I did some research on the origins of “Christmas traditions” this week and wanted to share a few highlights of what I discovered. Some of the following is from the “Love to Know” website.
Although the actual beginning of the Christmas “festival” is not clear, many researchers feel that the celebration of Christmas is related to the Jewish celebration of the “Festival of Lights” which is the same festival that we read about in John 10 as the “Festival of Dedication”. The modern Jewish festival is called “Hannukah” which usually lasts for 8 days in December. Each day, a candle is lit commemorating the miracle that took place when the Maccabean revolt recovered the temple that Antiochus Epiphanes had profaned by slaughtering a pig on the alter. The Maccabean family not only took back the Temple from the Romans but lit the temple candlestick. There was only enough oil to fuel the menorah for 1 day, but it supernaturally remained lit for 8 days. This event was celebrated for hundreds of years before Jesus was born. In fact, we read that Jesus was in Jerusalem for this dedication where He also declared to the religious leaders that He was the great “I AM “, John 10:22-30 (ESV)
“At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter,23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”
There is no real connection between “Hannukah” and “Christmas” other than the miraculous hand of God being the light of the world in both instances and if we look hard enough, we will see Jesus as the only “Light of the World”.
Others associate Christmas with the Roman holiday “Saturnalia” which was the celebration of the birth of several Roman gods. In fact, the church in Rome began formally celebrating Christmas on December 25th in 336 AD. Emperor Constantine had made Christianity the empire’s religion in an endeavor to coheres all the other pagan celebrations and festivals to capitulate to this new religion. It had the opposite effect as many of the pagan practices were kept in place and included in the Christmas celebration. Some of those are the Christmas tree, giving and receiving cards and the yule log. In 1223 the St. Francis Assisi presented the nativity in the form that we see it used today.
Regardless of all these things, one thing is consistent; the main reason for Christmas is to celebrate the incarnation of Christ and God dwelling among us. There are many theologians who believe that Christ was born in September. If that is true, then the miracle of conception by the Holy Spirit and Mary, the mother of our Lord which would have happened in December. No matter what date, Jesus continues to be the reason for this season of great joy and celebration.
The Puritans refused to celebrate Christmas when they moved to the new world because of many of its origins from pagan practices. There are many that believe the same way today. The enemy comes to rob, kill, and destroy but Jesus came to give us abundant life and I believe we can celebrate Him not matter what. Symbols in themselves are intrinsically amoral. It’s what you do with those symbols and who you worship with them. I believe God can redeem all things for His glory including many of the Christmas symbols that were stolen from true believers. Jesus said this in Revelation 21:5 (ESV)
“And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also, he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Consider the following Christmas symbols as it relates to Jesus,
The Christmas tree is an evergreen tree which represents everlasting life for everyone who believes in Him. The decorations represent the creative aspect of God. No matter how many millions, perhaps billions of Christmas trees in the world, there are no 2 that are the same, everyone reflects the creative aspects pf the decorator thus speaking of the creator Himself. The lights on the tree and other decorations speak of Jesus being the “Light” of the world. The writer of John said this about Jesus in John 1:9-13 (ESV)
The true light (Jesus), which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
The Christmas Wreath has no beginning or end, the symbol of eternal life for everyone who believes in Him,
The Druids regarded Holly as a symbol of fertility and eternal life thought to have supernatural powers. Even Jesus has redeemed that. The sharp branches representing the crown of thorns and the red berry representing His shed blood. It’s only through Him that we have eternal life through His sacrificial death and only He can give us true life.
The Candy Cane speaks of Christ Himself. The white part of the candy speaking of His sinless and pure life. The red speaking of the blood which He shed for us on the cross to cover and then remove our sin. Its shape is that of a “shepherd’s staff” representing the great shepherd who protects and cares for all His sheep.
And finally, the gifts and treasures that we will share with each loved one represents the very nature of God. He is the true gift giver. First, He gave His son so that if anyone believes in Jesus, he would be granted eternal life. He gave gifts to us to fulfill our callings. Every gift He gives us is perfect, James 1:17 (ESV)
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
The treasure is Jesus Himself. As God gave us His treasure, so we in turn give treasures to all the ones we love. We can never outgive Him, John 3:16 (ESV)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Jesus is the center focus on all that this season is about. Nothing that Satan tries to do to cheapen the meaning of Christmas will ever succeed. He just can’t do it. Everything just continues to point to Him, Jesus, the light of the world, the perfect Lamb.
If you really ponder it, everything that has ever been created points to Jesus, not just the Advent symbols. As the Apostle Paul clearly teaches in Ephesians 1:1-10, everything on heaven and earth is moving toward being consumed in Christ and under His authority.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth (ESV)
That promise began and was spoken from the foundations of the earth but practically speaking had its fulfillment the moment Mary was conceived by Holy Spirit. Now that is something to celebrate!! Hallelujah, Merry Christmas!!
As A result: 1 See Him more for all He is. 2. Seek Him more for all He is.3Savor Him more as you worship Him. 4. Speak of Him more as you praise and thank Him. 5. Show Him more as you imitate Him in every aspect of your life. 6. Serve Him more by loving yourself and others in His name. and finally, 7. Share Him more and your testimony as you lead other to the great redeemer and Lord.
Hallelujah, Merry Christmas!!