Christmas is one of the most popular holidays celebrated around the world, yet it is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible. Many Christians are surprised to learn that the observance of Christmas on December 25th has pagan origins and is not rooted in scripture. In this article, we will examine the historical development of Christmas, its adoption into the church calendar, and reasons why the Bible makes no mention of celebrating Jesus’ birth.
The Origins of Christmas
There are several theories on the origins of Christmas. One theory traces back to the Roman festival Saturnalia, a week-long pagan celebration involving feasting and gift-giving leading up to the winter solstice. As Christianity spread through the Roman empire, the church adopted Saturnalia customs and set the birth of Jesus around the same time to make conversion to Christianity more palatable to pagan cultures.
Another theory links Christmas to ancient pre-Christian Germanic and Nordic traditions observing Yule or the winter solstice, such as burning a Yule log and decorating with evergreens. The traditions celebrated the return of longer days and the rebirth of the sun god. As Christianity spread north, Yule customs were absorbed into Christmas celebrations.
A key aspect of ancient winter solstice festivities in Rome and northern Europe was the recognition that the dark winter days would soon be growing longer again. Hence, these pagan winter holidays revolved around concepts of rebirth, renewal, and light overcoming darkness. When church leaders set the birth of Jesus at the same time of these popular existing festivals, it made Christianity more relatable and eased conversion.
Setting December 25 as Christmas
December 25 does not have any biblical significance as the date of Jesus’ birth. The New Testament provides no clues to the actual day or time of year when Jesus was born, and the earliest Christians did not observe his birth. It was not until the fourth century that the church began observing December 25 as the Feast of the Nativity.
There are several theories for why December 25 was chosen:
- December 25 was around the time of the winter solstice, which was already a popular pagan festive period that the church absorbed and Christianized.
- It was nine months after March 25, which was thought to be the date of the annunciation and conception of Jesus and was established as the Feast of the Annunciation.
- It coincided with the earliest Christian commemoration of Jesus’ baptism and the visit of the Magi, which was January 6. By celebrating Jesus’ birth on December 25, it created a holy period between the two commemorations.
- December 25 was chosen to compete with the pagan festival Birth of the Unconquered Sun celebrated on the winter solstice under Roman Emperor Aurelian.
By the end of the fourth century, the church had settled on December 25 for celebrating Jesus’ birth, replacing the pagan associations with the date and reinterpreting its significance as the arrival of the Light of the World.
Lack of Biblical Evidence for Christmas Date and Customs
There are several reasons why the Bible does not mention anything about celebrating Christmas on December 25:
- The New Testament does not provide any date, time of year, or details about Jesus’ birth. There is no biblical directive to commemorate his birth.
- December 25 is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible. The date derived from church tradition centuries after the biblical texts were written.
- Many modern Christmas customs such as Christmas trees, gift-giving, Christmas carols, and Santa Claus have pagan origins from winter solstice festivals and have no biblical basis.
- Early Christians did not observe Jesus’ birth. The event was not marked liturgically until centuries later when December 25 was instituted as Christmas.
- The nativity narratives in Matthew and Luke are focused on theological aspects of Jesus’ birth rather than providing a historically precise date.
- The Bible does not include December 25 in descriptions of notable dates. There are some theories that the winter solstice is referred to in astronomical descriptions in Job 38:22 and Psalm 74:17, but no direct connection to Christmas.
In summary, the modern date of Christmas and many associated Christmas traditions were developed centuries after the Bible was written. The authors of the New Testament texts were not concerned with establishing an annual celebration of Jesus’ birth. The day and customs grew out of church tradition, folk customs, and Christianization of existing pagan winter holidays rather than being based on directives in scripture.
Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?
Since Christmas is not commanded in the Bible, some Christian groups do not observe it as a religious holiday. Early Christians such as Origen mocked Roman celebrations of birthdays, viewing them as a pagan practice. In the 5th century, church elders condemned Christmas as a new and profane practice derived from pagan traditions.
However, many Christians today see no contradiction in celebrating Christmas. While acknowledging that the Bible does not endorse Christmas, they point to other scriptural principles that support observing the holiday:
- Jesus’s birth is still worth commemorating even if the Bible does not provide an exact date.
- The nativity narratives contain important theology about Jesus as Savior and the incarnation of God, so Christmas provides a chance to reflect on these teachings.
- Christmas provides an opportunity to celebrate Christ and proclaim the gospel in a cultural moment with high public awareness.
- There is Christian liberty to observe sacred days not mandated in scripture if done with the right heart motivation to glorify God.
Many Christians also do not view the pagan origins of the date and customs as a valid reason not to celebrate Christmas. They argue that Christians can redeem the day by focusing its meaning on Christ. The cultural traditions can still be enjoyed in moderation.
Conclusion
In summary, Christmas is not mentioned in the Bible because it developed centuries after the latest biblical texts were written. The December 25 date and many Christmas customs have pagan origins rather than scriptural origins. While the Bible does not prohibit celebrating Christmas, neither does it endorse observing it. Differences in opinion on whether to celebrate Christmas often stem from perspectives on the authority of scripture versus church tradition, as well as differing views on the appropriateness of Christianized pagan customs. Yet for many Christians today, participating in Christmas is compatible with bibliical principles as long as Christ remains the focus.