). Gabriel then visited Mary to announce the miraculous conception of Jesus, and this visit came in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy (Luke 1:26 and Luke 1:36). Another important detail: Zechariah “belonged to the priestly division of Abijah” (Luke 1:5).
Using the above information, the calculations are made thus: the priests in the Abijah division served from June 13-19. Assuming that Elizabeth conceived shortly after Gabriel’s announcement to Zechariah, her sixth month—the month that Gabriel visits Mary—would be December or January. Assuming that Mary conceives shortly after Gabriel’s announcement to her, Jesus would have been born nine months later, i.e., August or September.
There is still one problem with using those calculations to arrive at a September birth of Jesus. We just aren’t sure exactly when the Abijah division of priests served. The priestly divisions were created by David and instituted during Solomon’s reign (1 Chronicles 24:7-18), but the Babylonian exile required a “reset” of the divisions and their rotation (Ezra 2). Zechariah’s division could have served in mid-June, but other sources calculate Abijah’s course to have ended on October 9 of that same year. An October conception of John would place Jesus’ birth in December or January.
In the final analysis, no one knows in what month Jesus was born. It could have been August, September, December, or some other month. Usually, supporters of the September date are reacting against the fact that some ancient pagan holidays were celebrated in late December. But it should be noted that the Christian observance of December 25 has nothing to do with paganism today. If anything, Christian practice has “redeemed” the date from paganism and given it a new meaning full of praise to Jesus, our Savior.
Does the December 25th date come from pagan holidays?
December 25th is well established by historical data. The Chronograph of 354 also lists December 25th separately from Sol Invictus and Saturnalia, the supposed forerunners of Christmas. So, not only does the date come from early Christian historians, but it was known at the time those festivals were celebrated, and considered separate from them. It was not seen as similar by early pagans and Christians, who did not confuse the celebrations.
Is it just a Christianized version of Saturnalia/Sol Invictus?
No. Macrobius’ The Saturnalia is our most complete primary source on the festivities of Saturnalia. He records that it was a multi day event of drunkenness, feasting, and exchanging quips from the traditions of the philosophers, where slaves were served by their masters. Mix in some good old fashioned Roman games and sacrifices to pagan gods, and you’ve got yourself a Saturnalia! (The Saturnalia, pg. 29-62, pg. 70-73)
It was also believed that “the entrance to the underworld is open” during Saturnalia, and warfare and business were postponed, because they were “ill-omened […] ‘black’ days.” (Ibid, pg. 108)
Macrobius relates that Saturnalia existed before the Romans, so it’s not even a uniquely Roman holiday. (Ibid, pg. 62)
Sol Invictus (properly, Dies Natalis Solis Invicti) was celebrated much the same as Saturnalia. Interestingly, it’s likely that Sol Invictus was created as a response to Christmas, due to the explosion of Christianity in the Roman empire. The cult only became an official religion in 274 AD. The Chronography of 354 supports this by listing Saturnalia, Sol Invcitus, and the celebration of the Lord’s birth as separate events, meaning that they weren’t confused by the people celebrating them.
Now, while I know Christmas traditions vary, I’ve yet to meet the Christian who offers sacrifices to Saturn on Christmas Day, or one who worships the sun.
But Christmas trees are pagan, right?
No! This tradition comes entirely from German Christianity in origin.
The tradition started when St. Boniface chopped down the Thor tree of the local pagans, interrupting a child sacrifice. He used a nearby evergreen to preach the Gospel to the locals. After this, it became a Christian commemoration blended with the local Yule traditions of the “Yule log”, an extra long log meant to keep the hearth burning during Yule. Yule referred to the season lasting from December through January. (Bede, De Ratione Temporum)
From its beginnings in Germany, we enter Martin Luther. He made the Christmas tree a regular part of Lutheran Christmas celebrations; combining the German Christmas with the liturgical feast day of St. Nicholas to establish much of the Christmas tradition we celebrate today. According to legend, he was the first to decorate a Christmas tree with “lights,” decorating his Christmas tree with candles.
