By COGwriter
Each year, many religious and secular sources promote the celebration of Christmas.
In 2023, I heard various secularists singing un-religious Christmas songs and promote Christmas celebrations.
After conducting some internet searches, I went to a couple of articles from Protestants explaining why they believe Christians should celebrate Christmas. Then, a CCOG supporter, not knowing about this, sent me a link to an article from a sort of fringe Roman Catholic writer. Also, there was a Roman Catholic article I had seen last year supposedly debunking myths about Christmas.
(Here is a link to a related sermon: Arguments for Christmas?)
Should Christians celebrate Christmas?
Author: CRI Statement • Updated: Apr 13, 2023 • Published: Apr 9, 2009 (https://www.equip.org/articles/should-christians-celebrate-christmas/)
Should Christians celebrate Christmas? A number of unorthodox new religions which profess to follow Christ insist that Christmas is a pagan festival to be shunned by all true Christians. Probably the most notable of these religions is the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who publish stinging attacks on the celebration of Christmas year after year. Other religions that take the same position include the World Wide Church of God (led by Herbert W. Armstrong) and the Assemblies of Yahweh.
However, these unorthodox religious groups are not alone in their condemnation of this most popular of religious holidays. Many evangelical Christians also believe that Christmas is a pagan celebration dressed up in “Christian clothes.” While many Christians mark Christmas as a special day to worship Christ and give thanks for His entrance into the world, they reject anything to do with Santa Claus, Christmas trees, exchanging gifts, and the like.
Are there biblical grounds for rejecting all or part of Christmas?
Certainly.
Let's start with the name.
What Christmas mean? According to The Catholic Encyclopedia:
The word for Christmas in late Old English is Cristes Maesse, the Mass of Christ, first found in 1038, and Cristes-messe, in 1131. In Dutch it is Kerstmis, in Latin Dies Natalis, whence comes the French Noël, and Italian Il natale; in German Weihnachtsfest, from the preceeding sacred vigil. (Martindale C. Christmas. The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1908).
So, we see the word first appeared a thousand years after Jesus was resurrected.
What is mass? Here is something from the Encylopedia Britannica:
Mass, the central act of worship of the Roman Catholic Church, which culminates in celebration of the sacrament of the Eucharist. The term mass is derived from the ecclesiastical Latin formula for the dismissal of the congregation: Ite, missa est (“Go, it is the sending [dismissal]”).
The mass consists of two principal rites: the liturgy of the Word and the liturgy of the Eucharisthttps://www.britannica.com/topic/mass-Christian-religious-service
Similarly, The Catholic Encyclopedia states:
The Mass is the complex of prayers and ceremonies that make up the service of the Eucharist in the Latin rites. (Fortesque A. Liturgy of the Mass. The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1910)
The liturgy of the Eucharist that is now done is an innovation combined with pagan elements. It is not something Jesus or His disciples did.
The Protestant article continues with:
What should be the attitude of Christians in this matter? That is the question before us.
Our attitude should be that we obey the word of God over traditions.
Let's consider the following scriptures:
29 We ought to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29)
16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (John 17:16-17)
Jesus also said of those who do not hold to the word of God enough:
3 "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? ... 6... you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 "These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'" (Matthew 15:3,6-9)
The Protestant article continues with:
The answer given here is that while certain elements of Christmas tradition are essentially pagan and should not be indulged at that time of year, Christmas itself and many of the traditions associated with it may be celebrated by Christians with a clear conscience. Those who are inclined to reject out of hand such a position might be interested to know that at one time this writer would have agreed with them. A closer examination of the issues involved, however, leads to a different conclusion.
It is sad that the above author decided to compromise.
The Protestant article continues with:
Should Christians celebrate Christmas- Celebrating Jesus’ Birthday
The most basic and common argument brought against Christmas is that it is not found in the Bible. Many Christians, as well as groups like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, feel that because Christmas is not mentioned in scripture, it is therefore not to be observed. In fact, the Witnesses argue that since the only people in the Bible who celebrated their own birthdays were Pharoah (Gen. 40:20-22) and Herod (Matt. 14:6-10), God takes a dim view of celebrating birthdays in general. Therefore, they feel, God would hardly approve of celebrating Jesus’ birthday.
On those points the Jehovah's Witnesses are basically right (see also Did Early Christians Celebrate Birthdays?).
The Protestant article continues with:
In answer to these arguments, a few things need to be said. First of all, the fact is that the Bible says nothing against the practice of celebrating birthdays. What was bad in the cases of Pharoah and Herod was not that they celebrated their birthdays, but that they did evil things on their birthdays (Pharoah killed his chief baker, and Herod killed John the Baptist). Second, what the Bible does not forbid, either explicitly or by implication from some moral principle, is permissible to the Christian, as long as it is edifying (Rom. 13:10; 14:1-23; 1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23; Col. 2:20-23; etc.). Therefore, since the Bible does not forbid birthdays, and they do not violate any biblical principle, there is no biblical basis for rejecting birthdays. For the same reason, there is no biblical reason to reject entirely the idea of celebrating Jesus’ birthday.
Well, early Christians did not celebrate birthdays, while they were a big deal for pagans and astrologers. And the Bible warns against following their practices. The Bible does not say one should not surgically pretend to change one's sex, but various verses oppose the concept (cf. Deuteronomy 22:5; Matthew 19:4-6).
