reading time ~13 mins
History & Misconceptions
- Introduction
- Birth of Jesus (peace be upon him)
- Christmas
- If Jesus (peace be upon him) were around today
- Santa Claus
- Decorating Trees and Socks
- Mistletoe
- Advent Calendar
- Summary
- Additional Reading
Introduction
Christmas did not originate from the scripture of Christianity. It is based on Pagan ritual of the winter solstice & falsely attributed to the birth of Jesus (peace be upon him)
There is no direct reference to Christmas in the New Testament
“Christmas wasn’t originally part of the Christian liturgical year: nor is December 25 mentioned in the Bible. In the fourth century A.D., Pope Julius I chose that date as a church holiday, in large part attempting to give a religious cast to the Saturnalia festivities”
Bethanne Patrick, John M. Thompson, An Uncommon History of Common Things
It holds religious meaning for many which encourages kindness and gift-giving
However there is a significant commercial, material & marketing side to it which plays a major role in society today
Birth of Jesus (peace be upon him)
There is no evidence that Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) was born in December. In fact, there is not even evidence that Jesus (peace be upon him) or his disciples believed in the concept of celebrating birthdays
December 25th for celebrating Christmas was chosen by early Christians, likely to coincide with existing pagan winter solstice celebrations, and it doesn’t have a direct basis in biblical text
According to scholars Jesus (peace be upon him) might have been born in the spring or another time of the year based on details mentioned in the biblical narratives. E.g. the mention of shepherds in the fields at the time of Jesus’ (peace be upon him) birth could be more consistent with a springtime setting when shepherds would be grazing their flocks. However these are mostly whims, assumptions & speculation
Summary of Birth of Jesus (peace be upon him)
There is no evidence that Jesus (peace be upon him) was born on 25. Dec or that he or his disciples believed in or preached celebrating birthdays
Christmas
The word “Christmas” is derived from the Old English phrase “Cristes mæsse,” which means the “Mass of Christ.” The word mass generally means gathering for the death of someone, however in the case of Christmas it means the birth of Jesus (peace be upon him). A Mass service (which is sometimes called Communion or Eucharist) is where Christians believe that Jesus (peace be upon him) died and then came back to life
On one hand the holiday holds deep religious and cultural meaning for millions of people around the world. Many individuals and communities engage in acts of charity, kindness, and religious observance
On the other hand there is a strong emphasis on consumerism, materialism, commercial sales, holiday spending, stress, cultural expectations, peer pressure, binge eating and some level of showing off. Of course, these aspects can also be observed in some other religions’ festivals as well. However, Christmas is likely the most commercial and popular holiday in the world today
If Jesus (peace be upon him) were around today
If Jesus (peace be upon him) were around on earth today, would he be encouraging decorating trees and homes with lights? or would he be speaking for the suffering of the innocent men, women & children of the world e.g. Palestine
something to think about
Santa Claus
The concept of Santa Claus has not much to do with Christmas, Jesus (peace be upon him) or his (alleged) birthday
The character of Santa Claus is often associated with the Christian saint, St. Nicholas, who lived in the 4th century in what is now Turkey. St. Nicholas was known for his generosity and kindness, especially toward children
- 18th century – Dutch Sinterklaas: Dutch settlers in the United States brought with them the tradition of “Sinterklaas,” a figure based on St. Nicholas who brought presents on 6 Dec. The Dutch name evolved into “Santa Claus.”
- 1823 – Clement Clarke Moore’s Poem: The famous poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” also known as “The Night Before Christmas,” played a significant role in shaping the modern image of Santa Claus. This poem described Santa as a jolly, plump man who travels in a sleigh pulled by reindeer and enters homes through chimneys to deliver gifts
- 1860-1870’s – Illustrations by Thomas Nast: Thomas Nast, a political cartoonist, created a series of illustrations for Harper’s Weekly that further popularized the modern image of Santa Claus. Nast’s illustrations depicted Santa as a rotund, bearded figure with a red suit, black boots, and a sack of toys
- 1930s Coca-Cola’s Influence: In the 1930s, Coca-Cola commissioned artist Haddon Sundblom to create a series of images featuring Santa Claus for their holiday advertisements. Sundblom’s illustrations, which depicted Santa as a cheerful, grandfatherly figure enjoying Coca-Cola, contributed to the widespread adoption of this image
Summary of Santa Claus evolution
- “Dutch Sinterklaas” 6 Dec tradition which Dutch settlers took to the USA in the 18th century
- Then the poem called “The night before Christmas” was written by Clement Clarke in 1823 which further created an image of Santa Claus
- Then Thomas Nast in the 1860-70s created illustrations of Santa Clause as a bearded figure in a red suit with toys.
