Christmas is often at the center of debates about history, religion, and culture. Critics question its origins, while defenders highlight its biblical significance. To celebrate responsibly, Christians benefit from understanding the interplay of history, Scripture, and culture. Doing so clarifies misconceptions and provides guidance for families seeking a Christ-centered holiday. Historical Perspectives on Christmas Early […]
Every December, Christians are told, often loudly and confidently, that Christmas is a late invention, a pagan compromise, or an unbiblical tradition baptized for convenience. December 25, we are assured, belongs to Saturnalia or Sol Invictus, and any attempt to defend it is either naïve or dishonest. But history tells a far more interesting, and […]
One of the most common questions about Christmas is why it is celebrated on December 25. Historical evidence shows that early Church Fathers recognized and supported this date as the day to commemorate Christ’s birth. Clement of Alexandria (c. 150–215 AD) wrote that Christians honored Christ’s nativity with joy and devotion, demonstrating early awareness of […]
Some argue that early Christians didn’t care about or even know the date of Jesus’ birth. Historical evidence shows this claim does not hold up. From the beginning, Christians showed deep interest in Jesus’ life—from His humble birth in Bethlehem to the angels, shepherds, and magi. These details were not incidental. Early believers clearly took […]
A frequent objection raised by skeptics of December 25 as Jesus’ birth date concerns the shepherds in the fields. Many argue that winter in Bethlehem would be too cold for shepherds to watch their flocks overnight. Historical climate data and traditional shepherding practices, however, show that this objection is based on misconceptions. Bethlehem’s Winter Climate: […]
For many years people have repeated the claim that Christmas was placed on December 25 because Christians copied pagan festivals like Saturnalia or the feast of Sol Invictus. While these festivals did occur around the same time, the earliest Christian writings that refer to Christ’s birth do not mention paganism as the reason for choosing […]