The Protestant article continues with:
Should Christians celebrate Christmas- December 25
Another common objection to Christmas relates to observing December 25 as the birthday of Christ. It is frequently urged that Christ could not have been born in December (usually because the shepherds would supposedly not have had their flocks in the fields at night in that month), so that December 25 could not have been his birthday. It is also pointed out that December 25 was the date of a pagan festival in the Roman Empire in the fourth century, when Christmas began to be widely celebrated on that day.
It is true that there seems to be no evidence for December 25 as the actual birthday of Christ. On the other hand, it has been shown that such a date is not impossible, as is so commonly supposed. Nevertheless, it may be granted that it is highly improbable that Christ was actually born on December 25. Does this fact invalidate Christmas? No. It is not essential to the celebration of someone’s birth that it be commemorated on the same date as his birth. Americans commemorate Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthday on the third Monday of February, even though Washington’s was February 22. If it were to become certain that Christ was actually born on say, April 30, should we then celebrate Christmas on that day? While there would be nothing wrong with such a change, it would not be necessary. The intent or purpose is what matters, not the actual date.
December 25th is impossible, as The Catholic Encyclopedia admits:
The Gospels. Concerning the date of Christ's birth the Gospels give no help; upon their data contradictory arguments are based. The census would have been impossible in winter: a whole population could not then be put in motion...
If something is impossible, then it did not happen.
As far as any difference between the date and celebration go, there are two issues.
The first issue is that in 23rd chapter of the Book of Leviticus, God lists what dates He wanrs to be observed, And, He is precise on the dates (see also the free online booklet: Should You Keep God's Holy Days or Demonic Holidays?
How countries handle holidays like presidential brirthdays is irrelevant and has nothing to do with what God said about His feasts. The word of God specifically says not to follow pagan worship (Deuteronomy 18:9-12)--so referring to secular customs does not invalidate that principle.
The second issue is to pretend that Jesus was born on a date He was not born in is in conflict with what Jesus said about worship:
23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:23-24)
The truth is that December 25th is not Jesus' date of birth nor a date for Christians to celebrate.
The Protestant article continues with:
But what of the fact that December 25 was the date of a pagan festival? Does this not prove that Christmas is pagan? No, it does not. Instead, it proves that Christmas was established as a rival celebration to the pagan festival. That is, what Christians did was to say, “Rather than celebrate in immorality the birth of Mithra, a false god who was never really born and who cannot save you, let us celebrate in joyful righteousness the birth of Jesus, the true God incarnate who is the Savior of the world.”
Well, yes, December 25th was the date of a pagan sun god celebration. And yes, Jesus is the Savior for the world; However, those who observe Christmas normally do not understand God's plan of salvation. For details check out our free online books: Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation and Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism. Instead of understanding various scriptures and church history, many Protestants promote compromising with pagan worship.
The Protestant article continues with:
Sometimes it is urged that to take a pagan festival and try to “Christianize” it is folly. However, God Himself did exactly that in the Old Testament. Historical evidence shows conclusively that some of the feasts given to Israel by God through Moses were originally pagan agricultural festivals, which were filled with idolatrous imagery and practices.2 What God did, in effect, was to establish feasts which would replace the pagan festivals without adopting any of the idolatry or immorality associated with them. It would appear, then, that in principle there is nothing wrong with doing so in the case of Christmas.
Now, that is blasphemous! God did not take pagan holidays and turn them into His. This is NOT shown conclusively through secular history.
Does anyone really think that the God of the Bible had to look at how pagans celebrated in order to come up with His feasts?
Absurd.
Furthermore, the Bible shows that one of the reasons that God made the moon was for the observance of His Holy Days. Notice something in the Book of Genesis, showing both a Protestant and a Roman Catholic translation:
14 Then God said, "Let there be lights in the sky to separate the day from the night. They will be signs and will mark religious festivals, days, and years. (Genesis 1:14, God’s Word Translation, GWT)
14 God said, 'Let there be lights in the vault of heaven to divide day from night, and let them indicate festivals, days and years. (Genesis 1:14, New Jerusalem Bible, NJB)
The Hebrew word mowed’ in the verse 14 refers to a religious festival.
Apparently the Protestant writer did not know that the Bible talked about the existence of religious festivals in its very first book.
The Book of Psalms also confirms this is basically why God made the moon:
19 He made the moon to mark the festivals (Psalm 104:19, Holman Christian Standard Bible)
God did not decide to incorporate later pagan celebrations in His worship calendar.
The Protestant article continues with:
Should Christians celebrate Christmas- Santa Claus
Perhaps the thing that bothers Christians about Christmas more than anything else is the Santa Claus tradition. Objections to this tradition include the following (1) Santa Claus is a mythical figure endowed with godlike attributes, including omniscience and omnipotence; (2) when children learn that Santa Claus is not real, they lose faith in their parents’ word and in supernatural beings; (3) Santa Claus distracts children from Christ; (4) the Santa Claus story teaches children to be materialistic. In the face of such weighty objections, can anything good be said about Santa Claus?
Before examining each of these objections, let it be noted that Christmas can be celebrated without Santa Claus. Take Santa out of Christmas and Christmas remains intact. Take Christ out of Christmas, however, and all that remains is a pagan festival. Whatever our individual differences however best to handle Santa Claus with our children may be, as Christians we should be able to agree on this much.
