Christmas is fast approaching, and as usually happens around this time of year the crazies are out in force. Â From stories of Nativity scenes being shunned by towns to people going around criticizing various organisations for daring to be inclusive. Â It’s always amusing to see these people attempt to crush the religious beliefs of others under the banner of protecting their own (after all, it’s the primary purpose of religion).
What I find particularly amusing is this attachment to Christmas Day, as if it’s significant in some way, religiously speaking. Â In fact, there’s debate over the original origins of 25th December being used as Christmas day. Â Many believe it was a carry over from a pagan festival, which was no doubt linked to the Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere. Â Others, notably William J Tighe, believe that it was down to an attempt by early christians to calculate Jesus’s actual birth date. Â Note that Mr Tighe cites no sources. Â It’s generally understood that the date of December 25th was decided upon by Pope Julius (I) at around 350AD.
It’s almost certain that if Jesus did exist, he was not born on December 25th.  It seems far more likely that December 25th was chosen as a date because it aligned very nicely with existing religious festivals such as Sol Invictus.  Sol Invictus,  literally referring to the birth of the unconquered sun, was believed to be a Roman celebration that allowed for multiple sun Gods to be worshipped simultaneously during the Winter Solstice.
The significance of the Winter Solstice should not be overlooked. Â Prior to the Christian Jesus myth, multiple Religions celebrated significant events on or around December 25th. Â This includes Mithra (born to a virgin, could raise the dead, heal the sick and his birth was accompanied by wise men bearing gifts), Horus and Osiris (who was resurrected). Â To say the world of religious belief is inbred would be an understatement, no more so than around the time of the Winter Solstice.
So when you’re tucking into your turkey on Christmas day, spare a thought for all the other Gods that happened to be born on the same day, the very day that the sun is also “reborn”.
Nativity scene by alexbruda.
“What I find particularly amusing is this attachment to Christmas Day, as if it’s significant in some way, religiously speaking.”
Christmas Day is obviously of profound significance to Christians. It marks the time when God (infinite and lacking nothing) chose to take flesh and become a man. This belief is the distinctive aspect of Christianity as a religion and from it practically all else follows. Moreover if it is true, it is impossible to imagine any event past, present, or future, of greater significance (apart from the events surrounding Jesus’s own death and resurrection, of course).
All, this, of course, is in contrast to the calendar date of December 25th, which, as you say, is almost certainly not the day Christ was actually born. For one thing, it is unlikely that a census (the whole reason Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem) would be held in mid-winter when travel would be so difficult. The date is therefore entirely dispensable. When you think about it celebrating anyone’s birthday is somewhat arbitrary. I used to have an African nanny who had no idea on what date she was born (nor consequently her age). We decided to “give” her a birthday one year, and we children naturally started to think of what good dates would be. I can’t remember which one we settled on or why, but she certainly appreciated the fact that we dedicated one day a year to think especially about her and thank her with gifts for her kindness and generosity towards us. Why should Christians be resented for wishing to do the same thing about our Saviour?
Regarding the point that a date of pagan significance was chosen, that is a rather convenient way of helping people who already have certain customs to be able to reread their traditions in a new light. This type of inculturation goes on all the time. For example, black used to be the traditional colour of mourning in the West, and so black vestments were used at funerals. However, in some asian cultures, purple was the colour used, so it was only natural to take on this colour in Christian funeral ceremonies in those places. There is nothing particularly odd about this. Likewise, Christians picked up the pagan idea of decorating a pine tree at some festival or other, and turned it into a Christmas tree, so that converts would not “miss out” on these customs – they would simply have a new significance for them. In fact, it was such a nice custom that now just about everyone has a Christmas tree at Christmas, believer or not, and why not? We are not all secretly worshipping some Teutonic deity in the process. Likewise if pagans celebrate a feast during the Winter Solstace, why not give a Christian spin to it and fix Christmas day there?
Coming to think of it, the secular world has picked up the Christmas theme and come up with its own way of celebrating it: Frosty the snowman, songs like “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas” and “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire”, or even Jingle Bells (actually written for thanksgiving if I’m not mistaken) are all part of the Christmas tradition in the English-speaking world alongside crib scenes, performances of Handel’s Messiah and carols such as “Silent Night” and “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Above all there has also been the transformation of St. Nicholas of Turkey, a fourth century bishop who really existed, into Santa [Saint Ni-] Claus. If this is unobjectionable, why anyone would object to the story of Bethlehem is beyond me, even if they thought it nothing more than a fairy tale. Surely it is the most beautiful of fairy tales. Modern day Scrooges forbidding manger scenes in public places are quite abnoxious. Christmas is as much a part of the Western Tradition now as Thanksgiving is to the Americans or even April Fools Day – more so, in fact.
