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A Guide To Christmas Traditions, History, and Celebrations – Viral Believer
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A Guide To Christmas Traditions, History, and Celebrations

Introduction

Christmas is a joyous time celebrated by Christians around the world. It is a time to remember the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and reflect on the greatest gift ever given – God becoming man to save humanity from sin. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the history, traditions, and ways to celebrate Christmas for Evangelical and Charismatic Christians.

Key Takeaways:

  • Christmas marks the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago.
  • Many Christmas traditions like gift giving, Christmas trees, and Santa Claus have origins in early Christian history and folklore.
  • Celebrating advent in the weeks leading up to Christmas is an important tradition for focus and preparation.
  • Christmas hymns and carols are a beautiful way to praise God and remember the Christmas story.
  • Exchanging gifts reminds us of God’s gift of Jesus and reflects His generosity in our lives.
  • Christmas is both a deeply spiritual time and a season of joy and celebration with family and friends.

The History and Origins of Christmas

Christmas is celebrated on December 25th each year. This date was chosen by the early church to coincide with pagan winter solstice festivals. Some pagan cultures like the Romans had winter solstice celebrations dedicated to their gods. When Christianity spread throughout Europe and the Roman empire, the church wisely chose December 25th as Jesus’ birthday to partner with and transform these pagan winter celebrations.

The actual birth date of Jesus is unknown. Luke 2:8 mentions shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night, which indicates Jesus was likely born in spring or summer rather than the dead of winter. However, the exact date is not important. What matters is the incredible miracle of the incarnation – that God Himself would take on human flesh and be born a helpless infant to one day die for our salvation!

The first recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th was in 336 AD, during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine. Christian leaders likely chose this date to coincide with the pagan Roman winter solstice celebration called Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (Birthday of the Unconquered Sun). By partnering with an already established pagan holiday, the church was able to connect the birth of Jesus as the true “Sun of Righteousness” (Malachi 4:2).

Within a few hundred years, Christmas had spread throughout Europe and became the most important Christian celebration. The early church in Europe encouraged the celebration of Christmas to help the transition from pagan beliefs and practices into Christian faith and worship. As Christianity grew, Christmas began blending with old pagan traditions like Yule and Saturnalia and transforming them into Christian celebrations.

Advent – Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas

Advent is the season leading up to Christmas that starts 4 Sundays before Christmas Day. The word ‘Advent’ comes from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming” or “arrival.” For Christians, Advent is a time of preparation for both the celebration of Jesus’ birth at Christmas and His expected second coming.

Observing Advent goes back to 4th and 5th century Latin Christians. Originally it was a 40-day time of fasting and repentance similar to Lent. By the 6th century, Roman Christians had reduced Advent to only 4 weeks. The Advent wreath with candles was a German and Scandinavian Lutheran tradition that made its way to America in the 1930s.

Advent is the perfect opportunity to spiritually prepare our hearts for the Christmas season. Here are some meaningful ways to observe the 4 weeks of Advent:

  • Attend Advent services at your church. Special services focus on Bible prophecies of Jesus’ coming and the hope He brings. Songs, scriptures, and sermons center on the Advent themes of hope, love, joy, and peace.
  • Light an Advent wreath at home. These wreaths have 3 purple candles around the wreath and 1 pink candle in the middle. Light the first candle on the 1st Sunday of Advent, adding an additional candle each subsequent week. Light the pink candle on the 3rd Sunday.
  • Put up an Advent calendar for your family. Fill it with scriptures, good deeds, or treats to build excitement and anticipation for Christmas.
  • Take prayer walks. As you walk, pray through the prophecy of Jesus’ coming in Isaiah 9:6-7. Let the names Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace sink into your spirit.
  • Read through the Book of Luke. Focus on the events foretelling Jesus’ birth and the details surrounding it. Think about how God arranged every detail and fulfilled so many prophecies.

The weeks of Advent are an important time to reflect, prepare your heart, and take joy in the season. When Christmas Day arrives, you’ll be ready to truly celebrate Christ the Lord because you’ve prepared Him room in your heart!

Christmas Trees and Decorations

Evergreen Christmas trees are one of the most prominent decorations and traditions of the Advent and Christmas seasons. But where did this tradition originate?

The Christmas tree has its roots in the medieval “Paradise Plays” performed in Europe during Advent and Christmas. The Paradise Tree represented the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden and was often decorated with apples. These plays depicted the Creation story from Genesis mixed with the prophecy of Jesus’ birth from Isaiah.

Over time, the Paradise Tree transformed into the Christmas tree decorated with apples, candies, and paper flowers. The evergreen was an emblem of eternal life and the lights represented Christ, the Light of the World. Martin Luther is credited with being the first to add lighted candles to an evergreen tree.

In the Victorian era, Christmas trees became wildly popular throughout England and America. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were sketched in front of their decorated Christmas tree and copies were published in American and British magazines. This inspired common households to set up their own Christmas trees.

