Was Jesus actually born on December 25?
How does Santa fit into things?
Is my nativity scene correct?
Each year I get several questions about the curiosities of Christmas. Why? Well, I’m a pastor and this is a big religious holiday for many of us.
But it has also morphed into a wider cultural celebration about “giving,” “love,” or something else. All this seems to expand people’s desire to know what in the world is going on!
So here are some of the most popular inquiries (and my attempt to answer them):
1. Where does the word “Christmas” come from?
Some churches call the Lord’s Supper “Communion” or “Mass.” Once a year in some parts of the world they would have a Mass to celebrate Christ’s birth—hence: “Christ’s Mass.” Say “Christ’s Mass” quickly there times and there you go! Christmas.
2. Was Jesus actually born on December 25?
Short answer: We don’t know the exact day he was born. Explanation, read on:
A long time ago the Romans had celebrations on December 25th to acknowledge that winter had turned and the days were getting longer (in the process they would worship a whole variety of things).
As Christianity grew through the world, that day was chosen to affix Jesus’ birthday. (If people already had holidays booked because of this Roman custom, why not piggy back on that?)
Okay, so if it wasn’t December 25th, when was it?
If we assume that shepherds weren’t likely to tend their flocks in December (it was just as unlikely in Palestine then as it is in North America now), and if we do some speculating based on the proximity to his cousin John the Baptist’s birth (based on when John’s father Zacharias was serving in the temple), some venture Jesus was more likely born in the fall, probably September.
But, of course, it really doesn’t matter. What matters is that he was born. (Remember that he’s the most documented and influential figure ever to walk the earth.) Plus, he was born for a purpose. As Jesus grew, more and more people started recording stories about his teachings and significance. The exact day he was born in a manger just wasn’t one of them.
3. Are Our Nativity Scenes Accurate?
Kind of, but not really.
Most of our nativity (birth) scenes are very serene and conjure pleasant thoughts of “Away in a Manger.” But consider this.
A very young Hebrew woman is living in an occupied land. They do not have the freedom they hope for and are awaiting a Messiah (a word that means God’s “anointed”/chosen one).
She and Joseph begin a journey (not really ideal when you’re pregnant!—and no the Bible doesn’t say anything about a donkey), to the town of Joseph’s ancestors (Bethlehem) to be a part of some kind of census (no historical records exist of this census outside the Bible; but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t one).
They are not welcomed well (why would they be?—they have no real social status) and are forced into the modern equivalent of a back garage somewhere, perhaps with relatives. But we can assume since a manger is present that there are animals with accompanying smells. (A manger is a feeding trough for animals.)
Was he born the same night they arrived? Maybe. But it could have been days or weeks later. The story just doesn’t tell us.
But the crucial point is this: The World Rescuer and King is born where no one would expect: In a feeding trough for dirty animals in the shadows of political oppression.
This is the God of explosive love who is turning everyone’s expectations upside down.
But back to our nativity scenes: Yes, shepherds would have been present according to Luke’s Gospel. But if your nativity has wise men that wouldn’t have been until sometime later, perhaps even a few years. They were probably astrologers, and we don’t know how many of them there were—again, the Bible simply doesn’t say. The lyric “We three kings…” is definitely misleading.
4. How Does Santa Fit Into All This?
Saint Nicolas was a priest in Europe who lived over 1500 years ago. Little is known about his life, but he helped poor children by giving out coins and gifts through their windows. December 6th came to be a day when people celebrated him. Many put an empty boot outside or stocking inside hoping he would fill them with gifts.
In the 1600’s Dutch settlers in North America brought these stories with them. They called Saint Nicolas “Sinterklaas.” Soon the name was English-ized into Santa Claus. Hear the name resemblance?
So following this path, Santa Claus is the modern remembrance of Saint Nicolas who gave out presents (originally to the poor) to share and show the love of Christ.
Drag the December 6 date a few weeks down the calendar to blend it with Jesus’ birth — and bingo!
(An aside: Why does he wear a red hat? Well, remember how Saint Nicolas was a priest? He was also a bishop, and they often wear red hats. The red today is a holdover from that.)
5. Where Do Christmas Trees Come In?
This one is hard to chop down… um, I mean, nail down.
In various parts of the world trees have historically been used to decorate and help celebrate for various occasions. But one of the stories I like the most (even though it has little historical basis) is the great Reformer Martin Luther wading through the snow around Christmas time and looking up on a hill through some evergreens. The stars in the night sky twinkled through the branches and reminded him of the shepherds from the nativity story. So he cut down the tree, put it in his house and decorated it with candles to re-create the effect.
Who knows.
But there is a strong tree tradition that came from Germany; and it probably came into North America through those who immigrated here.
6. How Do We Keep Christ in Christmas?
I hear this a lot. Actually, I don’t hear it a lot. But I see it a lot in Facebook memes and on bumper stickers.
But essentially, the concern some have is to keep focused on what matters: Jesus’ birth and not the rabid frothy commercialization of things.
Ironically, for a long time, many Christians refused to celebrate Christmas. Huh? That’s right. Why? Because it’s not a holiday outlined in the Bible. (There are other reasons too.) It’s really only in modern times that it’s become a bigger deal.
So my response—which is also what I’ll talk about Christmas Eve and how I’ll end this blog—is to keep faithful focus on the following. Do you want to keep Christ in Christmas?
Fear not
Feed the hungry
Clothe the poor
Heal the sick
Fight evil
Love
Pray
Maybe Christmas,” the Grinch thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”
Or… a lot more.
