2nd article
The History of Christmas
by Scott Callas, Wildbranch Ministry

In this section of our study on the festival of Christmas, we are going to investigate the origins of the celebration as we know it, saving the actual traditions for the next section. This section will cover how we came to celebrate the birth of Yahshua the Messiah on December 25.

I would like to emphasize one thing right now. The birth of the Messiah is an extremely important occasion, one which a multitude of the host of heaven came out to announce (Luke 2:13). That cannot be said about most birthdays. In writing these articles, I am not denouncing the virgin birth or the deity of Yahshua. If not for His birth, we would be without hope in the world. These articles are to help teach the Truth of the Word to those who seek to know the Truth.

These articles are written to build upon each other. If you have not read The Birth of Messiah, please go back and read that section first. This article will presume that you have read its predecessor.

Celebrating the birth of the King of Kings is not a new thing, by any means. I cannot find any reason why we should not celebrate the birth of the Salvation of the world. However, the celebration of December 25 as the birth of Yahshua dates back to 350 A.D., obviously a little bit later than when He was actually born. Three and a half centuries, give or take a few years, after the birth of Yahshua, Julius I, Bishop of Rome, chose December 25 as the day to celebrate the birth of Messiah. This follows another Bishop of Rome who, in 137 A.D., ordered that His birth be celebrated as a solemn feast. In other words, that His birth should be celebrated at all by the Church of Rome. As we saw in the last section, the birth of Yahshua was most likely during the feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles), a feast ordained by YHVH (God) Himself (see Leviticus 23:34). So the obvious question is this: If the birth of Messiah can be tracked to a specific day, why do we not celebrate on that day? That is what we are about to dive into.

To begin our search, I will quote from the Encyclopedia Americana, 1999 edition. This is what secular history has to tell us about the date of December 25.

"Origins of Christmas. The reason for the establishing of December 25 as Christmas is somewhat obscure, but it is usually held that the day was chosen to correspond to pagan festivals that took place around the time of the winter solstice, when the days begin to lengthen, to celebrate the "rebirth of the sun." Northern European tribes celebrated their chief festival of Yule at the winter solstice to commemorate the rebirth of the sun as the giver of light and warmth. The Roman Saturnalia (a festival dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture, and to the renewed power of the sun), also took place at this time, and some Christmas customs are thought to be rooted in this ancient pagan celebration. It is held by some scholars that the birth of Christ as "Light of the World" was made analogous to the rebirth of the sun in order to make Christianity more meaningful to pagan converts."

The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1998 edition, tells us roughly the same thing:

"The reason why Christmas came to be celebrated on December 25 remains uncertain, but most probably the reason is that early Christians wished the date to coincide with the pagan Roman festival marking the "birth day of the unconquered sun" (natalis solis invicti); this festival celebrated the winter solstice, when the days again begin to lengthen and the sun begins to climb higher in the sky. The traditional customs connected with Christmas have accordingly developed from several sources as a result of the coincidence of the celebration of the birth of Christ with the pagan agricultural and solar observances at midwinter. In the Roman world, the Saturnalia (December 17) was a time of merrymaking and exchange of gifts. December 25 was also regarded as the birth date of the Iranian mystery god Mithra, the Sun of Righteousness."

This is, in a nutshell, the story of December 25. We will discuss these things more as we continue, but keep the encyclopedia quotes in mind as we start to explore why these things were done.

To understand why the Roman Church dictated the celebration of Messiah's birth on the day of other, less honorable customs, we must take a long hard look at the history of the Church after Yahshua's ascension, to the time of the decree for December 25.

The first century saw a host of awesome events. The birth of Yahshua, though most likely about 2 to 4 B.C., introduced a whole avalanche of the works of YHVH into a one hundred year window of time. The whole of the events recorded in the Brit Chadashah (New Testament) occurred and most were recorded in that time frame. All of the miracles performed by Yahshua, His death, resurrection and ascension, the outpouring of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) at Shavuot (Pentecost), and all the acts worked through the apostles. This time was truly an incredible time. However, there is a side of this first century that is not recorded in the pages of Scripture. History tells us that the last half of the first century was filled with wars, death and destruction.

