Why December 25th
For all of us living in the last several hundred years, it is difficult to imagine December without relating it to Christmas and the birth of Jesus. But for several hundred years after Jesus lived and died, his birthday was not officially celebrated. It may have been lumped with Epiphany (Jan 6) as one of the church’s earliest celebrations but was not really established as a singular celebration on its own.
Some early Christian leaders such as Origen (c.185-c.254) were opposed to celebrating Jesus’ birth feeling that birthdays were used for pagan god ceremonies.
The actual date of the birth of Jesus has been debated by many people throughout history and many church leaders had their opinion on when and why it should be a certain date. They also disagreed with Origen and felt that we should recognize and celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Clement of Alexandria (c.150-c.215) favored May 20 but noted that others argued for April 18, 19, and May 28th for various reasons. Hippolytus (c.170-c.236) championed January 2. when many others were wanting November 17, November 20, and March 25 for their reasons.
A Latin treatise written around 243 pegged March 21, because that was believed to be the date on which God created the sun. Polycarp (c.69-c.155) had followed the same line of reasoning to conclude that Christ's birth and baptism most likely occurred on Wednesday, because the sun was created on the fourth day.
The eventual choice of December 25, made perhaps as early as 273, reflects a convergence of Origen's concern about pagan gods and the church's identification of God's son with the celestial sun.
Leaders of the time knew that trying to eliminate a pagan holiday would not be accepted by the people and decided on a strategy of replacing the pagan holiday with a Christian holiday. December 25 already hosted two other related festivals: natalis solis invicti (the Roman "birth of the unconquered sun"), and the birthday of Mithras, the Iranian "Sun of Righteousness" whose worship was popular with Roman soldiers. In addition, the winter solstice, another celebration of the sun, fell just a few days earlier. This became the official holiday of Christmas.
After Emperor Constantine declared Christianity the favored religion around 336 A.D., December 25th was finally used for the celebration of Christmas in the Western churches. The Eastern churches, partly because of the ongoing rivalry with the West, however, held on to January 6 as the date for Christ's birth and his baptism. Eventually though, most Eastern Churches adopted December 25 to celebrate Christ's birth.
Pope Gregory developed a new calendar in the 16th century replacing the Julian calendar and causing a little more conflict. Some Eastern Orthodox and Protestant churches retained the Julian calendar and therefore celebrated Christmas 13 days earlier. Most all churches now recognize the Gregorian calendar and the current Dec. 25th date.
Saying that Christmas and many of the associated customs have pagan origins does have some truth and has always been a concern for Christians, but the Church has always viewed changing culture with holidays as a positive prospect. A theologian in 320 A.D. stated: “We hold this day holy, not like the pagans because of the birth of the sun, but because of him who made it.”
Some early Christian leaders such as Origen (c.185-c.254) were opposed to celebrating Jesus’ birth feeling that birthdays were used for pagan god ceremonies.
The actual date of the birth of Jesus has been debated by many people throughout history and many church leaders had their opinion on when and why it should be a certain date. They also disagreed with Origen and felt that we should recognize and celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Clement of Alexandria (c.150-c.215) favored May 20 but noted that others argued for April 18, 19, and May 28th for various reasons. Hippolytus (c.170-c.236) championed January 2. when many others were wanting November 17, November 20, and March 25 for their reasons.
A Latin treatise written around 243 pegged March 21, because that was believed to be the date on which God created the sun. Polycarp (c.69-c.155) had followed the same line of reasoning to conclude that Christ's birth and baptism most likely occurred on Wednesday, because the sun was created on the fourth day.
The eventual choice of December 25, made perhaps as early as 273, reflects a convergence of Origen's concern about pagan gods and the church's identification of God's son with the celestial sun.
Leaders of the time knew that trying to eliminate a pagan holiday would not be accepted by the people and decided on a strategy of replacing the pagan holiday with a Christian holiday. December 25 already hosted two other related festivals: natalis solis invicti (the Roman "birth of the unconquered sun"), and the birthday of Mithras, the Iranian "Sun of Righteousness" whose worship was popular with Roman soldiers. In addition, the winter solstice, another celebration of the sun, fell just a few days earlier. This became the official holiday of Christmas.
After Emperor Constantine declared Christianity the favored religion around 336 A.D., December 25th was finally used for the celebration of Christmas in the Western churches. The Eastern churches, partly because of the ongoing rivalry with the West, however, held on to January 6 as the date for Christ's birth and his baptism. Eventually though, most Eastern Churches adopted December 25 to celebrate Christ's birth.
Pope Gregory developed a new calendar in the 16th century replacing the Julian calendar and causing a little more conflict. Some Eastern Orthodox and Protestant churches retained the Julian calendar and therefore celebrated Christmas 13 days earlier. Most all churches now recognize the Gregorian calendar and the current Dec. 25th date.
Saying that Christmas and many of the associated customs have pagan origins does have some truth and has always been a concern for Christians, but the Church has always viewed changing culture with holidays as a positive prospect. A theologian in 320 A.D. stated: “We hold this day holy, not like the pagans because of the birth of the sun, but because of him who made it.”
posted by Anonymous at 5:31 AM
4 Comments:
"Saying that Christmas and many of the associated customs have pagan origins does have some truth and has always been a concern for Christians, but ... "
There's something deeply indicative about accepting the irrefutable truth that there are Pagan origins, then launching into the inevitable apologetics about "concerns" of Christians.
Forget it; doesn't matter.
As you've noted previously, you have your faith, and it's unlikely to be threatened by acceptance that winter solstice traditions were co-opted for the greater good of evangelism.
Certainly it helps to know that Jesus didn't invent the Christmas tree.
I've been meaning to ask you since yesterday: Shall my business be boycotted because I seldom say "Merry Christmas" to my customers, preferring "have a nice holiday" instead?
Just curious.
No boycotts unless I knew you made it your company policy to not allow, or discourage your employees to say Merry Christmas
We have no policy, so I guess we're safe with that one.
Thanks.
I really wish all the stores would say, "We really appreciate you shopping with us. Further, we hope that your purchase may in some small way contribute to your ability to spend your time off engaged in conversation with family and friends, eating too much, and drinking just enough to make your jokes funnier but not so much that you make an ass of yourself to the extent that your lover repels your romantic advances later in the evening after you get a ride home. Barring all that, good luck at least in your pursuit of reading and listening to music a little more than usual over the course of the next few days."
Admittedly, it's a little long, but it pretty much sums up any good holiday, December 25th or otherwise.
Nary a retail employee has ever said it, though. Should I contact Jerry Falwell or just give up shopping altogether?
Post a Comment
<< Home