At the start of the Advent season many of us begin to reflect on just what Christmas actually means. This is especially true in troubled times, and folks, we are indeed living in troubled times! One of the questions/comments that I often get from those who are more skeptical of the season (and the reason) is: We don’t even know when Jesus was born! Why celebrate now? Well, for those of you who’ve asked that very question, here are some answers:
When was Jesus born in Bethlehem? The Bible describes with great certainty the fact of Christ’s birth as well as the place. But not the exact date.
One of the greatest of the Patristic writers, Basil of Caesarea believed Christ was born on November 20th in the year 4 BC. Another, Clement of Alexandria, speculated that Christ was born on November 17 in the year 3 BC. Still others, such as John Chrysostom, speculated that since shepherds were in the field the night Christ was born, it must have been in spring or summer. Similarly, Athanasius argued for a date of May 20. Cyril of Jerusalem reasoned for the date to be on either April l9th or 20th. And Ambrose of Milan made a strong traditional case for March 25th. Quite obviously though, no one really knew with any degree of certainty.
In 354, the Bishop of Rome started to observe December 25th as the date of Christ’s birth. Four major Roman festivals had long been held in December, including Saturnalia which celebrated the returning sun god. As men converted from Paganism to Christianity, their culture was likewise gradually converted. Thus, it was natural for them to want to replace their old Pagan festivities with a celebration of the advent of their Savior.
In fact, Christians had already begun celebrating the incarnation and nativity of the Lord Jesus on that day since at least the early part of the third century–just a few generations removed the days of the Apostles. Thus, by 336, when the Philocalian Calendar–one of the earliest documents of the Patriarchal church–was first utilized, Christmas Day was already a venerable and tenured tradition. Though there is no historical evidence that Christ was actually born on that day–indeed, whatever evidence there is points to altogether different occasions–the conversion of the old Pagan tribes of Europe left a gaping void where the ancient winter cult festivals were once held. It was both culturally convenient and evangelically expedient to exchange the one for the other. And so joy replaced desperation. Celebration replaced propitiation. Christmas Feasts replaced new Moon sacrifices. Christ replace Baal, Molech, Apollo, and Thor.
Like so many calendar dates, the many different customs of Christmas ultimately melded together. And thus emerged the traditional Advent season–a four week long anticipation of Christmas beginning in late November and marked by a series of important feasts, fasts, rituals, and rites all the way through the designated day for the incarnation itself.
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Although Christmas started as an admirable tradition it has become a retailers paradise and dream.
Christmas has become too much of a financial gain than anything else. Ask your children what christmas represents and brings and they will say
“Gifts” “Presents’ “Christmas Trees”
What is the real meaning of Christmas.
Well, clearly, we need an investigative journalist involved! Quick!! Call Katie Couric! Call Geraldo Rivera! Call Dan Rather! (oh, wait…..never mind on that one!)
(Okay, somewhere in here, I should probably be ducking and running.)
Actually, it’s more important THAT we celebrate, than the date selected to celebrate. And to be realistic, it’s been established for centuries; it’s not likely to change any time soon. Personally, I am inclined to believe that it was more likely to have been spring or summer. With the shepherds and sheep in the field, it just seems more probable.
Oh, and for the record, the three kings (wise men, whatever) didn’t show up for the event; or at least, it’s exceedingly unlikely. Although camels don’t use much gasoline, they don’t exactly have an Overdrive gear, either……
my 2¢,
– Ken
I teach my kids that Christmas replaced the pagan feast of Sol Invictus. I wonder if it’s the same or one of those other three.
Can’t remember where I got my research from.
Ha, I knew He’d whip them all.
(apologies if that was irreverent humor)
#2;
I totally agree.
“Culturally convenient and evangelically expedient” is the most pro haec of justifications. A date was arbitrarily set to fix a liturgical calendar, it likely had little, and possibly nothing, to do with Roman feasts or pagan observances. While its been decades since I read the translations, one of the Dead Sea scrolls sets the messiah’s return for November-December. Third or fourth century Christians could have harkened back to that as probably as to an amalgamation of pagan mid-Winter observances.
As to Sam Benoit’s keep-Judaism-pure screed, I can see no harm — whatever rabbis may counsel — in “culturally convenient” recognition of, and accomodation to, the prevalent religion. While an atheist who would rather have no religious symbolism any time of the year, I am neither offended by, nor shaken in my beliefs by, civic religious displays. Not only did I advocate and work for the Moser Bible Display at Harris County Courthouse, I have three times offered op-eds to the Chronicle (latest in reaction to Leonard Pitts on the Mojave WWI Cross), that federal First Amendment jurisprudence is far out of intended scope of either Establishment (radically off) or Free Exercise (less so in my opinion) Clauses’ reasonable interpretation and likely intent of the Framers
Let the dominate “culture” do what it wants and neither put Jesus back in the holiday nor concern oneself if “Saint Nick” visits Jewish or Muslim kids. It is an entirely secularly “season” running from September to at least January 6 if you’re Eastern Orthodox, and nobody outside of a church, synagogue, temple, teepee, asram or whatever should give a good “god” damn what others are celebrating even in the public square.
Stop taking offense where none is intended or rationally taken and live your life as one feels best for oneself
Paul Crist
As I am reading this series of posts, I am asking myself why everyone is looking to satisfy Man and not God. If we really think about it, the Bible instructs us by both direct command and apostolic example, to observe the memorial of Christ’s death and not his birth. Consider Mark 14:22-25 where Jesus instituted what we call the “Lords Supper”.
Later in 1 Corinthians Paul rebukes the Corinthians for making the Lord’s Supper a common meal and not keeping it a memorial to Christ.
After rebuking the Corinthians Paul reestablishes the manner in which the Lord introduced the supper.
Finally, in Acts 20:7 tells us when the early Church observed the Lord’s Supper.
I have not written many words, as I believe the Bible is its own best commentary. By a simple study of God’s word, we can see instruction on observing Christ’s death but we only find silence on observing his birth. We should not try to pin a date on Christ’s birth and observe it as a “Holy” day as this would be adding to what God has commanded us to do. If someone wants to observe Christmas as a secular holiday like Thanksgiving that is a decision one needs to make personally. We cannot put Christ into a holiday where he never existed and observe it in a religious manner when it is not commanded by God’s word.
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