The last half of the first century saw the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, in 70 A.D., and not too long after, the blood bath at Masada. The nation of Judah had revolted against the Roman occupation of their land. The country wanted to be free from the rules of Caesar, and free from the taxation of their goods. As this first of two revolts unraveled, the Temple saw it's destruction by fire, even against the wishes of Titus, who according to Josephus, tried with all he had to halt the arsonists. Eventually there was no hope to save the building, and no stone was left unturned after the demise, as the gold from the building and treasury had melted between the stones. Rome destroyed the city of Jerusalem. Three years later, the fateful day at Masada is a particularly cold day in history. On this day nine hundred sixty Zealots died, not at the hand of Rome, but by their own swords. These Zealots were trapped in the fortress, and would not bow to Roman slavery. This mass suicide eliminated all the men, women and children in the fortress, saving only two women and five children, who hid in caverns from the events of the day. These few women and children retold the events to the Romans, who broke into the city the day after the mass slaying.

In the second century, about 135 A.D., a second revolt occurred, resulting in the repulsion of the Jewish people from Jerusalem and Rome. All during these times of revolt, the Jewish people were under heavy persecution. Taxation of Jewish families, simply for being Jewish, was high. Anyone who would not sacrifice to pagan deities was punished.

Let's pause for a moment, and look at the factions we are dealing with here. There are four major groups: the Romans, traditional Jews (that did not believe in Yahshua as Messiah), Messianic Jews (who did follow Yahshua as Messiah), and Messianic Believers from among the Gentiles. Ok, back to our story.

As these persecutions against the Jews increased, those believers who were from the Gentiles were being persecuted along side of them. The question arose, "Who is a Jew?" Were those who converted to Judaism Jews? What about those who simply practiced the Sabbath? What of circumcision? What about those who were carried away as slaves, and through the years saw themselves simply as Romans?

The first century Church had these things to deal with. Who was the first century Church, though? In the book of Acts, we see a big deal made about the first effort by the Apostles to preach to the Gentiles. In chapter ten, we see Peter's vision as a message that God had granted salvation to the Gentiles. Throughout Paul's writings we see that the Jewish believers and those from the Gentiles were to be one body.

Galatians 3:28-29
28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Ephesians 2:11-22
11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

It is apparent in reading the Scripture that there is only one Body of Messiah. As you read the Brit Chadashah, you see that there is no separation based upon race. Much of the confusion on this issue is based on an argument that Paul taught against Torah (translated as Law, or referred to as 'Moses'). Again, as you read the Brit Chadashah, you will see that Paul did not teach against Torah, but for it! Those who said Paul did speak against Torah were false witnesses, just as those who spoke the same about Stephen.

Acts 6:9-14
9Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. 11Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. 12And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, 13And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: 14For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

Acts 21:18-24
18And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. 19And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. 20And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: 21And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. 22What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. 23Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; 24Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.

It is essential to understand that the believers coming in from the Gentiles were made a part of one body, a body that observed Torah! Not one word of the Brit Chadashah teaches against the observance of Torah. What is spoken against Torah is this: observance of Torah cannot bring about salvation. Observance of Torah was never, I repeat- never- designed to bring salvation. What then is the purpose of Torah?

Deuteronomy 11:26-28
26Behold! I set before you today a blessing and a curse: 27a blessing if you hear the commandments of Jehovah your God [YHVH Elohim] which I command you today; 28and a curse if you will not hear the commandments of Jehovah your God, but will turn aside out of the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known.

Romans 7:7
7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Let it not be! But I did not know sin except through law; for also I did not know lust except the law said, "You shall not lust."

Torah, in short, is to bring about the cleansing and perfection of Messiah's body.

Ephesians 5:25-27
25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up on its behalf, 26that He might sanctify it, cleansing it by the washing of the water in the Word, 27that He might present it to Himself as the glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such things, but that it be holy and without blemish.

I might point out, Paul is speaking of Scripture when he says 'Word.' At the time of Paul's writings, there was not a canonized 'New Testament.' That work was being written at that time, and for the most part, by Paul himself!

I could go on and on about the supposed separation of the Jewish believers and those from among the Gentiles, but I think for the purpose of this article, we have covered enough. The separation was not brought about as an act of YHVH, but as an act of men. Let's go back to the persecution of Jews in the first and second centuries.