There is no doubt that Santa Claus in its present form is a fairy tale or myth. However, there really was a Santa Claus. The name “Santa Claus” is an Anglicized form of the Dutch Sinter Klaas, which in turn meant “Saint Nicholas.” Nicholas was a Christian bishop in the fourth century about whom we know little for sure. He apparently attended the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325, and a very strong tradition suggests that he did show unusual kindness toward children. While the red-suited old man in a sled pulled by flying reindeer is a myth, the story of a children-loving old man who brought them gifts probably is not — and in many countries, that is all there is to “Santa Claus.”
Telling children that Santa can see them at all times and that he knows if they have been bad or good, etc., is wrong. Parents should not tell their children the Santa Claus story as if it were literal truth.
Yes, lying to children about Santa Claus is wrong. Furthermore, let me add that Nicholas was not a saint, was not jolly, did not look like Santa Claus, and should be be celebrated either (see Was Nicholas, sometimes called ‘Santa Claus,’ even fat or jolly?).
The Protestant article continues with:
However, children under seven or eight years of age can play “let’s pretend” and derive just as much fun from it as if they thought it was real. Indeed, at that age they are learning the difference between make-believe and reality. Much younger children will be fascinated by presents that are discovered Christmas morning under the tree that they are told are from “Santa,” but they will not draw any conclusions about the reality of Santa Claus from those discoveries.
When children learn that Santa Claus is not real, this will upset them only if they have been told by their parents that he really exists and does all that he is purported to do. Therefore, children should be told that Santa is make-believe as soon as they are old enough to ask questions about reality. Rather than a stumbling block to belief in the supernatural, Santa can be a stepping stone. Tell your children that while Santa Claus is make-believe, God and Jesus are not. Tell them that while Santa can only bring things that parents can buy or make, Jesus can give them things no one else can — a friend who is always with them, forgiveness of the bad things they do, life in a wonderful place with God forever, etc.
Follow the suggestions above, and Santa Claus will not be a distraction from Christ. Tell your children that the reason “Santa” gives gifts is because God gave us the wonderful gift of Jesus.
On the contrary, the Santa Claus story is best told when it is used to encourage children to be selfless and giving. For an example of how to teach your inquiring child about Santa Claus, see the book, Santa Are You for Real? by Harold Myra (Thomas Nelson, 1977).
That is wrong. It is wrong to tell little children that Santa brought them anything is a lie. Period. That is not the same as pretending for fun.
This type of deceit should not be continued and is not justified by scripture.
The Protestant article continues with:
Should Christians celebrate Christmas- Christmas Trees
One of the few elements of the traditional celebration of Christmas, which those opposed to it claim is spoken of in Scripture, is the Christmas tree. Specifically, it is thought that in Jeremiah 10:2-4 God explicitly condemned Christmas trees:
Thus says the LORD…
“For the customs of the people are delusion,
Because it is wood cut from the forest,
The work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool.
They decorate it with silver and with gold,
They fasten it with nails and with hammers
So that it will not totter.”There certainly is a resemblance between the thing described in Jeremiah 10 and the Christmas tree. Resemblance, however, does not equal identity. What Jeremiah described was an idol — a representation of a false god — as the next verse shows (Jer. 10:5):
“Like a scarecrow in a field are they,
And they cannot speak;
They must be carried,
Because they cannot walk!Do not fear them,
For they can do no harm,
Neither can they do any good.”The parallel passage in Isaiah 40:18-20 makes it clear that the sort of thing Jeremiah 10 has in mind is an actual objection of worship:
To whom then will you liken God?
Or what likeness will you compare with Him?As for the idol, a craftsman cast it,
A goldsmith plates it with gold,
And a silversmith fashions chains of silver.
He who is too impoverished for such an offering
Selects a tree that does not rot.
He seeks out for himself a skilled craftsman
To prepare an idol that will not totter.Thus, the resemblance is merely superficial. The Christmas tree does not originate from pagan worship of trees (which was practiced), but from two explicitly Christian symbols in medieval western Germany. The Encyclopedia Britannica3 explains as follows:
The modern Christmas tree, though originated in western Germany. The main prop of a popular medieval play about Adam and Eve was a fire tree hung with apples (Paradise tree) representing the Garden of Eden. The Germans set up a “Paradise tree” in their homes on December 24, the religious feast day of Adam and Eve. They hung wafers on it (symbolizing the host, the Christian sign of redemption); the hosts eventually became cookies of various shapes. Candles, too, were often added as a symbol of Christ. In the same room, during the Christmas season, was the Christmas pyramid, a triangular construction of wood, with shelves to hold Christmas figurines, decorated with evergreens, candles, and a star. By the 16th century, the Christmas pyramid and Paradise tree had merged, becoming the Christmas tree.
Once again, there is nothing essential about the Christmas tree to the celebration of Christmas. Like the modern Santa Claus myth, it is a relatively recent tradition; people celebrated Christmas for centuries without the tree and without the semi-divine resident of the North Pole. What is essential to Christmas is Christ. Yet that does not mean that we must throw Santa and the tree out altogether. In this matter we have Christian liberty to adopt these traditions and use them to teach our children about Christ, or to celebrate Christ’s birth without them. For that matter, there is no compulsion to celebrate His birthday at all, since it is not commanded of us in Scripture. Nevertheless, it would be strange indeed if someone saved by the Son of God would not rejoice in thinking of the day that His incarnation was first manifested to the world on that holy night.