Early Christmas trees were traditionally decorated with edibles like apples, nuts, candies, and cookies. Paper snowflakes, chains, and Chinese lanterns were also common. Glass Christmas tree ornaments originated in Germany in the late 1800s and became popular in America by the early 1900s. Electric Christmas lights first appeared in the late 1890s, allowing for safer decoration than open-flamed candles.

Today, the Christmas tree remains the centerpiece of our Christmas decorating. Sparkling lights, treasured ornaments, evergreen garland, and a star or angel tree-topper make up the traditional Christmas tree. Surrounding decorations reflect the joy and hope of the season. The true meaning remains – Jesus Christ at the center showering endless light into our lives!

Santa Claus and St. Nicholas of Myra

The beloved figure of Santa Claus has become an iconic symbol of Christmas across the world. But where did Santa come from and how did he become associated with Christmas?

Santa Claus has his origins in St. Nicholas of Myra, a 4th century Christian bishop in present-day Turkey. Nicholas was orphaned at a young age when both parents died in an epidemic. He later inherited their wealth and became known for his extreme generosity, often giving gifts anonymously to the poor and needy.

The most famous story of St. Nicholas tells of a poor man with 3 daughters who could not afford their wedding dowries. St. Nicholas heard of their situation and threw 3 bags of gold through the family’s open window late at night to provide the daughters’ dowries. The gold landed in the daughters’ recently washed stockings that were left by the fire to dry. This one act of anonymous generosity saved the daughters from destitution.

St. Nicholas attended the Council of Nicea in 325 AD and was an ardent defender of orthodox Christian theology. After his death, he was canonized as a saint for his acts of charity and miracles attributed to him. The anniversary of his death on December 6th was celebrated each year by Christians, especially in the East.

Over the centuries, St. Nicholas’ legacy spread across Europe. Holland in particular embraced the story of St. Nicholas or Sinterklaas as their Christmas gift-giver. Dutch colonists brought their traditions of St. Nicholas to America in the 1700s, where his name evolved into the figure we now know as Santa Claus.

Clement Clarke Moore’s 1822 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas first depicted Santa as a jolly, chubby, bearded man driving a sleigh led by flying reindeer. Cartoonist Thomas Nast further shaped Santa’s image throughout the 1860s and 70s. Brands like Coca-Cola and retailers like Macy’s cemented Santa’s look as a rosy-cheeked man in a red suit trimmed with white fur.

While the commercial image of Santa is fun folklore, the real St. Nicholas behind Santa was a devoted Christian who anonymous gave gifts to the poor, served the church, and honored Christ with his life. Just like St. Nicholas, may our greatest joy come from giving to others in the name of Jesus!

The History of Christmas Carols

Joyful Christmas carols are one of the best parts of the Christmas season. But where did these Christmas hymns and songs originate?

The earliest Christmas hymns were written in Latin during the 4th – 7th centuries. Popular Latin hymns like “Veni, Veni Emmanuel” and “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” were later translated into English in the 1800s. “O Come All Ye Faithful” was originally written in Latin as “Adeste Fideles” in the mid-1700s.

The first Christmas carol sung in English is attributed to St. Francis of Assisi in the 13th century. “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is from the same era but authorship is unknown. By the 15th-16th centuries, carol singing had become a Christmas tradition, although many were not originally about the nativity. Popular English folk songs and ballads were given Christmas lyrics over time.

Christmas hymns flourished even more during the Victorian era in the 19th century. “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, “Joy to the World”, “Silent Night”, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” were all written during this period. Missionaries also brought many carols to distant lands. The Christmas carol favorite “Away in a Manger” first appeared in the United States in the late 1800s.

The popularity of Christmas carols exploded in the early 20th century. Radio broadcasts in the 1920s helped canonize songs like “Jingle Bells” and “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” across America. Christmas albums became popular in the 1930s-1950s by famous crooners like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley. Elvis’ 1957 album containing “Blue Christmas” remains the best-selling Christmas album to date.

Christmas carols old and new continue blessing our seasons with beautiful melodies and harmonies praising our Savior’s birth. Singing carols together unites our voices in joyful worship to Jesus. So let’s rejoice and sing the treasured carols declaring salvation through Christ our King!

Christmas Gift Giving Traditions

Gift giving is one of our most beloved Christmas traditions. But how did it become associated with Christ’s birth and God’s gift of His Son to the world?

Early Christian gift giving emulated God’s generosity in sending Jesus. St. Nicholas’ anonymous gifts to the poor recalled Christ’s words “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). By the Victorian era, Christmas became celebrated as a family holiday, accelerating the practice of gifts around family trees.

Gift giving also fulfilled the Christian duty of charity. Christmas boxes containing money, food, and clothing were donated to servants, laborers, and the needy. The popularity of sending Christmas cards in the late 19th century necessitated training additional postmen called “Christmas temporaries” to handle the Christmas mail.

