Don't be fooled by "Christ's Birthday".
I still remember when I was younger, how I would look forward to waking up on the 25th of December and start tearing open my gifts from friends and family alike. So much so, that I would wake up at 4:00 AM just from all the excitement around the thought of receiving a new Bionical Figure to build up and play with.
Even more vivid in my recent memory is the sheer abundance of delicious food shared with my friends and family. I indulged in enough Gammon and Trifle to the point of feeling sick, all while sitting around the table, joking, and reminiscing about the year. Simultaneously, the same old, classic Christmas carols playing in the background evoke great memories in my mind.
Being raised in a Christian home, my family and I also attended Christmas services where we sang the classics—Silent Night, Joy to the World, and I'm sure you can think of a few yourself—all to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Yeshua. (You can read more on why I call Jesus by His true name here)
Sounds lovely, doesn't it? But does it align with Scripture? Where did Christmas Trees and Wreaths come from? Let's unpack this holiday that so few Christians actually understand...
The Origin Story
December 25th held significance for nearly all pagan societies. The Romans celebrated Mithra, the Egyptians honored their sun god Ra, and some Scandinavian regions paid tribute to Baldur. These celebrations centered around the Winter Solstice, marking the longest night of the year. Pagan traditions emerged from this event, worshiping the sun to bring back longer days—a symbolic rebirth or recovery of the sun.
These festivities are well-documented throughout history, featuring holidays where businesses and institutions closed to commemorate the sun and its associated gods. Although each region infused its festival with a slightly different flavor, they shared a common theme.
Even the tradition of wreaths and Christmas trees finds its roots in Scandinavian paganism, where tree worship during this time was prevalent. People adorned their homes with greenery and ornaments to ward off malevolent spirits, giving rise to the term "Yule." Germany also embraced a similar tradition of placing trees in their homes.
However, it's noteworthy that none of these celebrations were conducted in honor of Yeshua's birth. This discrepancy raises questions. Unfortunately, scripture does not provide a specific date for Yeshua's birth. Some speculate that it likely did not occur in December, considering the events surrounding Yeshua's birth.
Certain scholars point to Luke 2:7 as a potential clue to the timing of Yeshua's birth:
Luk 2:7: and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
If you read our teaching on tithing and the appointed feasts, you will remember that we mentioned a tithe for an appointed feast. This is primarily the Feast of Tabernacles. Where all followers would come to Jerusalem and have this festival. This would explain why there was no space in the inn, but it is not conclusive.
Merging with Christianity
The assimilation with Christianity began with the Romans officially decreeing the celebration of Christmas. As mentioned earlier, the Roman observance was dedicated to Mithra, the Invincible Sun, their paramount deity, and was marked by a serious reverence for the day. At the same time, they celebrated the planet Saturn with a festival called "Saturnalia," during which homes were adorned with evergreens, and gifts exchanged. Saturnalia witnessed various pagan practices, including role reversals (men dressing as women and vice versa) and alterations to social norms.
In the 4th century AD, Pope Julius I designated December 25th as the date for celebration, a strategic move to unify the observance of Mithra, Saturnalia, and the Christian faith under one umbrella, naming it Christmas. Critics, rooted in the Scriptures, pointed out to the Romans that this date had no scriptural basis for Yeshua's birth, and they expressed concerns about Christmas inheriting elements from Saturnalia.
Some regions in America and Europe even went so far as to ban Christmas celebrations.
Despite objections, Christmas persisted on December 25th. Over time, additional elements like Santa Claus were introduced. Primarily rooted in the festival of Saint Nicholas, this character is clearly unrelated to Yeshua's birth.
Is Celebrating Christmas a Sin?
The question of whether celebrating Christmas is a sin is a matter of personal choice and conviction. God's Law is perfect. He is perfect. One day we will stand before Him and answer for our actions on this Earth.
You might argue - what is so wrong about celebrating Christmas? It is about friends and family, and God knows that we are celebrating Him, and not the sun gods of the Romans. Christmas is a way for non-believers to see God/Jesus and turn to him.
That is exactly the kind of answer I have used before, but in my personal walk with God, I have come to realise a different truth. In studying the Old Testament, God gave a warning to the Israelites as they were given the Law:
Deu 12:30 ... and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, “How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.”
Deu 12:31 You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.
Deu 12:32 See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.
God explicitly instructs them to not worship Him as other people worship their own gods. The Pharisees added their own Jewish laws onto God's Law and this was wrong, even though they were trying to honour God in doing them.
You might then argue - This is the Old Testament and does not apply to us anymore as we are not these Israelites.
I feel you will only ask this question if you have not read our series on the Old Covenant vs New Covenant. Because as I demonstrate in those teachings, God does not change. We should not struggle to reconcile the God of the Old Testament to the God of the New Testament, because they are the same God. God is not going to suddenly be OK with worshipping Him in ways he forbade in the Old Testament. Jesus came to fulfill the Law, not abolish it.
And as we close, let us ask this question - Does it say anywhere in the Bible to celebrate Yeshua's birth? No. Celebrating it is merely a human tradition, and not a Biblical act. Sun worship is prevalent in the Bible, and renaming a pagan sun worship festival to Christmas and claiming it is about Christ's birth to justify it is dishonest at best and satanic at worst.
That is why my family and I will no longer celebrate Christmas in the traditional sense.
But this does not mean I am telling you to stop. I have only laid out the facts and history for you to make your own decision. God gave us all free will to make our own choices. My intention is not to dictate, but always to use the Scriptures to provide insight for how to live our lives.
Conclusion
Many Christians embrace Christmas as a festive time to decorate trees, wreaths, sing songs, and enjoy quality moments with family. However, a significant number may not be aware of the historical origins of Christmas.
Christmas was set up by Pope Julius I, who declared the 25th of December as Christmas. This day amalgamated the celebrations of Mithra, the sun god, and Saturnalia, a festival dedicated to Saturn that involved various pagan practices. These pagan elements were incorporated into the Christmas tradition. Additionally, in various regions, the 25th of December was associated with the winter solstice.
While some Christians argue Christmas is fine to celebrate, God does mention in His Word to not worship Him as other pagan people celebrate their Gods. Ultimately it is up to you, the reader, to answer for your actions.
Closing thoughts:
In case you haven't deduced from a lot of our teachings on this site and from our podcast, the Institutional Church has become corrupted by the enemy. Many churches have doctrines that stray very far from what Yehovah has given us. That is why it is important to read everything yourself and let the Holy Spirit guide you. Your own personal teacher.
I am not saying all churches are corrupted, as there are many who stay true to the Word, but it is important to be led by the Holy Spirit, so you can filter out the false teachings. Continue to seek His Word and trust in Him always.
Be blessed.
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