No, we should not enourage paganism, Santa, or worship with trees. They are not related to Jesus or His message.
Pagan used everygreen trees in their worship. God's word opposes them as well as adopting pagan practices:
2 You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations which you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. (Deuteronomy 12:2)
2 Destroy all the places in which the nations, that you shall possess, worshipped their gods upon high mountains, and hills, and under every shady tree: 3 Overthrow their altars, and break down their statues, burn their groves with fire, and break their idols in pieces: destroy their names out of those places. 4 You shall not do so to the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 12:2-4, Douay OT, DOT, a Roman Catholic translation).
29 "When the Lord your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, 30 take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.' 31 You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way; for every abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.
32 "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it. (Deuteronomy 12:29-32)
Christmas is a pagan addition. Consider that God had Nehemiah rise up to lead and here is something he said about what he did:
30 ... I cleansed them of everything pagan (Nehemiah 13:30)
As far as the liberty in Christ argument, consider something from both the Old and New Testamentst:
8 You shall not at all do as we are doing here today — every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes (Deuteronomy 12:8)
3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 3-4)
Notice that the word of God says to contend for the original faith. Christmas was NOT part of the original faith--the Apostles did not celebrate it.
The true faith has not changed.
God's word also warns about those that try to trun grace into lewdness (mistletoe comes to mind in this context), and deny Jesus. Most who oberve Christmas deny that Christians should follow Jesus by keeping God's Holy Days as we know that Jesus did. Jesis said
10 ... I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. (John 15:10)
What some consider to be nice sounding arguments should not listen to them and accept fables. The Apostle Paul warned against following fables:
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia — remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, (1 Timothy 1:3-6)
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables (2 Timothy 4:2-4)
The Apostle Peter made it clear that the true faith did not involved cunningly devised fables:
16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. (2 Peter 1:16)
Trying to tie the true faith in with the cunningly devised Christmas fables is not something true Christians are to follow!
Here is another article from another Protestant:
Why Some Christians Are Forsaking Christmas
To them, Jesus is not the reason for the season.
by Mariana Zapata December 21, 2016 (https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/why-some-christians-are-forsaking-christmas#:~:text=If%20birthdays%20were%20depicted%20negatively,not%20actually%20following%20his%20word.&text=Besides%2C%20December%2025%20is%20most,date%20of%20birth%20of%20Jesus.)
With four days left until Christmas, people around the world are preparing for the celebration. The Christmas trees have been decorated with ornaments and lights, stockings have been hung, presents have been wrapped, and images of Santa Claus and the nativity scene have been put up.
No, faithful Christians will not be doing that, but many who profess Jesus will.
That Protestant article continued with:
Of course, there are millions of people who will not be celebrating Christmas, from followers of other faiths to atheists. Among these people, however, there is one particular group you would not have expected to find: fundamentalist Christians.
Well, those who hold to original Christianity also will not be celebrating.
That Protestant article continued with:
Given “Jesus is the reason for the season,” followers of the faith are usually enthusiastic to celebrate the birth of their Messiah. Some criticize the commercialization of the holiday, which has placed an emphasis on presents rather than the birth of Christ. But there is a group of Christians that takes the sentiment a step further and has declared outright that Christmas is actually un-Christian.
Jesus is NOT the reason for the season as the winter celebration was going on well before Jesus was born. That is part of why some decided to falsely claim Jesus was born on December 25th. And what was going on that date?
The Catholic Encyclopedia states:
Mithraism A pagan religion consisting mainly of the cult of the ancient Indo-Iranian Sun-god Mithra. It entered Europe from Asia Minor after Alexander's conquest, spread rapidly over the whole Roman Empire at the beginning of our era, reached its zenith during the third century, and vanished under the repressive regulations of Theodosius at the end of the fourth century...Helios Mithras is one god...Sunday was kept holy in honour of Mithra, and the sixteenth of each month was sacred to him as mediator. The 25 December was observed as his birthday, the natalis invicti, the rebirth of the winter-sun, unconquered by the rigours of the season (Arendzen J. Mithraism. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume X. Nihil Obstat, October 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911).
That Protestant article continued with:
It is difficult to say what percentage of Christians shares this view of Christmas, but blog posts and comments on Christian websites show that the sentiments can be strong. Rejection of the holiday is also an official doctrine followed by several churches, including Jehovah’s Witnesses and members of the Restored Church of God.
I would state 100% of those who accept true original Christianity do not celebrate Christmas and consider it un-Christian.
That Protestant article continued with:
Why would any Christian be against the celebration of the birth of Christ? The answer lies in interpretations of the Bible, and a rejection of the pagan origins of the holiday. One of the main arguments against Christmas is that early Jews and Christians did not celebrate birthdays. Pagans, on the other hand, believed that on the day of one’s birth one was more vulnerable to spirits, so they celebrated with rituals such as wishing a good day, lighting candles, and eating cake—all of which were believed to help in warding off bad spirits.
The Bible is also used as an argument, as only three birthdays are mentioned in the sacred book, and they all end in disaster and death. In Genesis 40:1-23 the Egyptian King executes his baker to celebrate his birthday; in Matthew 14:3-11, Herod gets caught in the excess of his party and does good on his promise to kill John the Baptist; and in Job 1:4, Job’s 10 children are killed by Satan after celebrating their birthday with an assumably raucous party.
