The origins and background of Christmas have long been a topic of debate among Christians. Some claim that Christmas originated from pagan festivals like Saturnalia, while others maintain its roots in biblical events. When examining the evidence, there are some potential connections between Saturnalia and Christmas, but the Bible does not explicitly link the two. Ultimately, scripture encourages believers to focus on the true meaning of Christmas – the birth of Jesus Christ.
What was Saturnalia?
Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival celebrated in mid-December in honor of the agricultural god Saturn. It involved feasting, role reversals, gift-giving, and general merriment. Saturnalia began as a one-day affair but was later extended to a week-long celebration. Some key elements of Saturnalia include:
- Feasting – Lavish banquets were held, with masters providing meals for their slaves.
- Role reversals – Social norms were turned upside down. Slaves were served by masters and could speak freely without punishment.
- Partying – Saturnalia was a carnival-like party atmosphere with raucous celebrations.
- Gift-giving – Wax candles called cerei were common gifts, symbolizing the lengthening days after the winter solstice.
- Decorations – Common decorations included wreaths, garlands, candles, and greenery placed around homes and buildings.
- Masquerades – Costumed parties and masquerades were part of the festivities.
Saturnalia took place sometime in mid-to-late December, overlapping with dates associated with Christmas. But the precise timing is unclear, since the Roman calendar shifted over the centuries. Originally a one-day event, Saturnalia was expanded to three days in the late Roman Republic, and eventually stretched to a week under the empire.
The origins of Saturnalia are uncertain, but some link it to older agricultural festivals celebrating the conclusion of the autumn planting season. The Saturnalia festival was quite popular in ancient Rome and involved many pagan elements and debauchery.
Potential Connections
There are some interesting parallels between Saturnalia and Christmas:
- Timing – Saturnalia occurred near the winter solstice, around the time of year we now celebrate Christmas.
- Gift-giving – Exchanging gifts was a feature of Saturnalia as it is for Christmas today.
- Feasting – Both Christmas and Saturnalia celebrate with feasting and special meals.
- Decorations – Romans decorated with wreaths and greenery during Saturnalia; Christmas trees and greenery are common today.
- Partying – The festive, carnival atmosphere of Saturnalia also carries over to modern Christmas celebrations.
These similarities have led some scholars to propose that early Christians adopted aspects of Saturnalia as Christmas traditions. However, concrete evidence establishing a direct linkage is lacking.
Potential Problems Connecting Saturnalia and Christmas
While there are some interesting parallels, there are also problems in asserting a direct connection between Saturnalia and Christmas:
- Dates don’t match – Saturnalia was likely celebrated between December 17-23. The date of Christmas, December 25, doesn’t precisely overlap.
- Pagans opposed Christmas – Saturnalia was a pagan festival. But early pagan critics saw Christmas as a competing Christian holiday.
- No early Christian mention – Early Christian sources don’t mention Saturnalia as being related to Christmas origins.
- Uncertain evolution – Connections between Roman Saturnalia and earlier pagan solstice celebrations are debatable among scholars.
- Christmas origins complex – The origins of Christmas and its December 25 date are much more complex than simply adoption of Saturnalia.
In the early Roman Empire, Christmas emerged as a distinct Christian celebration, centered around the birth of Jesus Christ. The links between Saturnalia and Christmas appear to be later coincidences rather than direct origins.
What does the Bible say about Christmas?
The Bible does not mention Christmas directly, since the holiday had not been instituted at the time the various books were written. There are also no direct biblical references to Saturnalia. However, we can gain some perspective on how the authors of the Bible might view Christmas in light of relevant biblical principles.
The birth of Jesus Christ
The New Testament establishes the historical reality of Jesus’s birth:
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law (Galatians 4:4).
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11).
His miraculous conception and birth were a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah:
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14).
The Bible affirms Jesus’s birth was unique, as the God-man come to provide salvation. But it does not mandate Christmas as a celebration. Early Christians disagreed on precise dates and observances. The Bible allows flexibility on when and how to celebrate Christ’s birth.
Focus on Christ, not man-made rules
Colossians 2 warns against getting distracted by worldly traditions that shift focus away from Christ:
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ (Colossians 2:8).
Application to Christmas would be to ensure traditions like trees, gifts, etc. enhance our focus on Jesus, rather than obscuring it. If celebrations become materialistic or violate conscience, Paul gives flexibility:
One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind (Romans 14:5).
The Bible prioritizes making Christ the center versus mandating details of celebration.
Avoid mingling with paganism
The Bible consistently condemns worship of false gods and adopting pagan practices:
Take care lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you go, lest it become a snare in your midst (Exodus 34:12).
