Let’s hear a wonderful Christmas tale!
Christmas wasn’t celebrated by Christians at all in the religion’s first several centuries.
When Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire, the date for Christmas was mandated as 25 December in order to
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Christmas wasn’t celebrated by Christians at all in the religion’s first several centuries.
When Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire, the date for Christmas was mandated as 25 December in order to
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co-opt existing pagan holidays of the solstice and a traditional Roman holiday of similar nature (celebrating the rebirth of the Unconquered Sun, aka Sol Invictus), already celebrated on that date.
Early Christian scholars debated the date of Jesus’s birth, with one scholar
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Early Christian scholars debated the date of Jesus’s birth, with one scholar
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in the second century insisting it was 28 March. Constantine “settled” the debate by mandating it. (Fun fact for evangelicals who don’t like the government telling them what to do.😅)
But despite the “government mandate,” Christmas didn’t really catch on as a major festival
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But despite the “government mandate,” Christmas didn’t really catch on as a major festival
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for many centuries to come. It wasn’t until the 9th century that Christmas began to really catch on as a major festival in the Christian calendar, and even then its adoption was spotty, with some sects actively discouraging it (including colonial Puritans, who banned it).
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Today, of course, Christmas is celebrated by many people, including non-believers and followers of other faiths, mostly as a festival of giving and family and gratitude.
When Christians object to this, they should tread lightly when complaining that it’s “their holiday:”
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When Christians object to this, they should tread lightly when complaining that it’s “their holiday:”
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Most of the rituals and the other things we most closely associate with the holiday are not Christian at all.
For example, that tree you love to decorate? That custom predates Christianity and is specifically called out as being “heathen” in the Bible and is prohibited
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For example, that tree you love to decorate? That custom predates Christianity and is specifically called out as being “heathen” in the Bible and is prohibited
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as such. (See Jeremiah 10.)
No matter how or why you celebrate #Christmas, though, I wish you a happy and a festive one!
Count your blessings and hold your family close!
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No matter how or why you celebrate #Christmas, though, I wish you a happy and a festive one!
Count your blessings and hold your family close!
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