If birthdays were depicted negatively in the Bible, and if Jesus never celebrated his birthday, some Christians argue, then celebrating the birthday of the savior is not actually following his word.
Besides, December 25 is most likely not the actual date of birth of Jesus. As Time pointed out last year, factors such as the shepherds being out with their flock have put to question the validity of the winter date. One astronomer used software to recreate the night sky at the time of Jesus’ arrival and claimed that his birth happened in the summer rather than the winter. Others say the big day was in autumn.
December 25 has long been a significant date, though. Occurring four days after the winter solstice, it marks the dawn of longer days and more sunlight. This has afforded it a special place in the hearts of people in several civilizations, including the Romans, who used to celebrate the feast of Saturnalia in honor of the god Saturn. This feast was surrounded by a spirit of joy, as families would gather together and present gifts to children.
When Emperor Constantine I declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire, it is said that the church purposefully co-opted the date of December 25 to incentivize pagans to convert. After all, it was better to ease them into the new faith by replacing their traditions rather than by changing them.
While Jesus was likely born in late Summer or Early Fall, the points above are basically correct.
That Protestant article continued with:
Thus, Jesus, who is supposed to bring new light into the spiritual state of the world, replaced the Roman god of literal light. His birth was seen by the early adopters of Christmas as a logical symbol for the birth of a new era whose positive change was reflected in the natural world. Some of the most iconic symbols of Christmas, like the decorated tree, the presents, and the date, are the result of syncretism between Christianity and pagan Roman rituals.
Yes, they are pagan and are intended to honor the sun god, which would have a relationship with Satan as Lucifer means he was a type of light-bringer.
Anyway, that Protestant article continued with:
Some Christians believe allowing these two to mesh is a mistake. Otoniel Morraz, who stopped celebrating Christmas five years ago, says: “As a Christian, if the lord warns me, ‘don’t do as the pagans did and say that you do it for me’ then I don’t do it.” Morraz has also stopped eating pig and tries to keep sabbath, in accordance to the scriptures. Rather than celebrating Christmas, he says, true Christians should celebrate the seven holy days that the scriptures command to be kept.
Yes, true Christians should keep the biblical holy days (see our free online booklet: Should You Keep God's Holy Days or Demonic Holidays?)--just like Jesus and His faithful followers have throughout history.
Back to the Protestant article:
Many Christians argue, however, that Christmas symbols have long lost their association with paganism, making the celebration of December 25 perfectly reasonable. The significance, rather than the origin, seems to matter more to defenders of the holiday, who counter-argue that wedding rituals, months, and the days of the week are also a legacy of paganism—and no one objects to those
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. (Hebrews 13:8-9)
6 "For I am the Lord, I do not change;
Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
7 Yet from the days of your fathers
You have gone away from My ordinances
And have not kept them.
Return to Me, and I will return to you," (Malachi 3:6-7)
Jesus also said:
4 ... It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' (Matthew 4:4)
Remember what God's leader Nehemiah stated about those who tried to mix the true faith in with paganism:
30 ... I cleansed them of everything pagan (Nehemiah 13:30)
Consider also that the Apostle Paul wrote:
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
"I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people."17 Therefore
"Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you."
18 'I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons. (1 Corinthians 10:21)
Christians are not to mix pagan, things (like of Belial, the devil) with the true faith. Yet, even in Paul's time, some apparently thought that you could. Christmas, originally suipposedly being a euchartistic church service does mix paganism with Jesus.
December 5, 2023
Many Catholics today “deck their halls” well before Thanksgiving, which gives us some indication of how much has been lost. Can you imagine Muslims celebrating Ramadan a month early? It’s unthinkable, but only because most Muslims take their faith seriously.
And what about Christmas itself? For most Catholics today, it’s Santa Claus and Rudolph and that’s about it. Now, I’m not here to beat up on the jolly old elf. It’s just that in many ways, we’ve been had. The secularists have quite literally stolen our Holy Days. And now that we see where this was all heading from the very start—into Christless moral and spiritual chaos— perhaps now would be a good time to look back on what we’ve lost.
I suggest this not to impugn anyone else’s traditions, but rather to suggest Catholic alternatives that may have far greater appeal than many realize. And neither am I directing this only at those who have small children. All of us—together with clans united—can pitch in to help restore the old Catholic customs which are part of our birthright as baptized Catholics.
I make no judgment against you or yours. I merely invite you to consider the Catholic alternative.
I agree that Santa Claus, decking the halls, etc. is not appropriate and the secularists have also impacted Christmas.
But the original catholic alternative was actually the Feast of Tabernacles That eight day season has been changed to the 8 days from Christmas to New Years.
The first step towards that was shown in the Bible by Jeroboam, king of Israel who feared losing the people:
26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, "Now the kingdom may return to the house of David: 27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah."
28 Therefore the king asked advice, made two calves of gold, and said to the people, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt!" 29 And he set up one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. 30 Now this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan. 31 He made shrines on the high places, and made priests from every class of people, who were not of the sons of Levi.
32 Jeroboam ordained a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the feast that was in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. So he did at Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made. And at Bethel he installed the priests of the high places which he had made. 33 So he made offerings on the altar which he had made at Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month which he had devised in his own heart. (1 Kings 12:26-33)
The Feast of Tabernacles began on the 15th day of the 7th month on the Hebrew calendar (Leviticus 23:34-39). So, Jeroboam added a month and idols. That originally was the tenth month of the Roman calendar. And after the Julius and Augustus Ceaser added months named after themselves, that pushed the tenth month to being the 12th month, even though December still means tenth.
