It’s been a long debated topic, what are the true origins of the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ. With this year almost at its end, it is a topic worth revisiting.
Christmas is quite possibly the biggest global holiday, celebrated in most of the world. Even in many non Christian countries festivities are carried out just in accordance with the season, especially because The New Year is the New Year everywhere, and Christmas is just a week beforehand.
So should Christians be revelling in the festivities reserved for the 25th of December every year? What are the origins of the choice of date, and what are the meanings behind those.
To begin with, the bible makes no mention of the birth date of Jesus. It cannot be proven that Jesus was born anywhere near December; and whilst even a mention in the bible would not have been incontrovertible proof, at least it would have been something you could hang your hat on. As it stands even that does not exist.
As with most things surrounding organised religion, a group of people sat somewhere and made a decision for the rest of the populace. When it occurred that the birth of Jesus had to be celebrated, a convenient time was chosen, one that would help in converting heathens of the time as well as be the most attractive to followers of the faith.
As sources, I’m using two pieces I found in my research; one making the argument for Christmas and the other against Christmas. What both agree on though, is that 25th December has significance far predating the birth of Christ.
The first, making the argument for Christmas, which I somehow fortuitously found on Daily Guide this morning, list some of the pagan significance of the date. The ancient Egyptians celebrated it as the birth date of their gods Horus and Osiris, whilst the Greeks celebrated it for Hercules, Baaches, and Adonis.
The other goes into more detail, as can be expected. The Romans had a weeklong festival known as ‘Saturnalia’, which culminated on the 25th and was a week of lawlessness which was characterised by all sorts of debauchery and ended with the sacrifice a chosen individual.
The Greeks had their version, which an ancient Greek writer mentioned as filled with ‘widespread intoxication, going from house to house whilst singing naked, rape and other sexual license’, as well as the aforementioned human sacrifice.
There are historical pagan meanings behind other Christmas traditions as well; gift giving, the Christmas tree, and Santa Claus. What it all adds up to is a carefully crafted shift of the practices of various pagan societies into one big gorefest for the world’s largest religion.
So as we go about this festive season, perhaps we keep one eye on what the date has stood for in times past.
With God’s intolerance for glorification of other gods you would think he would have done something about it long ago, but maybe the deception has gone on so long now he himself believes Jesus was born on December 25.
He wasn’t, there is very little doubt about that. You know how I know, this is the hard proof the supporting article gave for Jesus being born on December 25.
“This argument was disproved by St. John Chrysostom who, according to his undisputed divine revelation from fasting and prayers, established that the December 25 date was the correct birthday of Christ”
That’s the best argument for Christ being born on 25 December.
Bible scholars and theologians have achieved a consensus that Jesus Christ was born in the summer—somewhere June or July considering the various Gospels account of his birth. It’s obvious you would not catch any shepherds out with their flock anytime around December in Judea and according to the Bible, this was the situation at Jesus’ birth.
Christmas is nothing but a corruption of several pagan festivals and rituals, and despite how many times we proclaim it as the birth of Christ, it is not. Maybe some introspection would tell us we should not so earnestly glorify the date.
Christians often say even those who make these arguments against Christmas celebrate it themselves. If the world gives me licence to have unlimited fun, I’m not going to turn down the opportunity. And as I do not fear for my soul, I can take countless chances as I have no deity to anger; but Christians do.
I would be celebrating Christmas this year, I have no qualms; but should you?