This tradition made it to the German nobility, who would export the tradition to England via the marriages of King George III to Charlotte, a German Protestant, and the German Prince Albert’s marriage to Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria’s love for Christmas, and Charles Dicken’s Christian quill, would seal the deal for a century to come.
What about wreaths and mistletoe?
Though wreaths and mistletoe were both historically used by pagans, so were plates and bowls. As so many of our modern Christmas traditions do, these practices come from Victorian England, not the far reaches of pagan antiquity.
Kissing under a mistletoe was first mentioned in 1784, in Samuel Arnold’s play Two to One, (Pg. 33) and was part of the popular English practice of “kissing booths.” Much of the greenery associated with Christmas is used for explicitly Christian symbology, such as the sharp thorns and red berries of holly representing the thorny crown and red blood of Christ.
Isn’t Santa Claus just a modern add on?
Spoilers: Santa Claus is real!
Santa Claus is just a slang name for the real St. Nicholas, whose feast day was celebrated on December 6th. The real St. Nicholas, aside from being reported to have cold clocked Arius at Nicea for denying the Trinity, was renowned for his charity. As the story goes, he once helped a family unable to pay dowries for their daughters by throwing money bags down their chimney.
“Santa Claus” came to prominence with the publication of A Visit from St. Nicholas in 1823; better known as ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. His modern image is predominantly the result of a Coca-Cola ad campaign in the 1930’s. Instead of throwing money bags down chimneys, he comes down himself with a bag of toys; a reference to St. Nicholas’ life.
While much of the modern mythos of Santa Claus is heavily commercialized, it’s worth remembering the real Christian man behind the stories. His example of exceptional charity is fitting remembrance during the season we celebrate God’s charity towards us in giving His Son.
Weren’t the Puritans and English Reformers against Christmas?
Well, yes; but their contention wasn’t that Christmas was pagan, but that it was Catholic.
As Charles Spurgeon writes:
“Doubtless those who are Catholics have a right to hallow [Christmas], but I do not see how consistent Protestants can account it in the least sacred! However, I wish there were ten or a dozen Christmas days in the year – for there is work enough in the world – and a little more rest would not hurt labouring people. Christmas is really a gift to us, particularly as it enables us to assemble round the family hearth and meet our friends once more. Still, although we do not fall exactly in the track of other people, I see no harm in thinking of the incarnation and birth of the Lord Jesus.
Though it’s worthy of consideration to be separated from the fruits of Rome, I feel it not improper to disagree with the Prince of Preachers on this occasion. Surely Christmas has been so thoroughly freed of its Papal moorings that Christians of all stripes can enjoy a celebration of the Incarnation of Our Lord, Jesus Christ; and we’ll wink at the name, while Catholics wink at Martin Luther being responsible for Christmas trees.”
I’m not the biggest Spurgeon fan, but I wouldn’t necessarily disagree with his position here. Maybe a common holiday between all who claim Christ isn’t the worst thing to have.
What about Frosty/Rudolph/Elf/A Christmas Story?
Hey, modern American traditions are just that. If you want to watch A Christmas Story, or Will Ferrel, that’s on you; and the Bible provides plenty of guidance on proper decorum. As Colossions 2:16-17 says, “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”
But, it’s not in the Bible!
While that’s true, neither is the Feast of Dedication, which the Lord is present at in John 10:22-23, “Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.”
So, using the Lord’s example, it’s not a sin to celebrate holidays that aren’t in the Bible. Celebrating the Lord’s Incarnation is hardly sinful.
Even if it wasn’t the right day, is any day a bad day to spend in charity, loving your family, and celebrating Jesus Christ?
And Christmas does good work! For many people around the world, their introduction to the Gospel is through the Christian celebration of Christmas. Ayako Miura, a famous Japanese Christian novelist, relates her testimony of learning about Christianity through Christmas in her hospital ward. I recently witnessed a Muslim state that he hates Christmas because it encourages “shirk”; IE the worship of Jesus Christ. This holiday is infused with the Spirit of Christ! As no less than avowed atheist and staunch textual critic Bart Erhman pleads:
“Give me the God of Christmas, the God of love, the God of an innocent child in a manger, who comes to bring salvation and wholeness to the world, the way it was always meant to be.”