Potpourri- Is Christmas A Biblical Or Traditional History?

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Is Christmas A Biblical Or Traditional History?
By Graceson Kamei
It's time once again for a joyous occasion of Christmas celebration! It is high and right season of winter to warm up the chilly mind. Our heart has been frozen to the level that we do no more remember the birth of Jesus in this winter season who came to save us and show us the way we should live. The tendencies that lead us to forget this important event may be due to many reasons. Financial constraint, broken family, business failure and the problem of boyfriend or girlfriend may be the main factor. Whatever the reason is, leave them behind for heaven’s sake during this Christmas time. Cheer up the dull mind and warm up the cold heart and renew the passion for Christ. Close the eyes and open the mind in prayer and think of Christ’s birth. Recall the story of Infant Jesus who was born in human form to redeem us from the bondage of sin. The story and this unforgettable event can be pictured in the mind. Christ was born in a small town called Bethlehem in Palestine. Holy Scripture recorded, "… the Father has sent his son to be the savior of the world" (John 4:14 NIV). Christmas is nothing but a birthday of Jesus Christ. Christmas is celebrated in a fabulous way all over the world on 25th of December every year. The streets, shops, church and home are decorated with symbols of star. The Star - It represents a star in the east mentioned in Matthew 2:1—2 The Light - at the time of Christmas, the light represents Christ as the light of the world. This symbol of light was perhaps used first by Martin Luther on a Christmas tree. According to the story, Luther put light on his tree to represent the glory and beauty of the stars above Bethlehem on the night of Christ’s birth. People in Ireland put burning candle in the window to light the way for Christ child on Christmas Eve. Christmas Card - It is believed to have been printed by London Company and placed on sale in 1843. Ere to that people did not exchange Christmas card. Exchanging Christmas cards is a sign of concern, love to one another in order to remind the birth of Christ. The cards are received by almost everyone in the Christian community. It is even given to business acquaintances and non-Christian as well. Christmas Tree- There are several stories behind the origin of Christmas tree. People in Scandinavia once worshipped trees. When they became Christian, they made evergreen trees a part of Christmas tree. Also are legendary tales as to how the Christmas tree started to be used. It says that an English missionary named Windfrid (later called Boniface) was shown a miracle. About 1,200 years ago, Windfrid traveled through northern Germany where he found a group of heathens at an oak tree near Geesmar. They were preparing to sacrifice little prince Asulf to the God Thor. Windfrid stopped the sacrifice and cut down ‘the blood oak’. As the oak fell, a young fir tree appeared Windfrid told the people that the fir was the tree of life, representing Christ. From this event, the Christmas tree was begun to decorate in the homes and churches. There is another ancient story that the custom of decorating evergreen trees in the home was practiced for good luck on the first day of January in Romans tradition/later on, the English took this custom, over for Christmas. Santa Claus - The name Santa Claus is believed to have developed from European sources. Dutch settlers in New York called Nicholas Sinter Klaus. American children loved this kind, jolly, roly-poly Sinter Klaus. They called him Santa Claus. According to Norse Legend, the Santa Claus enter house through the chimney. The Norse believed that goddess Hertha appeared in the fireplace and brought good luck to the home. Now this Santa Claus distinctly becomes American symbol which represents as the Christmas Father. As mention before, Christmas is a birthday celebration of Jesus Christ. Does not that sound interesting? When someone asks or talks of Birthday, naturally we remember date, month and the year. But what about Christ’s birthday and date, the answer is – no date for Christ’s birth. Does that sound wonderful? Yes, it sounds funny too. Then is that OK to celebrate Birthday without knowing the date? Come on… it is up to you. One may simply say, definitely we can observe the birthday without date. Last question but not the least one please… Is it wrong as Christian not to celebrate it? Absolutely not wrong. Leave it if you do not want to. There is no harsh and fast doctrinal and traditional rule and regulation on whether one should or should not. Some Christian churches (denominations) do not take interest so much to observe it though they do observe it. Mention can be made among the few Seventh-day Adventists Church which does not have much interest to observe it). Who choose December 25th and how it began to observe and celebrate? In AD 354, Bishop Liberius of Rome ordered the people to celebrate on December 25. He probably chose this date because the people of Rome already observe it as the feast of Saturn, celebrating as the Birthday of the Sun (The World Book Encyclopedia vol 3 p 416). When looking up to history and the origin of Christmas, the date (Dec 25) is not necessarily important as our forefathers thought of it. It does not mean to belittle the essence and its true meaning of Christmas. Christmas is not a matter of date or season, but it is a state of mind. For more information sake, Christmas is not celebrated on the same date. Eastern orthodox churches celebrated on January 6th and Christian of Egypt did observe on the same date like that of Eastern Orthodox Church. During the Reformation period, many Christian began to consider as pagan celebration because it concludes non-religious custom. This observance of Christmas become so rowdy and this custom was much unrelated to the church. As a result the Puritan in England did away with observance of Christmas by law in 1643. The colonists of New England copied the English law. Even today, it is unfortunate to see the way how Christmas is celebrated every year. Many people indulge dissipating in drinking and eating. Youngsters observe Christmas with worldly pleasure by which the true meaning of Christmas is completely eroded. Christmas is a time to be generous. A time to give clothing to the poor and needy, a time to share with neighbor, and importantly it is a time of family fellowshipping with meditation and thanksgiving. Christmas is originated from the Roman traditional celebration (as stated above). Especially the December 25 is influence by pagan (unchristian) festival in honor of the Saturn, their harvest god. Nevertheless one can definitely celebrate with true spirit, in any date, may be on January 6th or in summer time (June-July), like those Christians in New Zealand and Australia. Surprisingly, there are some handful exclusivists telling that if Christmas, Good Friday or Easter Sunday is not observed or celebrated, there is no Christ and salvation for those people. Indeed it is fearful if it is so. But any church or denomination has no monopoly to proclaim this because there is no any evidence or command from the Bible to observe these celebrations. These are traditional not a Biblical. Nevertheless, let’s celebrate the Christmas with true spirit this year 2002. Let us also re-dedicate ourselves to God. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believed in Him should not perish but have everlasting life". (John 3:16) "For unto us a child I born, to us a son is given, and Government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6). *** The writer studies at the School of Religion, Spicer Memorial College, Pune
(Courtesy: The Sangai Express)

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