Bible does not give
the date of Jesus’ birth, nor does it say that we should celebrate his
birthday. As McClintock and Strong’s Cyclopediastates: “The observance of Christmas is not of
divine appointment, nor is it of origin.”
Instead, an
examination of the history of Christmas exposes its roots in pagan religious
rites. The Bible shows that we offend God if we try to worship him in a way
that he does not approve of.—Exodus
32:5-7.
History of Christmas customs
1. Celebrating Jesus’
birthday: “The early Christians
did not celebrate [Jesus’] birth because they considered the celebration of anyone’s
birth to be a pagan custom.”—The World Book Encyclopedia.
2. December 25: There is no proof that Jesus was born on that
date. Church leaders likely chose this date to coincide with pagan festivals
held on or around the winter solstice.
3. Gift-giving, feasting,
partying: The Encyclopedia Americanasays: “Saturnalia, a Roman feast celebrated in mid-December,
provided the model for many of the merry-making customs of Christmas. From this
celebration, for example, were derived the elaborate feasting, the giving of
gifts, and the burning of candles.” The Encyclopædia Britannica notes that “all work and business were
suspended” during Saturnalia.
4. Christmas lights: According to The
Encyclopedia of Religion,
Europeans decorated their homes “with lights and evergreens of all kinds” to
celebrate the winter solstice and to combat evil spirits.
5. Mistletoe, holly: “The Druids ascribed magical properties to the
mistletoe in particular. The evergreen holly was worshiped as a promise of the
sun’s return.”—The Encyclopedia Americana.
6. Christmas tree: “Tree worship, common among the pagan
Europeans, survived after their conversion to Christianity.” One of the ways in
which tree worship survived is in the custom of “placing a Yule tree at an
entrance or inside the house in the midwinter holidays.”
