Is Christmas Christian?

Many people have rightly questioned over time – how do we know if December 25th is really the birthday of Jesus Christ?  We don’t.   But we do know when His cousin – John the Baptist was born.  But let’s start at the beginning of it all.

In the 14th century b.c., there was an extremely pagan and savage winter solstice celebration known to the Romans as – Saturnalia.

By the beginning of December, writes Columella, the farmer should have finished his autumn planting (De Re Rustica, III.14). Now, at the time of the winter solstice (December 25 in the Julian calendar), Saturnus, the god of seed and sowing, was honored with a festival. The Saturnalia officially was celebrated on December 17 (XVI Kal. Jan.) and, in Cicero’s time, lasted seven days, from December 17-23. Augustus limited the holiday to three days, so the civil courts would not have to be closed any longer than necessary, and Caligula extended it to five (Suetonius, XVII; Cassius Dio, LIX.6), which Claudius restored after it had been abolished (Dio, LX.25). Still, everyone seems to have continued to celebrate for a full week, extended, says Macrobius (I.10.24), by celebration of the Sigillaria, so named for the small earthenware figurines that were sold then.

Read U. of Chicago article  here.

Saturnalia and it’s antecedents can be singularly identified as sun worship.   In the  Babylonian Empire, Tammuz was similar to  the Roman god, Saturn.   Almost identical in practice, the sun worshipers burned ritual fires, danced naked, and prayed to evergreen trees.  [Hence the evergreen laurel wreath on Caesar's head.]

. . . Saturnalia was the most vile, immoral, feast that ever disgraced Rome.  It was a season of license, revelry prevailed, and the entire city wantonly indulged in the filthiest sorts of immorality imaginable.  [ The Shocking Truth About Christmas, Dr. Russell K. Tardo]

That explains how the date was arrived at, but what about the tree?  Ever since being expelled from the Garden of Eden, man has been trying to get back to the Tree of Life.

• Spanish explorers discovered that Mayans of Mexico revered the cypress tree and attached offerings of teeth and locks of hair to its boughs.
• In China, red banners with words of praise and thanksgiving printed on them adorned certain trees.
• In Finland, the Lapps collected samples of all the foods eaten at the solstice feast, put them in a small birch trough, and then placed the vessel into the branches in a special pine tree.
• Druids tied apples to the oak and fir tree during the solstice.
• In the Roman Saturnalia, holly leaves with red berries could dispel the ‘evil eye’, while mistletoe was believed to promote fertility.
• Many Native American Tribes believed that evergreen trees had ‘spirits.’

The merger between the winter solstice celebrations and the birth of Christ did not become official until A.D. 375.  It was the result of trying to Christianize new and potential Christian converts, who were most unwilling to give up their parties and rituals.  In a sort of “If you can’t beat em, join em ,” effort, what was once known as Natilis Solis Invictior  [ the Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun] became the Birthday of Jesus Christ. 
The church attempted to subvert pagan practices  by attaching them to church activities, in a process known as syncretism.  The decorated Christmas tree is traced to Martin Luther, who first attached small candles and called it a “Paradise Tree.”  Another reference to the Tree of Life.

Santa Claus was brought to us by the Dutch, and is an amalgamation of a real person and Odin!  http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/news/2004/nick.html

Many devout, Bible believing Christians look at what has become ‘Christmas,’ and have a strong feeling that something is wrong.  With the garish materialism, now even violence, in the pursuit of “Christmas cheer”  – what’s a Christian to do?

The answer to that is in the Bible.  Praise God. The Book of Luke gives the ultra important outline to us.  It is known that Jesus was conceived by Mary of the Holy Ghost, during her cousin Elizabeth’s sixth month of pregnancy with John.  As John was conceived in June – that means our Lord was conceived in December – and that He was born nine months later, approximately September 29th.   The Feast of Trumpets.  This is so hugely significant, it is beyond astonishment.  And as all ancient Jews considered a baby to be nine months old at birth – Christians today may well celebrate the conception of Christ – this incredible, miraculous event.

For unto us a Child is born, unto to us a Son is given;  and the government shall be upon His shoulder;  and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgement and justice from henceforth even for ever.  Isaiah 9: 6-7

If you choose to celebrate the Lord’s earthly arrival over the next few weeks, please keep Him as the center of your Holiday.  Make the Nativity the focus of your decorations, not the tree.  Drunken Christmas parties are a throw-back to Saturnalia, and are identical in practice and motivation.  Remember – it’s all about Him. . .

For in in depth study of the significance of the dates  [not for the faint of heart nor short attention spanned]  go here.  Worth it!

sage