The Roman Catholic article continued with:,
I would also like to anticipate those predictable Grinches who every year insist that some of the old German Catholic Christmas customs date back to Martin Luther, and thus should be avoided like the plague.
Bah humbug!
I don’t doubt that Luther was moved by the old Christmas customs of his childhood, but let’s not fall for the old revisionist Black Legend that the man invented them, which he certainly did not. And neither did Queen Victoria “invent” the Christmas tree, though the custom was certainly popularized worldwide during her reign.
The actual roots of many of these Christmas customs date back to the pre-Christian period, and it’s no secret that many of them were simply Christianized after a given nation was baptized.
King Arthur and his knights, for example, would have held magnificent “Christ Masse” feasts, to include the Yule Log which each year was lit from a spark preserved from the previous year’s log according to the pre-Christian tradition.
The Christmas Tree hearkens back to the old Norse belief, which included worship of the Fir Tree. But with the arrival of Christianity, that belief was transformed into the Weihnachten or Christmas tree, used in the celebration of the Birth of Christ Who conquered paganism.
They would have cut Mistletoe, as well, just as the Druids did, only this time for the purpose of celebrating the Birth of Christ with everything from Mistletoe to Wassail to Christmas pudding and the spicy concoctions of fruit and ceremony that went back a thousand years into Norman, Saxon, Viking and ancient British origin.
So, no, Luther did not “invent” the Christmas Tree. In fact, the story of St. Boniface famously cutting down Thor’s Oak Tree, worshipped by Germanic pagans, more or less proves this. But Boniface took the wood of that tree and used it to build a church on the same spot, dedicated to Saint Peter.
In other words, he Christianized the pagan tree.
The Christmas Tree hearkens back to the old Norse belief, which included worship of the Fir Tree. But with the arrival of Christianity, that belief was transformed into the Weihnachten or Christmas tree, used in the celebration of the Birth of Christ Who conquered paganism. In Germany it was the “Tannenbaum”, and it became a Catholic custom long before a constipated Martin Luther was pondering the meaning of life from the seat of his famous toilet.
Germany certainly did “invent” the Christmas Tree tradition, which quickly came to include the “Lowly Stable” placed beneath the green branches of the Tannenbaum in each and every home, yet another reminder of Christ’s victory over paganism.
Yes, much associated with Christmas is pagan. As far as the trees go, Roman Catholics used to condemn Protestantism as the "Tannenbaum religion," yet Vatican City now puts up a large Christmas tree each year--and my wife Joyce and I have seen it at least twice--so, the Church of Rome itself pushes Christmas trees.
The Roman Catholic writer continued with:
In the old German Christmas tradition, Santa Claus (or Saint Nicholas) was not the gift giver. Known as Christkind or Christkindl (pronounced Kris Kint), it was the “Christ Child” Himself Who came on Christmas Eve. And this custom eventually spread to Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the eastern part of Belgium, Portugal, Slovakia, Hungary, parts of northeastern France, Poland, parts of South America, certain areas of southern Brazil, and in the Acadiana region of Louisiana.
Given the ongoing globalist war on all things Christian today, perhaps it’s time to “reset” and reclaim the Christmas Holy Day in accordance with our rich Catholic heritage. It’s a great way to solidify the faith of Children in the reality of the Incarnation.
Italy’s version of Christkind is Gesù Bambino, of course, and in Portuguese it was Menino Jesus (“Jesus Boy”), in Hungarian Jézuska (“Little Jesus”), in Slovak Ježiško (“Little Jesus”), in Czech Ježíšek (“Little Jesus”), in Latin America Niño Dios (“God Child”) or Niño Jesús (“Jesus Child”) and in Croatian Isusić or Isusek (“Little Jesus”), in Upper Silesia in Poland Dzieciątko (“little baby”).
This Christkind tradition was handed down to my father from his father, and it centered on two principal elements: The Christkind and Midnight Mass.
We are not to keep pagan traditions.
The article continued with:
Given the ongoing globalist war on all things Christian today, perhaps it’s time to “reset” and reclaim the Christmas Holy Day in accordance with our rich Catholic heritage. It’s a great way to solidify the faith of Children in the reality of the Incarnation.
The original catholic faith did not observe Christmas. The Catholic Encyclopedia teaches that:
Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church (Martindale C. Transcribed by Susanti A. Suastika. Christmas. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume III. Copyright © 1908 by Robert Appleton Company. Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight. Nihil Obstat, November 1, 1908. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York).
Back to the article:
I first started writing about the Christkind tradition 25 years ago when my own children were babies. Today four of my seven children are grown, and I can honestly say that they appreciate the old tradition as much now as adults and college graduates as they did as children. Why? Because the beautiful old custom helped them keep the old Faith. It’s as simple as that! They are all traditional Catholics to this day, and I truly believe that Christmas with the Christkind helped make that happen.
They spent their first Advents preparing for Him to come into their home. He was as real to them then as He is today. His midnight visit on Christmas Eve was the highpoint of their year. And most importantly, as they look back on Christmases past, they can see how profoundly Catholic it was.
There is nothing artificial about it. In fact, their faith in Christkind naturally transformed itself into belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, which is the true meaning of Christmas. As adults, it all becomes one.
