Is Christmas Really Pagan? The History Behind The Holiday

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Christmas is a Christian holiday celebrated around the world by people of thousands of different denominations. But historical Christmas traditions, and the way we celebrate it today, have strong pagan roots in history. In fact, some Christian sects believe that Christmas is too pagan to celebrate — and, as it’s not mandated in the Bible, they choose not to celebrate and instead focus on the Resurrection of Christ (Easter) and other major feasts.

So what’s the real story? Like many other parts of human history, it’s long, complicated, and influenced by narratives and culture around the world. The Christmas most Americans celebrate today is a conglomeration of traditions, religious feasts, symbols, and more.

First thing: Christmas itself is very much a Christian holiday. Christmas celebrates the birth of the Savior as prophesied in the Bible, notably in Isaiah 7:16 and Isaiah 9:6. However, the Bible does not give Jesus’ birth date, and there is no historical evidence pointing to Dec. 25. In the early days of Christianity, many Christians didn’t celebrate birthdays at all because they associated them with pagan traditions. The birth of Christ was considered a minor holiday, with celebrations, if any, taking place in the spring.

The change to Dec. 25 and the push to make Christmas into a larger holiday is thought to have occurred in the fourth century, with the first recorded celebration in Rome in A.D. 336 under Emperor Constantine.

At the time, winter solstice festivals like Saturnalia and yuletide were widely celebrated, and historians believe that Constantine wanted to offer a Christian alternative. Dec. 25 was around the time Saturnalia celebrations were winding down. Saturnalia was popular, and a concern for Emperor Constantine, because one of its traditions was a temporary loosening of moral restrictions and a reversal of social roles, where masters served their slaves. The holiday shared many traditions with Christmas, including gift-giving and a feast.

Saturnalia celebrated the god Saturn, the end of the winter harvest season, and rebirth after the darkest days of the year. Lighting yule logs, hanging evergreen wreaths, kissing under mistletoe, and caroling are all relics of pagan celebrations — and show how important those rituals were for people over the years, when life revolved around the harvest.

Later, traditions like St. Nicholas were woven into Christmas lore and morphed into the legends we know today.

Keep in mind that this is a very, very simplified summary of the historical context of Christmas. We are certain that well-read Christians, biblical experts, and history scholars will engage in a much more thoughtful and well-informed conversation. This is meant to be a fun overview.

However, one of the most moving parts about Christmas is how it brings people together — including those from the past into the present — as we honor and adapt traditions to suit who we are today and how we choose to celebrate.

Santa’s in town, and so is our holiday poll: When do you deck the halls at your house?

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