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 […]
A frequent claim is that Christmas borrows heavily from pagan festivals such as Saturnalia. But, then we also have to remember it falls in the same winter season Jewish festivals such as Hanukkah, a feast Jesus himself observed (John 10:22–23). Critics then argue that traditions such as gift-giving, candle lighting, or wreaths are inherently pagan […]
A frequent objection to celebrating Christmas on December 25 is that it was supposedly “hijacked” from Roman pagan festivals. Critics often point to Saturnalia, celebrated December 17–23, or the festival of Sol Invictus, instituted in AD 274, as evidence that December 25 was chosen to replace these pagan holidays. The implication is that Christmas is […]
