...true origin of christmas: introduction

every year after thanksgiving, most people’s thoughts turn to christmas. it is the time when professing christians are supposed to focus on jesus christ. after all, it is the “christ-mass” season!
rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, holly wreaths, decorated trees, mistletoe, season’s greetings, seasonal music, “chestnuts roasting on an open fire” and santa claus are all associated with this holiday. these all bring warm feelings to those who celebrate it. i grew up in a family that kept christmas, and it was a very big event in our household every year. we left out none of the usual trimmings of this occasion. on december 24th, excitement grew with every passing minute. my parents even brewed black coffee for santa just before sending us off to bed. i always wondered how they knew santa liked his coffee black—just like my parents liked theirs. after going to bed on christmas eve, i could neither sleep nor wait to get up in the morning to see all that “santa” had brought me.

christmas is thought by most to be a wonderful time, focusing the participants on giving, family togetherness, beautiful music and decorations, feasting on special foods and singing christmas carols throughout the neighborhood (as my family did every year). all of this is supposedly centered around the worship of christ. surely the bible instructs us to do all this—right?

why do people think that christmas is wonderful? it certainly felt wonderful to me. i trusted what my parents told me. i had no reason to doubt them. they were merely teaching me what their parents had taught them. i never questioned the true origin of christmas!

most never reflect on why they believe what they believe or do what they do. we live in a world filled with customs, but few ever seek to understand their origin. we generally accept them without question. most people basically do what everyone else does—because it is easy and natural!

let’s carefully examine the roots of christmas. let’s look at why people follow the customs associated with it. why is it kept on december 25th? did the early new testament church keep it? this booklet is filled with facts from history that, when placed together, paint a complete picture. let’s avoid all assumptions and only accept what can be proven!