Christmas is not celebrated on December 25 because Jesus was born on that day (neither Scripture nor early tradition informs us of that date). Its origins are pagan in date, Christian in intent, and both/and in practices. Ever since, quite a battle has raged between Jesus-worship and excessive-consumption around Christmas. I'd like to tell you the original story briefly today.
But first, we've joined that battle this year at Lake Forest - a battle to LOVE ALL and WORSHIP FULLY this time of year. The weapons with which we arm ourselves weekly in this series called Exchanging Christmas are: Spend Less, Give More, Love All, and Worship Fully. If you'd like creative ideas to apply last week's sermon, Spend Less, click here http://www.rethinkingchristmas.com/?q=/gifts/popular . My favorite is the childrens' 'Restaurant Trump Card' to use three times in the next year when the family goes to eat out.
Here's the original story of Christians trying to redeem celebrations on December 25th, to give perspective to our efforts this year:
In Rome, Saturnalia—a holiday in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture—was celebrated December 17-25. Saturnalia was a hedonistic time, when food and drink were plentiful, drunkenness and sexual license were the norm, and the normal Roman social order was turned upside down. Gifts were given, groups of inebriated citizens roamed the streets nightly singing in doorways while naked (the precursor to caroling). Business and schools were closed so that everyone could join in the fun. On December 25. It was believed that Mithra, an infant god, was born of a rock. For some Romans, Mithra's birthday was the most sacred day of the year.
Christians in the Roman Empire were thus surrounded by these celebrations annually. Its thought that some of them began to wonder "how could we conspire to use this pagan celebration, our time off from work and school, in ways counter to the cultural narrative. What if WE celebrated Jesus in a special way, in a way that tells the story of Jesus to our friends and neighbors?" That is the conspiratorial, counter-cultural spirit we seek to recapture today. Not just opposing the culture, but redeeming it to point to Christ. To celebrate in ways that embody and tell the story of Jesus.
In the fourth century, church officials took their cue from the informal Christmas celebrations that had been growing, and since they were now in power rather than the former pagan Roman adminstrators, decided to institute the birth of Jesus as an official holiday.Pope Julius I chose December 25. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival. First called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century. By the end of the eighth century, the celebration of Christmas had spread all the way to Scandinavia.
By holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals, church leaders increased the chances that Christmas would be popularly embraced, but gave up the ability to dictate how it was celebrated. By the Middle Ages, Christianity had, for the most part, replaced pagan religion. On Christmas, believers attended church, then celebrated raucously in a drunken, carnival-like atmosphere similar to today's Mardi Gras. Each year, a beggar or student would be crowned the "lord of misrule" and eager celebrants played the part of his subjects. The poor would go to the houses of the rich and demand their best food and drink. If owners failed to comply, their visitors would most likely terrorize them with mischief. Christmas became the time of year when the upper classes could repay their real or imagined "debt" to society by entertaining less fortunate citizens. It was also a time when baser ethnic and religious prejudices were given freer expression.
In the early 17th century, a wave of religious reform changed the way Christmas was celebrated in Europe. When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid England of decadence and, as part of their effort, cancelled Christmas. By popular demand, Charles II was restored to the throne and, with him, came the return of the popular holiday.
The pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston. Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. By contrast, in the Jamestown VA settlement, Captain John Smith reported that Christmas was enjoyed by all and passed without incident.
After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor, including Christmas. In fact, Congress was in session on December 25, 1789, the first Christmas under America's new constitution. Christmas wasn't declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870. (edited excerpts from History.com)
I pray that you will find ways to not be against culture, but for Christ this season, as we participate in this cultural and religious holiday in redemptive, not purely consumptive, ways.
