Frankly Answered Questions - FAQs

Is the celebration of Christmas a pagan ritual?

Q: There's no command in the Bible to celebrate Jesus' birthday. There's nothing in the Bible that would even indicate that Jesus was born on December 25. I understand that December 25 was actually a pagan holiday. So many of the symbols associated with Christmas seem to come from pagan religions. So isn't the celebration of Christmas a pagan ritual?

A: You are absolutely correct! There is no command. December 25 probably isn't Jesus birthday. But I don't agree with your conclusion.

I agree with the thoughts of theologian R. C. Sproul on this question:

"It just so happens that on the twenty-fifth of December in the Roman Empire there was a pagan holiday that was linked to mystery religions; the pagans celebrated their festival on December 25.  The Christians didn't want to participate in that, and so they said, "While everybody else is celebrating this pagan thing, we're going to have our own celebration. we're going to celebrate the thing that's most important in our lives, the incarnation of God, the birth of Jesus Christ. So this is going to be a time of joyous festivities, of celebration and worship of our God and King.

"I can't think of any thing more pleasing to Christ than the church celebrating his birthday every year. Keep in mind that the whole principle of annual festival and celebration is deeply rooted in ancient Jewish tradition. In the Old Testament, for example, there were times when God emphatically commanded the people to remember certain events with annual celebrations. While the New Testament doesn't require that we celebrate Christmas every year, I certainly see nothing wrong with the church's entering into this joyous time of celebrating the Incarnation, which is the dividing point of all human history. Originally, the celebration of Christmas by the Christians was intended to honor, not Mithras or any of the other mystery religion cults, but the birth of our King."

I certainly understand that many Christians disagree about the celebration of Christmas. They point out the following problems:

1. The choice of December 25 was probably to counter a pagan holiday (as Sproul says).
2. Some objects used in the celebration of Christmas were once used by pagans in their worship or actually worshipped.
3. No where in the Bible does God command the celebration of Jesus' birth - which is also true of Easter, by the way.

Personally I find none of these arguments convincing:

1. Countering pagan holidays is a good thing in my mind. A Christian has to make a choice between complete nonparticipation (boycotting) or capturing the holiday by substituting godly activities which have a Christian orientation. Historically speaking boycotting is seldom successful. Turning off our lights and hiding in our house at Halloween didn't keep my pagan neighbors from celebrating. And it certainly didn't help them to know Christ. Dressing up like Uncle Sam, answering the door with "Happy 4th of July," and handing out Christian music CDs with candy let my neighbors know that Christians have joy and gave them an opportunity to know Jesus.
2. Objects are only objects and it is entirely proper to invest them with new meaning. I know of no one who worships their Christmas tree. In our house the tree is a symbol of the Trinity and eternal life. That's the only way our children have ever experienced it or know it.
3. There were other religious holidays that the Jews celebrated that were not commanded by God: Purim and Hanukkah. The book of Esther was written (at least in part) to explain the celebration of Purim (Esther 9:26-28). The Scriptures tell us that Jesus attended the celebration of Hanukkah (also called "the Feast of Dedication," see John 10:22). Where did we get the idea that the only holidays that we could celebrate are holidays that God specifically commands? That wasn't the practice of the Jews or Jesus.
   
   Is it really sinning to add holidays that celebrate God wonderful works in history? In my opinion, the Bible answers that question and leaves Christians the opportunity to choose which days they regard as sacred and which they do not: "One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord" (Romans 14:5-6a).

For more thoughts on this issue see A History of the Celebration of Christmas.