The Christkind Tradition
It starts on the first Sunday of Advent, when the youngest children dust off the little “straw box” (a cigar box, on which was pasted images of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph many years before), and set it on the mantle next to the Advent Calendar.
In our tradition, He even brought the Christmas tree. So, when we went to sleep on December 23, there was no tree in the living room, no lights, no decorations. The Baby Jesus transformed the room while we slept.
Then out the door they go in search of straw or something equivalent to be cut into 4-inch lengths and piled next to the ‘straw box’, the idea being to spend Advent doing acts of kindness and abstaining from treats in exchange for pieces of straw to be laid in the family Nativity scene on Christmas night. This way the Baby Jesus would be sure to have a softer bed in His manger.
Under the rules of the old custom, the practice of virtue was an essential part of a child’s preparation for Christmas. Before each evening meal, the lights in the dining room would be turned off while Advent Wreath candles were lit. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel is sung in the darkness of flickering candlelight.
Gradually, the four weeks of Advent would pass, as the empty manger filled with straw. Preparing the soul was as important as preparing the house for when Baby Jesus would come.
On the evening of December 23rd, a curtain was hung over the doorway that leads to the living room which, if that straw box were adequately filled, would be transformed into the “Christmas room” by Baby Jesus Himself in the middle of the night.
In our tradition, He even brought the Christmas tree. So, when we went to sleep on December 23, there was no tree in the living room, no lights, no decorations. The Baby Jesus transformed the room while we slept.
And then on Christmas Eve morning, nobody dared go near the curtained doorway to the living room, lest the temptation to “peek” should prove too much. If anyone succumbed to the temptation, they risked the instant disappearance of whatever Christkind may have brought.
Even the 24th of December, then, was an interminable day of penitential waiting, as the last few hours of Advent droned on.
After a day of chores and house cleaning, the family gathers in the back room to sing Christmas carols by candlelight and listen as Mother read aloud the familiar narrative: “And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus…”
This is when Father enters the “Christmas room” to take down the curtain and see to the final arrangements. Once his mysterious tasks are completed, he makes the announcement for which the children have been waiting all Advent long: “Come children, Christkind has come.”
And then there’s the traditional candlelit and solemn procession from the back room to the living room, singing the old German carol: Ihr Kinderlein, kommet, O kommet doch all! Zur Krippe her kommet in Bethlehems Stall.
The house is in total darkness, apart from the light of a single candle which the lead child processes into the living room, to set before the darkened creche. The light of Christ in the darkness—this is how the Christmas Eve celebration begins.
Now we kneel in front of the nativity scene, each child having carefully placed his crib figure properly into the crèche. It’s always the youngest who gets the honor of laying the Baby in His manger of fresh straw. The stage is set, but the tree is still dark, as is the room, apart from the manger scene whose little shepherds and friendly beasts are illuminated by the flickering flame of the lone candle.
Prayers are said, Christmas carols sung, and deceased family members remembered. Each child is asked if he or she would like to pray for some special intention, as prayers are answered best on Christmas Eve.
We knew that Christkind was real because our father and mother were kneeling on the floor before the miniature manger… praying to Him. They were either insane or they truly believed, and my father and mother were decidedly sane.
The family is quietly uniting itself in love and memories and, yes, belief in the Holy Family and the little Baby lying in the manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes.
And when all is said, prayed, and done, “Happy Birthday” is sung by all, with one little edit: “God’s blessings on us.” And then the Christmas lights are turned up, revealing the unwrapped presents under the tree, placed there by Baby Jesus Himself (with the help of his able assistant, of course, the mysterious Knecht Ruprecht, travel companion of both St. Nicholas and the Baby).
And now the celebration of Christmas begins in earnest.
And you know what? There is nothing fake about any of this. It was a prayer and a procession and a ritual commemoration of everything that matters in this life.
Yes, there are several things that are fake in the above, including the fact that Christmas is not Jesus birthday and the inclusion of a Christmas tree nor did early Christians have a Eucharist type mass like Roman Catholics do.
Back to the Roman Catholic writer:
I can still remember my own father’s voice in the darkness of Christmas Eve, explaining to us Who the Baby is, what He expects of us, and what it means to be Catholic. That was fifty years ago, but I have never forgotten how much my father believed in Baby Jesus.
To be a faithful and original catholic, Christmas is not to be observed.
Back to the Roman Catholic writer:
We knew that Christkind was real because our father and mother were kneeling on the floor before the miniature manger… praying to Him. They were either insane or they truly believed, and my father and mother were decidedly sane.
There is no deceit in the Christkind custom because there is no deceit in the Christkind. He really does come down to earth on Christmas Eve; His providence provides for everything we need in this life (including electric trains and dolls when we are children); He exists as surely as we do.
We knew Christkind was real because later that night our father would pile all nine of us into the station wagon and brave snow and freezing temperatures to take us to receive Him at Midnight Mass.
There is no deceit in the Christkind custom because there is no deceit in the Christkind. He really does come down to earth on Christmas Eve; His providence provides for everything we need in this life (including electric trains and dolls when we are children); He exists as surely as we do.
He was born, He has a mother whom we know and love, and He still comes to us at Mass—Christ’s Mass. He comes to us at Christmas. He really does!
Yes, Jesus came to earth. But He did not come on December 25th. Nor did He ask anyone to celebrate His birth.
Let’s reclaim Christmas this year, dear friends. Let’s make it ours again by making it Catholic again.