I honestly have a certain respect for some species of atheism, but could only wonder what kind of heartless person would not at least wish deep down that the Christmas story were true. I have no objection in the least to such a person toasting to all the “gods” who share December 25th as their birthday. I think it much healthier than stubbornly insisting that noone be allowed to drink to any. Still, I pray that they may come to know a little better the one born in Bethlehem probably on some other date. But you see, that is precisely what marks out this one from the others. The other gods are really bound up to nature in a kind of inextricable way and could not be disentangled from the shortening days and natural phenomena. The God who is in no way bound to his creation serenely and humbly enters it in a small backwater town, in a cave used as a shelter for animals… this would not be the first Christmas that Christ has been turned away from the inn!
My own children are looking forward to Jesus’s arrival in our little manger scene and so am I. I hope that no one passes the last Friday of 2009 with total indifference, and accordingly wish Atheist and all the readers of this blog a very hearty merry Christmas and a happy and fulfilling 2010.
I don’t have an issue with the way in which anyone wishes to celebrate this time of year. Quite the opposite in fact.
What I do have an issue with, however, are groups like the AFA attempting to monopolise this time of year as a Christian event. It is not the atheists that are attempting to prevent Christians from celebrating Christmas, but the Christians who are attempting to prevent anyone else from celebrating anything other than Christmas. As Psy pointed out in a comment here, the removal of displays around this time last year was down to the Christian fundamentalists trying to remove other displays.
The point of this post, and it’s clear that it was not lost on you, was that in reality there is no link between December 25th and the birth of Jesus. There is a stronger link between this time of year and other beliefs/traditions/religions, which makes it utterly absurd that groups like the AFA should try and claim this time of year in the name of Christ and attempt to silence those beliefs/traditions/religions that actually have a link to this time of year.
For some reason I feel the need to reiterate this, but if Christians choose to arbitrarily decide on this time of year to celebrate this time of year, then please, go ahead. I won’t try and stop you. But I would expect the same courtesy to be extended to everyone.
Atheist, just because I admit that Dec 25 was probably not the correct historical date for Christ’s birth, that does not mean that it is arbitrary to celebrate it then. On the contrary, it would be arbitrary to do so at some other time. December 25th has been long established and is a firm part of Western tradition and beyond. As I have said, there is also plenty of scope for creative minds who are not Christians, to be able to enter the season, and take advantage of the beauty, colours, festivity and spirit of family, generosity and forgiveness that is natural to the celebration.
Precisely because of its history, scope and festivitiy for all ages, it is destructive to attempt to scuttle it. Of course, if sometimes a little over-zealous, fundamentalists are right to see it as destructive to for groups to deliberately attempt to ‘compete’ with it. There can be no question here of anything but an attempt to destroy Christmas itself, and that should be honestly admitted.
The AFA should not be able to ‘monopolise’ anything, let alone a time of year, but should surely be allowed to contribute in a democratic way to the celebration if it so chose. This is quite different from a group attempting to put up a Wiccan display in a place traditionally reserved for a manger scene, for example. Surely the difference is clear.
“There is a stronger link between this time of year and other beliefs/traditions/religions…” Hardly. Everyone knows it as Christmas time and only someone with a mean spirit (or an agenda) would wish to destroy it.
Fortunately, it would be quite futile to attempt to replace Christmas. Most people love the colours and family traditions associated with it. Most even enjoy the carols and songs (even those of us who celebrate Christmas in midsummer belt out “In the deep midwinter” and “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow” without any silly scruples that there is isn’t a chance in a million that it will).
As my family went around looking at the lights and decorations outside people’s houses on Christmas night, I realised just how impossible it would be to stamp out Christmas, and the wonderful joy that it brings to so many people everywhere.
Jonathan Baker your appeal to tradition fallacies had me laughing pretty hard. If a place should be reserved for any particular reason it should be parking for a sleigh and 8 tiny reindeer while the big guy in the red suit stops for launch.
Then we’re agreed. I don’t have any grudges against Santa either and would hate to see him vanish back to the North Pole without a trace.
I’m sure any local dinner would reserve a parking space for Santa and provide reindeer food as it may bring in more customers.
Jonathan Baker said: “Modern day Scrooges forbidding manger scenes in public places are quite abnoxious.”
The more religion claims special rights and complains about having to share the public square, the more privileges are lost for all of us.
Have a Happy Winter is Half Over Day.
I don’t see any special rights needing to be invoked for communities wishing to celebrate Christmas.
