“Do all Christians celebrate Christmas?” is a question that frequently pops up in a lot of people’s heads. The answer to this question is no. Many Christians do celebrate Christmas, but some of them do avoid it as well.
Do All Christians Celebrate Christmas?
Christmas is a feast commemorating Jesus’birth. It’s an ancient tradition followed for over 1600 years, with the first celebration reportedly recorded in 336 AD. In this blog, you’ll get to know why a majority of Christians celebrate Christmas and why some people tend to skip the celebrations as well.
Brief History of Christmas
The ancient Christian community made a distinction between determining the date of Jesus’birth and celebrating it liturgically.
It’s unknown whythe date December 25 was chosen as Jesus’birth date. In this respect, the New Testament is silent. Sextus Julius Africanus first selected December 25 as the date of Jesus’birth in 221AD, and it later became the internationally accepted date.
In the 9th century, Christmas became widely celebrated with a unique liturgy, but it lacked the liturgical significance of Easter or Good Friday, the two famous Christian celebrations. The first Christmas mass is held at midnight in Roman Catholic churches, and Christmas candlelight services are increasingly held later on the evening of December 24 in Protestant churches.
Why Most Christians Celebrate Christmas
1. Celebrating Jesus’ Birthday
Many people believe that Christmas commemorates Jesus’birthday. Others believe that Christmas serves as a suitable time for Christians to gather as a family. Even though it might not be the real date on which Jesus was born, it’s a date fixed for the celebration of his birth, and they celebrate just for the sake of it.
2. Following Old Traditions
Many people do it because it’s what they’ve always done, because of what their families have always done. Without putting much thought into it, they just go with the flow and do what they are accustomed to doing.
3. Experiencing the Holiday Season
Christmas may be enticing to both the eye and the ear. People look to be cheerful, pleasant, and generous. Many homes are decked out with twinkling lights. Shoppers crowd the stores in search of bargain-basement gifts.
Although there’s no December snow in the southern hemisphere or the tropics, Santa Claus and his reindeer are depicted as preparing to take flight from front yards or rooftops covered in heavy snow. The charm of a bright, tranquil Christmas scene may be alluring, even addictive.
The northern hemisphere’s December weather may be dreadful outside, but the sensation and warmth inside are fantastic. A mysterious and luminous atmosphere is created by Christmas trees with shimmering lights and beautiful, sparkling decorations. Families want to be immersed in the unique mystery that only the Christmas season can provide. For the millions of people who celebrate it around the world, there’s no other religious celebration quite like it.
4. Spending Time with Their Loved Ones
A lot of people find Christmas as a perfect time to disconnect from work and spend time with their dear ones, their close family, and friends. For many, an opportunity like this comes only once a year, and they look to make the most of it by celebrating Christmas with their family.
Why Do Some Christians Not celebrate Christmas?
There are multiple reasons why some Christians refuse to celebrate Christmas.
1. Authenticity of Christmas
Some people question the date of Christmas is not authentic. Jesus wasn’t born on December 25. Their reason not to celebrate is precisely this. They argue the real date is unknown, which makes the celebration useless.
Although more people agree 29th September was the day Jesus was born, almost all of them agree it wasn’t 25th December, as there are accounts of the birth of Jesus in the Bible, and nowhere does it indicate the weather and setting around at that time of the year, in fact, it’s the complete opposite. 25th December is just a fixed date but holds no value.
2. Pagan Traditions
Some argue that Christmas is rooted in Pagan traditions, as the Pagans used to celebrate their religious festivities on this very date in the past as well. These people argue that since following Pagan traditions is a sin, celebrating Christmas is also an act that enrages God and doesn’t please Him.
Pagan traditions are discouraged in Christianity, and this is why a lot of people refrain from celebrating Christmas.
3. No Relevance in The Bible
Some Christians argue that there’s no mention of Christmas in the Bible. Hence it’s not a command from God to celebrate it, but a human tradition.
These people also argue that the Bible doesn’t command anywhere to celebrate the birthday of anyone, so technically, it’s not okay to celebrate the birth of Jesus as well.
To be investing so much time and money in a festival that has no mention in the Bible is considered useless by many, hence they don’t celebrate Christmas.
4. Commercialization of Christmas
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Other point-of-views say Christmas is more of a commercial thing now, instead of a religious festival. They argue that the true essence of the festival is lost amid the entitlement to receive gifts and the obligation of giving gifts. Businesses bloom with sales and discounts to increase their sales, and people flock into markets in a large number.
People object that Christmas has lost its true essence, and is now merely a holiday to relax and enjoy instead of remembering what religious importance it has and how important it is historically.
These aresome of the reasons why a small portion of people refuse to celebrate Christmas.
Our Final Thoughts
With this blog, we hope to have answered the age-old question, “do all Christians celebrate Christmas?”. There are plenty of reasons why people choose not to celebrate this festival, which are mentioned in the blog as well.
Nevertheless, a lot, and by a lot, we mean the majority, of the Christians tend to celebrate Christmas and make the most of the festivities.
