Why We Celebrate Christmas the Way We Do

Christmas is when the warmth of family gatherings and the joy of gift-giving fill the air. It’s a season when friends and families worldwide come together to celebrate Christmas. The air is filled with Christmas carols, delicious meals, aromas, and loved ones’ laughter. One of my family’s favorite songs during the Christmas season is a song that I wrote called “Disco Claus,” a song that I wrote for my children during the disco era.

The Christmas story, at its core, is a beautiful tale of love. For Christians, Christmas is not just a date on the calendar. It’s a sacred day, a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

While grocery shopping, I had a conversation with a young man about Christmas. He asked a thought-provoking question. He asked, “If Christmas is Jesus’ birthday, why do we celebrate it with trees, lights, singing, and gift-giving?” His question made me realize that the historical context of Christmas might not be as widely known as I had assumed.

I found myself in a situation where I couldn’t answer a simple question about the holiday’s origins. This led me to embark on a personal journey of discovery. I delved into research to understand why we celebrate Christmas the way we do.

The Biblical Account of the Birth of Christ

Jesus’ followers did not celebrate Christmas. However, the Bible records two versions of the Christmas story. One is in the Book of Matthew and the other in the Book of Luke.

Luke tells the story of a young virgin named Mary. She was engaged to a young man named Joseph. Suddenly, the angel Gabriel appeared, saying, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” The angel’s sudden appearance and what he said troubled Mary, and with good reason. She and Joseph were not married. This made her pregnancy appear scandalous.

But Gabriel assured her that she had nothing to fear. “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will give birth to a son and name him Jesus,” said Gabriel. “How can this be since I am a virgin?” asked Mary. Gabriel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. The child to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:26-35). God’s angel foretold this miraculous birth. It is the heart of the Christmas story. It signifies the divine nature of Jesus and his mission on earth.

In Matthew’s version of the Christmas story, he carefully notes that Joseph was righteous and did not want to disgrace his wife-to-be publicly. Joseph thought of privately divorcing Mary, but the Lord’s angel appeared to him in a dream and said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because He will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:19-21).

Did Christians Always Observe Christmas?

Early Christians, beginning with the disciples, did not celebrate Christmas. People did not call them Christians; they called them believers. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:26). Around 331 AD, historian Eusebius recorded that early Christians were called Nazarenes, as Jesus was from Nazareth, and they were followers of Jesus.

The way we celebrate Christmas today did not originate until three centuries after Jesus’s birth, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. So, why does the church observe Christmas today if early Christians did not commemorate the event?

Where Did Our Customs of Christmas Celebration Originate?

Our present customs, traditions, and how we celebrate Christmas have roots in ancient Roman paganism. On December 25th, the 3rd-century Romans celebrated Sol Invictus (the rebirth of the Unconquered Sun). A Roman festival called Saturnalia followed the Sol Invictus celebration, a feast where people practiced gift-giving, candle lighting, singing, and decorating houses. December 25th was also the birthday of Mithra, the Indo-European god of light and loyalty, who was very popular among Roman soldiers. Over time, pagans incorporated their customs into the Christian celebration of Christmas. The focus had shifted from the sun god to the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

Why Do We Observe Christmas on December 25th?

The early church did not celebrate Christmas; therefore, December 25th was not about celebrating Christ’s birthday but the winter solstice. No one knows for sure the actual date of Jesus’ birth. However, many Bible scholars believe Jesus was born in the early spring, which gives a different narrative to the Christmas story.

As Christianity grew, Christian theologians evolved the idea that Jesus was crucified and conceived on the same day. They had traditionally celebrated the crucifixion on March 25th. Since December 25th is precisely nine months after March 25th, this belief gave birth to the belief that Jesus was born on December 25th. This theological reasoning, based on the belief in the divine symmetry of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, led to the church formally celebrating Christmas on December 25th.

312 Constantine converted to Christianity at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, where he fought against Western Emperor Maxentius for the throne. Having won the battle, Constantine credited the Christian God with his victory. The church in Rome began officially celebrating Christmas under the rule of Emperor Constantine in 336. However, no one recognized Christmas as a significant Christian holiday until the 9th century.

The Reason We Acknowledge Christmas

Christmas is not about a fat man in a red suit and magic reindeer that fly around the world, bringing toys to little children. The Christmas story is a narrative of God’s love for us. We can sum it up with one Bible verse: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

When Adam disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, God could have flushed him down the drain of forgetfulness and made another man. But God loved Adam. Rather than forget him, God decided to save him. But to save Adam, a righteous person—a sinless man—would have to take his place. The only problem was that no one on earth was without sin.

Therefore, God, in His infinite wisdom, designed a plan in which He would substitute His beloved Son for His beloved Adam. Jesus—the righteous One—would take on the form of a man, thus becoming the sinless man. He would be the sacrifice for Adam. “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, under the law” (Galatians 4:4). He would pay the sin debt for Adam’s sin with His life.

It does not matter whether Jesus was born in March or December. We celebrate Christmas because it is the day that we associate with Jesus’ birth. The Christmas season is a time to be thankful, to reflect on God’s goodness, and to remember what your salvation cost Him. God gave His Son so that you might have life.

The Gift of God

Although gift-giving had its roots in Roman festivals, today, we give gifts on Christmas Day to show our love. Jesus is God’s gift to the world. He came to earth to show us the true character of God and to save us, not only from the eternal flames of hell but from sickness and disease, addiction, oppression, and depression.

God demonstrated His love for us by giving us His Son, who gave His life for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). This Christmas, give the gift that lasts forever. Pass on the true story of Christmas by telling someone about Jesus. In doing so, the whole world will know why we celebrate Christmas the way we do.