Boy I just can’t wait for winter-is-half-over day. How boring! At least you might consider summer-is-half-here day? The ability to be festive really is very akin to religion. For example, the word (and idea) “holiday” came from the tradition that allowed workers to celebrate a “holy day”. The best the secular world can come up with is Cancer Awareness Day or Labour Day… I’ll stick with Christmas thank you!
I don’t see a need for it either.
I don’t understand why atheists care if Christians celebrate Christmas. Who cares? I don’t care that Jews celebrate Hanukkah or that Muslims celebrate Ramadan. Unless you are anti-Christian i don’t understand the problem with nativity scenes or Christmas trees. Nobody is forcing you to celebrate Christmas by putting up those things.
Joel said”I don’t understand why atheists care if Christians celebrate Christmas.
Why would you think anyone cares how you celebrate a mid-winter astrological event? Or is this just a misdirection to change to topic?
The only issue as I see it is the childish crazies using lies, deception, half truths, claiming anti-Christian oppression, making false accusations about the motives of others, belittling oppositions or down playing the facts to put their beliefs in front and try to oppress other views.
Local government are getting tired of the childish bickering and news coverage because the religious crazies are complaining about having to share the public square. Nobody cares if you sacrifice a goat to your sun gods or however you celebrate mid winter.
“The only issue as I see it is the childish crazies using lies, deception, half truths, claiming anti-Christian oppression, making false accusations about the motives of others, belittling oppositions or down playing the facts to put their beliefs in front and try to oppress other views.”
– Psy, you should calm down a little bit, you’re so angry. The issue in this article is Christmas. So when you say you don’t care how i celebrate it you’re just lying. And hopefully you don’t think Christianity came from “sun god” religions. Atheists are so misinformed when it comes to this. Those mystery religions came AFTER Christianity, not before. You might have the death and REBIRTH of Egyptian gods, but not the RESURRECTION once and for all of the Son of God. The Egyptian gods die and are reborn every year, not so with Christianity. Jesus died and was resurrected once and for all. You really need to do your homework in regards to pagan worship and how it relates to Christianity. Like really study ACTUAL paganism compared to ACTUAL Christianity. Don’t just say, “he said, she said” or “i read this, or that.” Justify your beliefs or else no ones going to take you seriously.
Again you missed my point.
Psy,
How do Christians putting up nativity scenes oppress other views? Christians wanting to celebrate their religion in the public square doesn’t impede on anyone else’s views or rights. Saying that is illogical.
The oppression begins when religious groups start to complain and protest because some atheist group puts up their display.
Last years edition of Bill O’Reilly’s war on Christmas ended with all displays being banned from Washington state capital grounds except for the park a few blocks away.
This year no one has complained about the atheist participation so they will probably be allowed the privilege of using the park again next year. I also have a friend who wants to put up a Wiccan display next year in order to have her beliefs equally represented.
PETER GORE SEER I see Christmas as the birth of mankind you me its the start of are life’s I was lucky I was born in England healthy not wealthy I loved Christmas.If you look in a childs face at Christmas thay love it I could not take it away wether it be true or not for a child it is true.MARRY CHRISTMAS
PETER GORE SEER said: “If you look in a childs face at Christmas…”
That is the meaning the winter celebrations for me as well, a holiday of family and friends centered around the children. Regardless of its roots, I have spent the holidays with Christians, Catholics, Pagans, Wilkins and the nonreligious and the theme is always the same.
On rare occasions I have ran across someone claiming Santa Clause is of the devil or people who put religion or politics above the children.
PETER GORE SEER MY friends brother as just died suddenly so I shall be support him.MY angel has warned me twice in two months of a serious illness but no details half a hour ago my daughter told me my ex wife who divorce me because of paranormal round me has lung cancer.My Christmases get better and me the fool for believing in god and evil.
I have sided with the christian way because of what has happened in my life.We are all living a liar it has to be that way or kaos would rule I challenge anybody who knows the truth because the truth is a lie we all live a allusion we make christmas evil god real.we need all the above we make it real to give us a reason to live.
If Jesus of Nazareth was indeed born in Bethlehem I would think it was the Galilee village of that name just outside Nazareth. The town of Bethlehem lies very far to the south in Judea but was chosen by the Gospel authors in order to create a fictitious link to King David who was born there a thousand years before.
It would not make sense for a very pregnant lady to travel to Bethlehem in Judea, but the Galilean village of that name could have been within reach.Even on donkey-back.
Another point-Jesus was of course a Jew, from birth to death. By tradition Jewish boys are circumcised eight days after birth which brings us to January 1st or New Year’s Day which is the celebration of Jesus’ brit-mila or circumcision.