Origin of the name

The name “Christmas” refers to the “twelve consecrated nights” of the Germanic tribes. They originally began on the first night after the winter solstice on December 21 and lasted until January 3. With these nights, the lunar calendar was aligned with the solar calendar.

Christmas, then, is anything but Christian; its very name is a clear reference to ancient Germanic religious practices. First of all, this is just a historical reference. There is a tension between pagan origins and supposed Christian practice.

In the Christian tradition, these ancient Germanic nights were moved to the period from December 25 to January 6. Existing pagan festivals from this winter period were gradually Christianized (so: Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Three Kings). It was a process that took centuries.

Christmas is a late invention

The apostles did not celebrate Christmas. Joseph and Mary did not know about it either. It took a long time for the ideas of Christmas to become part of the Christian tradition. They came into being not because of the biblical stories, but because of pagan festivals that were reinterpreted.

This association with a pagan background was a problem for many believers in the first centuries after Christ. People did not want to celebrate pagan festivals. Many had just left these pagan customs to belong to Christ. Should these days now be celebrated again after all? The rejection is understandable.

A few dates to illustrate this development: In 354, the Bishop of Rome tried to equate the “Feast of the Invincible Sun God” on December 25 with the birth of Jesus. This led to great resistance among the faithful. It was not until centuries later, in 813 at the Synod of Mainz, that December 25 was designated the “festum nativitas Christi”, the feast of the Nativity of Christ, which lasted a full 4 days until 1773. With this act, the dispute was brought to a temporary conclusion.

One could also say about this development that the church has decided – due to many small steps of development – to establish the feast now definitely as a Christian feast. In a way, this is an achievement, because it allowed it to prevail against pagan influences. Whether it was a conscious development or rather an adaptation to already existing traditions can be discussed.

However, one should also recognize the problem: Christmas is very strongly defined by symbols from Germanic mythology, which have nothing to do with the biblical story. It remains a strange celebration and tradition. It is an attempt to reconcile opposites. One may be critical of this. Of course, there is the other side, there are beautiful lights and the biblical story made to match actually has value. One can generously overlook the contradictions. However, this does not eliminate the contradictions.

One can generously overlook the contradictions. However, this does not eliminate the contradictions.

This has changed: In ancient Israel, the prophets urged the people to cut down the green trees on the high places and destroy the places of worship associated with them. Today, evergreen trees are still cut down on a grand scale, but only so that we can carry them into the living room. This is a stark contrast to the calls on Israel. With all understanding for the beauty of Christmas trees: this custom has nothing to do with Christ or with the Bible.

So where is the differentiation? That is the question here now. It’s not about simply demonizing something. This serves no one. You can think about it. But how? For some people, the question is which festivals are “biblical” and which are not – as if this could distinguish between “good” and “evil”.

Biblical festivals

There are a number of feasts instituted for Israel in the Bible. These include Pesah (the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Exodus from Egypt, later Easter), Shawuoth (the Feast of Weeks, later Pentecost), and the Feast of Tabernacles (for which there is no equivalent in Christian tradition). These three festivals were the most important festivals in Israel. They were all linked to the history of Israel and the land of Israel, and thus acquired a spiritual significance specifically for that people. In the third book of Moses we read of the institution of these feasts (Deut. 23).

Judaism still celebrates a feast, in reference to an event, but it was not defined as a feast in the Bible. This is Hanukkah, the commemoration of the dedication of the second temple.

Neither Christmas nor Hanukkah are “biblical” festivals in a strict sense. So, in a biblicalist view, these festivals should not be celebrated at all. There is a closing off from later traditions. The fact that such a compartmentalization is often itself only the result of a (doctrinal) tradition is not noticed by everyone. You think you are in an absolute and correct biblical faith and other points of view can seem threatening. Christmas, the simple formula goes, is not for Christians. In fact, there are arguments in favor of it.

However, this does not say it all. For many people Christmas has a very big emotional meaning. Although Christmas as a celebration cannot be grounded in the Bible, many see Christmas as the heart of Christian faith. What’s wrong with having a party together? Don’t we need a festival of lights in the dark season? Isn’t there something to be said for that as well? Extreme views are therefore close together.

Are we free to celebrate?

Are we free to celebrate, to give thanks, to live? This is perhaps evident in our approach to emotionally laden traditions and celebrations that are deeply embedded in our culture.

We can see a celebration as an occasion to connect with others in gratitude. If I find an opportunity to do so, I can be free to seize that moment.

One can also see it differently, for example in such a way that today’s Christmas culture, the symbolism and the expectations, which are linked with this celebration up and down the country, rather distract from the essential than point to it. All typical Christmas symbols can be traced back to pagan symbols. Some would like to distance themselves from it. You also don’t have to make friends with Christmas commerce. You can keep your distance from the Christmas hustle and bustle.

Others, however, enjoy the kitsch, do not want to do without it and enjoy the tradition. Many don’t care where it comes from. The main thing is to celebrate the day. Besides, isn’t it a good opportunity to see the family again? That, too, is undoubtedly an approach.

I for one have not celebrated Christmas for over 30 years. This is my personal decision, and it has relieved me a lot – from opinions, from traditions, from expectations, from the urge to consume. I therefore feel very relaxed during the Christmas season. By the way, it took years to get to that point. Because Christmas seems to be a collective trance. It’s almost impossible to tell someone that you’ll do without, and you’d rather stay with yourself. Almost no one takes this seriously – so great is the pressure of tradition. Also meetings of Christmas abstainers exactly on December 24 confirm the collective pressure.

Christmas seems to be a collective trance.

However, it is not celebrated the same way everywhere. Christmas traditions differ from country to country and perhaps from family to family. I have witnessed beautiful and simple celebrations, and those that I have merely “survived”. I would like to dispense with the last variant today.

Expectations time out

Do I have to celebrate Christmas? Of course not. Christmas is exactly what we make of it ourselves. Many people experience this time as a burden. So why not set out to make something better of that time? Alibi exercises are not needed. I myself belong to this group of people who like to do without the construct of “Christmas”. But I am not at war with those who very much enjoy such a celebration. It only becomes problematic where expectations are imposed on other people that they have to adapt to this or that “norm”. I like to take time out from these expectations.

Questions for deepening

• How does the holiday season feel to you?
• Is it important to celebrate Christmas? Why?
• Christmas is the most important feast in the Western Church. In the Eastern Church, Easter is central. Would that be an alternative to our culture? Why?
• Are you free to celebrate as you wish?
• What is Christmas for you in the first place? (family party, …)