Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?

For decades, the controversy on whether Christians should celebrate Christmas or not has been raging. On both sides of the question, there are equally truthful and dedicated Christians, each with multiple explanations why Christmas should be celebrated in Christian homes or why not. So what's the Bible saying? Does the Bible offer explicit instructions as to whether Christmas is a holiday that Christians should celebrate?

First, let’s look at the reasons why some Christians do not celebrate Christmas. One reason against Christmas is that paganism has its roots in the rituals surrounding the holiday. It is difficult to search for reliable data on this subject because the roots of many of our rituals are so mysterious that sources sometimes contradict one another. In the history of pagan worship, bells, candles, holly, and yuletide/yule decorations are mentioned, but the use of these in one's home definitely does not suggest a return to paganism. Although some traditions certainly have pagan origins, there are far more traditions connected with the real meaning of Christmas-the birth of the world's Savior in Bethlehem. Bells are played to sound the joyful news, candles are lit to remind us that Christ is the Light of the world (John 1:4-9), a star is placed on top of a Christmas tree to celebrate the Star of Bethlehem, and presents are exchanged to remind us of the Magi's gifts to Jesus, God's greatest gift to mankind.

Another reason against Christmas is that the Bible forbids bringing trees into our homes and decorating them, especially getting a Christmas tree. Jeremiah 10:1-16 is the verse frequently quoted, but this passage refers to cutting down trees, chiseling the wood to make an altar, and then decorating the idol with silver and gold in order to bow before it to worship it (see also Isaiah 44:9-18). It is not possible to take the passage in Jeremiah from its sense and use it to make a valid case about Christmas trees.

Christians who chose to disregard Christmas point to the fact that the Bible does not give us the birth date of Christ, which is undoubtedly valid. December 25 may not be near the time that Jesus was born, and claims on both sides are legion, some relating to Israel's climate, winter shepherds' activities, and Roman census dates. None of these arguments are without a certain degree of conjecture, which leads us back to the fact that when Jesus was born, the Bible doesn't tell us. Some see this as positive confirmation that God did not want us to celebrate birth, while others see the absence of the Bible on the subject as implicit approval.

Some Christians say that Christians should stop it because the world celebrates Christmas, although it is becoming more and more politically correct to refer to it as the holidays". But it is the same claim made by false religions that completely reject Christ, as well as cults that deny His god, such as the Jehovah's Witnesses. Those Christians who celebrate Christmas also see the occasion as an excuse for nations and those stuck in false religions to declare Christ as the reason for the season".

There is no valid scriptural excuse not to celebrate Christmas, as we have seen. There is no divine mandate to celebrate it at the same time, either. Ultimately, of course, whether to celebrate Christmas or not is a personal choice. Whatever Christians want to do with Christmas, their views should not be used as a club to beat down or denigrate those of contrary views, nor should their views be used as an honour badge to induce pride over celebrating or not celebrating. We seek wisdom from Him, as in all things, who freely offers it to all who ask (James 1:5), and embrace each other in Christian love and grace, regardless of our Christmas views.