- Coca cola in 1930s created images of Santa Claus for holiday advertising of a grand fatherly figure enjoying coca cola
Decorating Trees and Socks
Christmas Trees:
There seems to be no mention of rituals around trees in the new Testament
Various ancient cultures, including the Egyptians, Romans, and Norse, practised tree worship and decorated trees as part of their religious or cultural rituals.
Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Pagans would decorate their homes during the winter solstice with tree branches, as a symbol of spring that was just around the corner. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, many ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.
In the context of Christmas, the tradition of decorating trees is often traced back to Germany in the 16th century. According to popular legend, the Protestant reformer Martin Luther was the first to add lighted candles to a Christmas tree. He was inspired by the beauty of the stars shining through the evergreen trees on a winter night.
Over time, the tradition of decorating Christmas trees spread, and various ornaments, lights, and tinsel were added. Today, the Christmas tree is a central element of holiday decorations in many cultures around the world.
Christmas Stockings:
No evidence can be found in the new testament or early history about Jesus (peace be upon him) or his disciples using stockings or preaching the usage of stockings for sharing gifts
The tradition of hanging stockings by the fireplace has several origin stories. One popular legend involves the historical figure of St. Nicholas, a 4th-century Christian bishop known for his generosity and gift-giving. According to the story, St. Nicholas heard of a poor man who couldn’t afford dowries for his three daughters. To help, St. Nicholas secretly dropped bags of gold down the chimney, and one of them landed in a stocking hung by the fireplace to dry.
This tale contributed to the tradition of children hanging stockings by the fireplace, hoping to find them filled with gifts from Santa Claus or St. Nicholas on Christmas Eve. Today, many people around the world continue to hang stockings as part of their Christmas traditions.
Mistletoe
The use of mistletoe in Christmas traditions is not directly mentioned in the New Testament or any biblical text. Mistletoe has ancient associations with various cultures and traditions, and its use in winter celebrations predates the Christian era.
In Norse mythology, mistletoe was regarded as a symbol of love and fertility, and it played a role in certain rituals. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe is believed to have originated from Scandinavian traditions. The plant’s association with fertility and life may have contributed to its adoption into Christmas customs.
The use of mistletoe in Christmas decorations, along with the custom of kissing under it, became popular in England during the 18th century and eventually spread to other parts of the world. While mistletoe itself has ancient and cultural significance, its inclusion in Christmas traditions is not explicitly connected to biblical sources like the New Testament.
Advent Calendar
The Advent calendar is a tradition that has its roots in Christian religious practices but is not explicitly mentioned in the New Testament. The word “advent” itself comes from the Latin word “adventus,” meaning “coming” or “arrival,” and it refers to the season of preparation and anticipation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ
The Advent calendar is a special calendar used to count the days of Advent, typically starting on December 1st and ending on December 24th. Each day, a door or compartment is opened to reveal a small gift, treat, or religious symbol, helping to build anticipation for Christmas Day.
The Advent calendar has its origins in 19th-century Germany among Protestant Christians. The idea was to mark the days of Advent by lighting candles or hanging religious images each day. Over time, this practice evolved into the more modern Advent calendars with small doors or windows that could be opened.
While the New Testament contains references to the anticipation of the Messiah and the birth of Jesus, the specific tradition of the Advent calendar is a later development. It has since become a popular way for Christians and non-Christians alike to count down the days to Christmas, with various themes and designs that may include religious symbols, seasonal images, or even small gifts and chocolates.
This has started in the 19th century, and has not much evidence from the scripture or historical references
Summary
In Summary
- Birth of Jesus (peace be upon him) on 25th Dec
- Jesus (peace be upon him) preaching celebration of his birthday
- Christmas trees, mistletoe, advent calendars
- Lights, decorations, stockings
- Santa Clause, reindeer, sleigh
- Sales, shopping, market decorations, discounts
seem to have no religious basis
There is no evidence in the New Testament or in history books of Jesus (peace be upon him) or his disciples preaching or promoting any of these things
Reinspyre 