The History of Christmas

The History of Christmas: Its Biblical Roots Because of the pagan roots of holidays at the end of December, many Christians believe we should avoid Christmas altogether. But does celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ itself have anything to do with paganism? Or is Christmas truly a Christian celebration—simply observed at a time of year that may not reflect the actual date of His birth? THE HEBREW ROOTS: Jesus’ birth was foretold centuries in advance in the Hebrew Scriptures. In the fullness of time, God sent His Son to redeem mankind. Jesus came as a baby—God with us. > “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Look! The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and His name will be called Immanuel.” — Isaiah 7:14 > “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given… and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” — Isaiah 9:6–7 ✝️ THE CHRISTIAN ROOTS > “Stop being afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus.” — Luke 1:30–32 (ISV) Nearly 2,000 years ago, Luke—the well-educated physician—carefully documented the life of Jesus Christ so that believers could know the certainty of what they had been taught (Luke 1:4). His account includes details only eyewitnesses—likely Mary herself—could have known. Jesus was born in Bethlehem during a Roman census. Shepherds in nearby fields were suddenly surrounded by angels proclaiming, “Glory to God in the highest!” They found the child wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger, and spread the news everywhere (Luke 2:8–18). Jesus later ministered publicly for about three years before being crucified on a Roman cross. Yet He rose from the dead and was seen by over 500 witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:6). And He is still changing lives today. CHURCH HISTORY: The early church did not originally celebrate Christ’s birth, and the exact date has been lost to history. The first recorded mention of December 25 appears in the Calendar of Philocalus (AD 354). In AD 440, Pope Julius I officially designated December 25 as the celebration of Christ’s birth. This likely helped redirect pagan cultures away from false gods and toward the One True God. The Feast of the Nativity spread rapidly—reaching Egypt by AD 432, England by the 6th century, and Scandinavia by AD 800. The Orthodox Church celebrates Christ’s birth on January 6 (Epiphany), commemorating the visit of the wise men. Christmas was controversial at times—outlawed by Puritans and unpopular in early America. It wasn’t declared a U.S. federal holiday until June 26, 1870. -CHRISTMAS TODAY: In the 19th century, Christmas was reshaped into a season emphasizing family, generosity, and care for the poor—largely influenced by writers like Washington Irving and Charles Dickens. Though modern traditions come from many sources and not all point to Christ, most are morally neutral. Yet the message of Jesus still breaks through. Nativity scenes proclaim the King of kings in a manger. Carols declare, “The Lord is come” and “O come, let us adore Him.” Even those who rarely attend church are often willing to hear the Gospel at Christmas. Christmas remains a precious window of opportunity God has given us to proclaim the Good News of His Son. Glory to God! 🙌 - More Joy Ministries