The Importance of Christmas

The Importance of Christmas

Of all topics, why did I pick Christmas? Could I not have come up with a better argument and thesis than why Christmas is significant? However because the Christmas season is upon us, why not talk about a topic that has much controversy? Are not topics and thesis to be debated? Let me explain why I chose the topic Christmas and the thesis Christmas is significant and biblical to celebrate.

Most people in today's culture look forward to Christmas time. There is the gathering of the family; there is the time of feasting; there is the time of giving and receiving of gifts. However, not all people observe or remember what Christmas time means. Some people only know Christmas time is about giving and receiving gifts along with the rejoicing that Santa Claus checked off your list. Some people do not celebrate Christmas because it is not the right time when Christ was born, or it is not commanded in the Bible, or for some various other reason. However, there are some people who know how to celebrate Christmas in the right way with the right mind.

Christmas is significant and biblical to celebrate because the time and season of Christmas is not from a Pagan associated holiday so it should be celebrated, the date is actual Biblically backed up, many men have written music about the birth of Christ and the Christmas season, and it is a time that we, as Christians, are to celebrate the birth of Christ.

The first reason why Christmas is significant and biblical to celebrate is because no matter what some people, Christians, or Pagans tell you, the time and season of Christmas are not from a Pagan associated holidays. The first choice why Pagans claim to have influenced this holiday is usually because of Saturnalia. Saturnalia started on December 17 and went to the 23rd. They claim that Christians tried to imitate their "feast." However, this cannot be true since the Christians would have had to be deliberate on choosing their dates two days after Saturnalia instead of during the time of it.

The second choice for claiming this is their Sol Invictus or “Feast of the Unconquered Sun" for it started on the 25th of December. Although both this pagan feast and Christmas start on the same day, that feast did not come about until 274 A.D. The day we celebrate Christmas started around 200 A.D. So, as you can see by that dates, Christmas has always associated with and as a Christian holiday.

The second reason Christmas is significant and biblical to celebrate is this; although the actual time of Christmas time cannot be directly proven to fall on December 25, there is a biblical attempt to suggest that date. Christians of the early church did some adding, subtracting, dividing, and comparing of dates that are given in the Bible. The early church and Romans did not celebrate birthdays or even have a Roman calendar. So, how did they determine the dates even though people in Christ's time didn't have a calendar? Well, it has been agreed that Christ was born around March 25 or so. Also, for some strange but agreed upon reason, early Christians and Jews believed that the influential prophets died on the day they were conceived. If this was the case with Christ, nine months added to March 25 equals December 25th. Also, since Epiphany starts after Christmas and continues for 12 days and ends on January 6th, which was when the Magi found Christ, it makes sense that our early church fathers made a really good attempt to peg Christ's birth on December 25th.

Another reason why Christmas is significant and biblical to celebrate is that many men have written music surrounding Christ's birth and the Christmas season. We have men such as J.S. Bach and George F. Handel who wrote excellent Oratorios about this incredible season. If they found Christmas to be a joyful season worth celebrating and singing about, why should we cower under the blanket of shame? We are to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with the singing of songs. This is the reason Bach and Handel wrote these oratorios.

Finally, Christmas is significant and biblical to celebrate because with all the reasons argued for in the previous points are convincing evidence that Christmas is great to celebrate. It is also enjoyable to give and receive gifts. Though these gifts are material gifts and will slowly decay away, they are metaphorical to God's ultimate gift; Jesus Christ. Also, the gathering of family and friends is good. We all come together to celebrate Christ's birth, death, and resurrection. Christmas is such a wonderful time! We celebrate Christ's birth as we are told in Matthew 1-3 and in even greater detail in Luke 1-2 that Jesus Christ would be born from the Virgin Mary. God gave us this time, story, and Son to celebrate, tell, and save us from our fallen and sinful state.

Given the reasons above, there are some people who do not think that Christmas is significant and biblical to celebrate because they think that Christmas is just about the magic of Santa. Santa's magical reindeer go up on the housetop, let Santa down the chimney, and he puts presents under the tree. We have the Scandinavia's to thank for this myth. However, this is JUST a myth and story. Christmas has so much more meaning and has a greater purpose than Santa putting presents under the tree. So, for those who believe Christmas is about Santa, reindeer, and presents, read your Bible!

The second reason why people do not think Christmas is significant and biblical to celebrate is that it is the time to fall in love. The world and most people believe that Christmas is that special time to fall in love; it is a magical time of the year. We have Christmas music that has lyrics that suggest love during this magical winter time. This is not a sound or biblical reason for Christians not to celebrate Christmas. We can show love to others by sharing the gospel story. We can show love to others by sharing the love of God that He shows to His people. Christ is the greatest gift ever and the greatest showing of love anyone can give to everyone.

Another reason why people think this is because of the magical love plant, mistletoe. For years kissing under the mistletoe has been significant for people. The mistletoe has been a sign of love and friendship back in Norse mythology. While this tradition is old, not many people know what mistletoe is or how it grows or what mistletoe means. Mistletoe grows from bird droppings, and the word mistletoe comes from the Anglo Saxon words "mistle" and "tun". Both of the meanings of these words will surprise you. "Mistle" means "dung" while "tun" means "stick or twig." So, the actual meaning of this word means "dung on a stick" or "poo on a stick". Who really wants to associate the wonderful time to celebrate Christ's birth with a parasitic plant? Another reason why Christmas is not a holiday associated with falling in love.

Christmas is significant and biblical to celebrate because it has always been a Christian, not Pagan, holiday to celebrate, the date of Christmas seems to be biblically backed up, there are songs written about the birth of Christ, and the time is joyful to celebrate. These reasons apply to all people for God gave us a special time to celebrate with Him all that He has given us.

Cheers!

Chloe Elizabeth