Let’s leave Macy’s behind and let’s go back to Bethlehem. Let’s make ourselves better Catholics by making our Holy Days more Catholic once again. https://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/articles/item/6270-reclaiming-our-holy-days-putting-christ-back-in-christmas
There is nothing for Christians to reclaim about Christmas as it was not an original Christian practice.
The original catholic church observed God's Holy Days (see also the free online book: Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?). They did not celebrate Christmas, All Saints' Day Easter, or other additions that the Greco-Roman Catholics and many Protestants have accepted.
Last year, Our Sunday Visitor put up the following by a Roman Catholic apologist named Jimmy Akin:
Dispelling some common myths about Christmas
Every year, various myths about Christmas circulate. ...
One of the most common ideas is that Christmas is based on a pagan holiday, so it’s really “pagan” in origin. 12/08/22 https://www.oursundayvisitor.com/dispelling-some-common-myths-about-christmas/
Well, the fact is that it is pagan in origin. Plus December 25th was not adopted by the church of Rome until the 4th century.
Christians should not follow myths that try to say otherwise.
The Apostle Peter stated:
16 When we told you about the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not slavishly repeating cleverly invented myths; no, we had seen his majesty with our own eyes. (2 Peter 1:16, NJB--a Roman Catholic translation)
Anyway, while many, Protestant and Roman Catholic alike, like traditions, pagan Christmas ones are not traditions that the Bible endorse.
Jimmy Akin further wrote:
Some sources link Christmas with the Roman holiday Saturnalia, which was a festival in honor of the god Saturn. ...
But there is a major problem claiming that Christmas is an alternative to Saturnalia. This Roman festival was originally celebrated Dec. 17, though by the time of the Republic it extended through Dec. 23. So, Christmas wasn’t held until after Saturnalia was over.
First, consider that there are normally many Christmas parties before December 25th.
Second, consider that many customs of Saturnalia are part of Christmas celebrations.
And third, notice something from a then Roman Catholic scholar named Tertullian in the early 3rd century:
The Minervalia are as much Minerva's, as the Saturnalia Saturn's; Saturn's, which must necessarily be celebrated even by little slaves at the time of the Saturnalia. New-year's gifts likewise must be caught at, and the Septimontium kept; and all the presents of Midwinter and the feast of Dear Kinsmanship must be exacted; the schools must be wreathed with flowers; the flamens' wives and the aediles sacrifice; the school is honoured on the appointed holy-days. The same thing takes place on an idol's birthday; every pomp of the devil is frequented. Who will think that these things are befitting to a Christian master, unless it be he who shall think them suitable likewise to one who is not a master? (Tertullian. On Idolatry, Chapter X. Translated by S. Thelwall. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 3. Edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).
Around the time of Tertullian, the Roman Bishops Zephyrinus (199-217) and Callistus (217-222) had a reputation of compromise and corruption (and this is confirmed by such Roman Catholic saints such as Hippolytus) and allowed people in their church that compromised with paganism, etc.
So, notice what else Tertullian wrote:
But, however, the majority {of Greco-Roman 'Christians} have by this time induced the belief in their mind that it is pardonable if at any time they do what the heathen do, for fear "the Name be blasphemed"...To live with heathens is lawful, to die with them is not. Let us live with all; let us be glad with them, out of community of nature, not of superstition. We are peers in soul, not in discipline; fellow-possessors of the world, not of error. But if we have no right of communion in matters of this kind with strangers, how far more wicked to celebrate them among brethren! Who can maintain or defend this?...By us, ... the Saturnalia and New-year's and Midwinter's festivals and Matronalia are frequented--presents come and go--New-year's gifts--games join their noise--banquets join their din! Oh better fidelity of the nations to their own sect, which claims no solemnity of the Christians for itself!...Not the Lord's day, not Pentecost, even it they had known them, would they have shared with us; for they would fear lest they should seem to be Christians. We are not apprehensive lest we seem to be heathens! (Tertullian. On Idolatry, Chapter XIV. Translated by S. Thelwall. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 3. Edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).
The scripture Tertullian seems to be referring to is 1 Timothy 6:1:
1 Whosoever are servants under the yoke, let them count their masters worthy of all honour; lest the name of the Lord and his doctrine be blasphemed. DRB, a Roman Catholic translation
But, as even Tertullian alluded to, that should not have been an excuse to celebrate pagan days. Notice that it would be false teachers that would get the way of truth blasphemed:
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there shall be among you lying teachers, who shall bring in sects of perdition, and deny the Lord who bought them: bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their riotousnesses, through whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you. Whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their perdition slumbereth not. (2 Peter 2:1-3, DRB)
So, following covetous, false teachings, is really what causes the way of truth to be blasphemed.
Jesus was not born on December 25th.
Christmas, to a great degree, is a covetous holiday.
December 25th was the birthday of the sun god Mithras.
Christians did not celebrate birthdays.
True Christians have kept the biblical holy days since the time of Jesus.
Christmas trees and many Christmas symbols are pagan.
Original Christians observed God's Holy Days--those holy days help show God's plan of salvation.
Original cathoolics did not observe Christmas.
Christmas has a pagan and distorted view of salvation and blinds many to many truths of the God of the Bible.
Christmas is not something that faithful Christians endorse or observe.
Hence, we in the Continuing Church of God do not observe it.
Here is a link to a related sermon: Arguments for Christmas?