Israel was prone to mingle pagan elements with true worship. Christmas should avoid associations with paganism:
Do not learn the way of the nations…For the customs of the peoples are vanity (Jeremiah 10:2-3).
Pagan connections were a key objection for early Christmas critics. So Christian celebration should avoid any pagan linkage or distraction from Christ.
Applying Bible principles
In summary, core biblical principles for Christmas are:
- Remember Christ’s birth and saving work – this is the biblical basis for celebrating Christmas.
- Ensure Christ remains the center – avoid materialism or anything obscuring the gospel.
- Don’t mandate details not specified in Bible – allow flexibility in celebrating.
- Avoid pagan associations – prevent syncretism or pagan distraction from Christ.
The Bible leaves room for cultural adaptations in how we celebrate. But the focus should remain on using Christmas to highlight Christ and the saving message of the gospel.
How Christians answered historical objections to Christmas
When Christmas celebrations came into prominence in the 4th century, pagans and some Christians objected on various grounds. Here is how Christians historically responded to common critiques:
Date of December 25
Objection: December 25 has pagan associations with solstice festivals.
Response: The date can symbolize Christ bringing light into the darkness. Some church fathers argued the date was calculated from the biblical timeline, independent of pagan festivals.
Pagan traditions
Objection: Greenery, feasts, and other Christmas customs are of pagan origin.
Response: These are common cultural traditions that can be uplifted and sanctified by focusing their meaning on Christ.
Not biblical
Objection: Christmas is never mentioned in the Bible.
Response: The event of Christ’s birth is clearly biblical. And the Bible does not prohibit annual commemorations.
Man-made rules
Objection: Requiring Christmas observance adds human rules with no biblical basis.
Response: Early proponents allowed flexibility in observance and did not strictly mandate details.
Church leaders believed they had the authority to institute annual festivals and that Christmas could be celebrated in ways consistent with scripture. But they also maintained unity in areas of disagreement, showing others grace.
Traditions enhancing Christmas
Many cherished Christmas traditions developed over the centuries and have little connection to paganism. They can aid our commemoration of Christ’s birth when properly understood:
Christmas trees
Evergreen trees symbolize eternal life that Christ secured for us. Decorating them can represent the light Jesus brings into our lives. Trees originated as Paradise trees representing the garden of Eden, later becoming associated with Christmas in Germany.
Nativity scenes
Mangers help visualize the humble circumstances of Christ’s birth described in the Gospels. St. Francis of Assisi popularized nativity scenes in the 13th century to emphasize Jesus’s humanity and suffering.
Christmas carols
Carols remind us of the joyful tidings proclaimed at Christ’s birth. Many classic carols like “Joy to the World” contain rich biblical theology relating to the incarnation.
Gift-giving
Exchanging gifts can remind us of the wise men bringing gifts for baby Jesus. More importantly, it reflects God’s ultimate gift to us through Christ’s sacrifice.
When grounded in honoring Christ, these traditions can serve good purposes. Of course, they can also become distracted by materialism or excessive celebration. Christians must exercise discernment in how they observe traditions.
Modern debates about Christmas
Controversies still surround Christmas today. Some common disagreements include:
Secularization
Some argue Christmas is increasingly secularized, focused on Santa and consumerism rather than Jesus’s birth. Others see many continuing religious elements.
In public life
Christmas displays on public property remain controversial in many countries due to concerns about separation of church and state. Where should the balance between recognition of tradition and neutrality lie?
Mandatory celebration
Should celebrating Christmas be expected, or should participation remain voluntary as a matter of conscience? People disagree on whether pressure to take part in Christmas festivities is appropriate.
Actual date of Jesus’s birth
Few scholars believe December 25 is Jesus’s actual birthday. But opinions vary on whether celebrating on this traditional yet likely inaccurate date is appropriate.
As with debates throughout history, Christians today come to different conclusions about appropriate practices regarding Christmas. The Bible does not resolve every dispute. But if our celebrations glorify God and proclaim Christ as Savior, they fulfill the scriptural purpose despite imperfections.
Conclusion
The Bible does not explicitly link Christmas origins with Saturnalia. There are some interesting parallels but uncertainty around precise relationships between Roman festivals and earlier pagan solstice celebrations. However, the Bible provides principles that early advocates believed permitted celebrating Christ’s birth as Christmas.
Core biblical themes should frame our perspective: recognizing Jesus’s incarnation, avoiding idolatry, focusing on redemption through Christ, and exercising grace in disputable matters of observance. When centered on exalting Jesus, Christmas traditions can deeply enrich our faith.