Gift giving traditions were also influenced by the wise men bringing gifts to baby Jesus. Early icons depicted their visit to Mary with gold, frankincense, and myrrh in hands. St. Nicholas, Santa Claus, and Father Christmas emerged over time as gift givers associated with Christmas. Gift giving customs worldwide mixed Christian charity with folk tales like Père Noël in France or La Befana in Italy.

Today, gift giving allows us to share love and bring joy to family and friends. While it often becomes commercialized, it still carries that spark of Divine generosity. Our greatest gift is Christ Himself given from a Father’s eternal love. This undeserved gift offers us redemption, adoption, and abundant life in Him. May we reflect that love as we give good gifts to others this season.

Gift Idea Inspiration

Here are some meaningful Christian gift ideas for Christmas:

  • Bibles or devotional books
  • Christian music, Christmas albums
  • Crosses, nativity sets, angel figurines
  • Gift cards supporting Christian businesses
  • Christian jewelry like Celtic cross necklaces
  • Donations to ministries in their name
  • Crafts, baked goods – share your talents!
  • Picture frames with encouraging Bible verses
  • Christmas tree ornaments with spiritual meaning

Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas

Most Christmas celebrations focus around December 25th, but tradition calls for a 12-day celebration from Christmas to Epiphany on January 6th. How did these 12 days gain significance?

The 12 days of Christmas originate from the ancient Greek Orthodox celebration of Christ’s birth. Their Nativity Fast began 40 days before Christmas. December 25th commenced 12 days of nonstop celebration concluding with Epiphany on January 6th. Epiphany celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles in the persons of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12).

Western churches eventually adopted the 12-day period, but placed more emphasis on Christmas Day alone. However, the time between Christmas and Epiphany was still viewed as a unity with each day having significance:

  • Dec 25 – Christmas Day honoring Christ’s birth
  • Dec 26 – St. Stephen’s Day remembering his martyrdom
  • Dec 27 – St. John the Apostle’s Day
  • Dec 28 – Holy Innocents Day mourning Herod’s slaughter
  • Dec 31 – St. Sylvester’s Day
  • Jan 1 – Feast of the Circumcision and Christ’s obedience
  • Jan 6 – Epiphany celebrating God manifest in flesh

The 12 days were a time for attending church, gift giving to servants, alms for the poor, celebration with dance and song, and traveling to be with family. Christmas plays and pageants were often performed. Special foods, sweets, and wassailing – toasting with spiced cider – were enjoyed throughout the 12 days.

Though the 12 days are not as observed today, we can still honor this time by meditating on Christ’s birth and God’s revelation through His Son. We can also pray for persecuted Christians worldwide, remembering those martyred like Stephen the first Christmas.

Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Christmas

Now that we’ve explored the history and traditions of Christmas, here are some meaningful ways to celebrate:

  • Attend Christmas Eve candlelight services – Sing carols, hear the Christmas story, light candles to welcome Christ the Light.
  • Read the Christmas accounts in the Gospels – Meditate on the details surrounding Jesus’ birth.
  • Sing or listen to Christmas hymns and carols – Let the beautiful music fill your heart with praise.
  • Give to ministries serving the poor and vulnerable – Donate time or resources to those in need.
  • Reach out to someone lonely – Make a meal, give a gift, extend comfort and company.
  • Display a nativity set in your home – Visual reminders of the miraculous events.
  • Take communion together on Christmas Eve or Day – Remember Christ’s body broken and blood poured out for us.
  • Volunteer at your church – Welcome visitors, serve on hospitality teams, assist however needed.
  • Deliver cookies and treats to neighbors – Spread Christmas cheer and community.
  • Read the Christmas story from the Bible – Before opening gifts, keep Christ the center.

However you choose to celebrate Christ’s birth, may your heart be filled with joy and wonder! God is with us – rejoice! The Savior has come. Hallelujah!

Conclusion

Christmas is a cherished season for Christians to remember Jesus’ birth and first coming to earth. While origins of traditions like trees, Santa Claus, and gift giving are mixed, they can direct us to reflect on God’s great love. He gave the most precious gift by sending His only Son to save us.

During this Christmas season, take time to prepare your heart, gather with loved ones, worship fully, and extend generosity to those in need. In doing so, the true meaning of Christmas – celebrating Jesus Christ our Savior – will fill you with incomparable joy!

Pastor Duke Taber
Pastor Duke Taber

Pastor Duke Taber

All articles have been written or reviewed by Pastor Duke Taber.
Pastor Duke Taber is an alumnus of Life Pacific University and Multnomah Biblical Seminary.
He has been in pastoral ministry since 1988.
Today he is the owner and managing editor of 3 successful Christian websites that support missionaries around the world.
He is currently starting a brand new church in Mesquite NV called Mesquite Worship Center, a Non-Denominational Spirit Filled Christian church in Mesquite Nevada.