Sunday School Review: Basic Church History, Part 15

This Sunday, we took a break from our normal study to explore the origins and history of Christmas observance. As you'll see, many of our cherished Christmas traditions represent relatively recent phenomena. However, others date back centuries. Understanding this history not only deepens our appreciation for the season but also equips us to celebrate with greater intentionality, focusing on Christ as the center of our joy and hope.

Introduction

Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the Christian calendar, yet its history is complex and, at times, controversial. How did this holiday emerge? Why has it been debated? And how can we approach it faithfully today? By tracing its origins and development, we see that Christmas offers not only the opportunity to celebrate Christ's birth, but also reflect on how God’s people have sought to proclaim His gospel across cultures and ages.

When did we start observing Christmas?

The earliest Christians focused their worship on Christ’s death and resurrection, celebrating Easter as the central event of the faith. For the first few centuries, there was no fixed date or widespread observance of Christ’s birth. However, as Christianity grew and theological reflection on the Incarnation deepened, the church began to recognize the importance of celebrating Christ’s nativity.

The turning point for Christmas as a formal celebration came in the 4th century during the reign of Emperor Constantine. Constantine’s conversion to Christianity and the Edict of Milan in 313 AD ended the persecution of Christians and elevated the faith to a position of prominence within the Roman Empire. Under his rule, the church gained the stability and influence necessary to formalize its worship practices, including the recognition of Christ’s birth.

Why do we celebrate on December 25th?

While there is no biblical evidence for the exact date of Jesus’ birth, early church writers like Hippolytus of Rome connected it to March 25th, traditionally seen as the date of Christ’s conception (and crucifixion). Placing His birth nine months later, on December 25th, linked the Incarnation to the redemption accomplished on the cross.

Culturally, December 25th coincided with Roman winter festivals like Saturnalia and Dies Natalis Solis Invicti ("the birthday of the unconquered sun"), celebrations of renewal and light. By marking Christ’s birth on this date, the church reoriented these festivals to proclaim Jesus as the true "Light of the World" (John 8:12), overcoming darkness and bringing salvation. Far from pagan compromise, this decision demonstrated the church’s conviction that Christ transforms and redeems all things.

Why do we observe Twelve Days of Christmas?

As the celebration of Christ’s birth developed, the church extended its observance beyond a single day. The Twelve Days of Christmas, from December 25th to January 6th, became a season of festivity and reflection. January 6th, known as Epiphany, commemorated the visit of the Magi and the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles. This period, known as Christmastide, symbolized the fullness of Christ’s mission, uniting His nativity with His manifestation to the world.

Christmas in the Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages, Christmas became a major religious and cultural celebration. Churches hosted elaborate liturgies with hymns, Scripture readings, and dramatic nativity plays that brought the story of Christ’s birth to life. These plays made the gospel accessible to illiterate audiences, dramatizing key events like the shepherds’ visit and the Magi’s journey.

Communal festivities also played a central role. Feasting, singing, and dancing marked the Twelve Days of Christmas, blending sacred worship with communal joy. Traditions like the appointment of a Lord of Misrule added a playful element. This figure, often chosen from the lower classes, presided over the celebrations, temporarily reversing social roles. While the Lord of Misrule reflected the topsy-turvy joy of Christmastide, some church leaders criticized the practice for encouraging excess.

Christmas during the Protestant Reformation

The Protestant Reformation in the 16th century brought renewed scrutiny to Christmas celebrations. Reformers sought to purify Christian worship by removing practices they deemed unbiblical or overly tied to Roman Catholicism.

Martin Luther embraced Christmas as a meaningful celebration of the Incarnation, seeing traditions like the Christmas tree as adiaphora—practices neither commanded nor forbidden by Scripture—that could be used to point to Christ. The evergreen branches of the tree symbolized eternal life, while its candles reflected Jesus as the light of the world.

Over time, this symbolism expanded with the introduction of ornaments. Early ornaments were often crafted from natural materials like fruits and nuts, symbolizing God’s provision and blessings. In Germany, particularly, apples were used to represent the fruit of the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden, connecting humanity’s fall to the redemption brought by Christ. Later, glassmakers in the 16th and 17th centuries began creating decorative baubles, and their reflective surfaces came to symbolize the glory of Christ. These ornaments, now a staple of Christmas decorations, evolved to tell the story of God’s redemptive work and became a visual reminder of the gospel’s hope.

In contrast, Puritans in England and colonial America opposed Christmas, adhering to the regulative principle of worship: the belief that only practices explicitly commanded in Scripture should shape corporate worship. They criticized Christmas for its lack of biblical warrant and association with revelry, seeing it as a distraction from true piety. Laws banning Christmas celebrations in 17th-century England and Massachusetts reflected this perspective.

Despite Puritan opposition, many Christians continued to celebrate Christmas, recognizing it as an opportunity to reflect on God’s redemptive work. Over time, the prohibitions faded, and Christmas regained its place as a cherished holiday.

The 19th-Century Revival of Christmas

The 19th century saw the revitalization of Christmas traditions, particularly in Britain and America. Writers like Charles Dickens helped reframe the holiday as a season of compassion and reflection. His 1843 novella A Christmas Carol emphasized generosity and redemption, portraying Christmas as a time for goodwill and transformation.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert played a pivotal role in popularizing the Christmas tree in Britain and beyond, cementing it as a central part of the holiday tradition. In 1848, an illustration in the Illustrated London News depicted the royal family gathered around a beautifully decorated Christmas tree adorned with candles, ornaments, and presents. This image resonated deeply with the Victorian public, who admired the royal family’s domesticity and quickly adopted the practice. Albert, a German prince, brought the tradition from his homeland, where decorated trees were already part of Christmas celebrations. The tree's symbolism of life and light, combined with its placement at the heart of family gatherings, reflected Victorian values of togetherness and moral virtue.

Meanwhile, American authors shaped other key aspects of Christmas. Clement Clarke Moore’s poem A Visit from St. Nicholas (1823), also known as The Night Before Christmas, reimagined St. Nicholas as the jolly, pipe-smoking Santa Claus who arrives on Christmas Eve in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. Moore’s portrayal blended Dutch traditions of Sinterklaas with a sense of warmth and wonder, giving rise to the modern image of Santa as a benevolent gift-giver who brings joy to children. Washington Irving further contributed to this vision by romanticizing Christmas as a time of nostalgia, charity, and community in his writings, such as The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon.

Together, these cultural influences fostered a family-centered, joyful celebration of Christmas that balanced festivity with devotion. This perspective on Christmas continues in many places today.

Conclusion

For evangelical Protestants, Christmas is an invitation to marvel at the Incarnation. The celebration reminds us that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14), revealing God’s love and humility. By embracing traditions in a Christ-centered way, we can reflect His light and life to the world.

Christmas also provides a powerful opportunity for gospel witness. Amid the busyness and cultural noise, the story of Christ’s birth offers hope, peace, and joy that transcends circumstances. As we celebrate, may we, like the shepherds and Magi, respond in worship and proclaim the good news of great joy: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11).

Merry Christmas!

Reflection Questions

1. How does understanding the history of Christmas deepen your appreciation for its theological significance?
2. In what ways can Christmas traditions like the tree or gift-giving reflect biblical truths about Christ’s light and generosity?
3. How can Christians thoughtfully respond to criticisms of Christmas, especially regarding its historical and cultural origins?
4. What steps can you take to keep Christ at the center of your Christmas celebrations?
5. How can you use the Christmas season to share the gospel with others in a meaningful way?