During these persecutions, those believers who were from the Gentiles started to outnumber the Jewish believers. As time continued, the Gentile influx was much greater than the Jewish. As the persecutions increased, the non-Jewish majority began to not identify with the Jews as to escape the taxations, and persecutions. In this effort to not identify with the Jewish believers, they had to identify what made one a target of the persecution. In 96 A.D., this was made quite easy for those not wanting to be taxed. Emperor Nerva made the taxation only applicable to those who followed the ancestral customs. Also, no one was permitted to adopt the Jewish way of life, as that was equated to treason against Rome. This made the "Jewish Tax" not an ethnic thing, but a religious thing.

Again, let's pause and consider the implications of what we've covered. Romans were concerned with revolts and treason. They wanted to retain control over Judea. Jews, and things Jewish were a threat to that cause. The traditional Jews (those without Messiah) were faced with Roman oppression, supposed apostasy of their brethren following this Yahshua, and a mass of Gentiles (who were considered unclean, outsiders) coming into their world, wanting to follow the God of their Fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Messianic Jews were busy trying to spread the Gospel message to their brothers, the Jews, and to the Gentiles. This group was persecuted by their brothers, by the Romans, and sometimes by the Gentiles they wished to teach. Now the believers from the Gentiles. This group was trying to learn the Ways of YHVH, but were outcasts from the traditional Jews, persecuted by the Romans, and eventually outnumbered the Messianic Jews. I think it becomes apparent, there is a lot going on during this critical time in the history of the Church.

Through the course of time, Gentile leaders governed the Church. These leaders were not trained in the Scriptures, as were their Jewish predecessors. It is under these leaders that the whole direction of the Church began to change. Around the beginning of the second century, the works of non-Jewish leaders were underway, swaying the Church away from its roots strongly founded in Scriptural Judaism (as opposed to traditional Judaism). Ignatius states, "…if we are still practicing Judaism, we admit that we have not received God's favor…" and "it is wrong to talk about Jesus Christ and live like the Jews…" The Epistle of Barnabas (circa 135 A.D.) reads, "Do not add to your sins and say that the covenant [the Tenach] is both theirs and ours. Yes! It is ours; but they thus lost it forever." It is on this rocky foundation that the early non-Jewish leaders began to build a church that grows into what we know today.

Now, what does all this have to do with the celebration we call Christmas? As we mentioned, the ancestral customs of the Jews, i.e. Torah, the feasts, Sabbath, beards, tassels on garments, and a host of other customs became taboo. These things identified a person as a Jew, whether in ethnicity or in religion. So, how could the Church continue in the grace of God, carrying the Gospel, and be relieved from the persecution bestowed on the "Jews?" It is with this question in mind that the early non-Jewish leaders set about to change the look of the Church. In the first four centuries, virtually every shred of anything that even resembled a "Jewish" custom was removed from the traditions of the Church.

The onset of new traditions, naturally, followed the retirement of the others. It is during this time frame that feasts of the pagans began to be 'converted' to Christian use. In doing this, the Church became more popular among the unbelieving masses and began to grow rapidly. As the pagan celebrations were converted, pagans were converted, at least in word of mouth. In action, many of the traditions were carried on in a pagan manner. As the Church became more Roman-ized, and more prolific, the popularity increased to a point that even a Roman emperor declared to be a Christian. Enter: Constantine. It is indisputable that Constantine had the greatest impact on the Church from the time of Yahshua and the Apostles, to the time of Martin Luther. It is during the reign of Constantine that many of the final blows to anything "Jewish" occurred. Keep in mind Constantine professed to be a Christian, yet still retained the title "Pontifex Maximus," that of the head of a pagan religion in Rome. It was during his rule that the Council of Nicea was held, and then the Council of Laodicea. Following these meetings, commands to keep a Sunday holy day in place of the seventh day Sabbath, and laws of the celebration of Easter (Ishtar, a goddess of fertility) ensued.

It is on these tracks, established by the early Roman-ized Church that the celebration of Christmas was born. As we saw in the first section of this study, the birth of Yahshua very naturally fell on the first day of Sukkot. The feast of Sukkot is a Scriptural feast established by YHVH Himself. However, since this feast also happened to be one of the ancestral customs that identified one as being a Jew (again, whether in ethnicity or religion), these things were cast out of the Church, and replaced. It is this replacement that we see today.

The feast chosen to celebrate the birth of the Son of God was an easy conversion. In the Roman culture, one of the primary religions was that of Mithras, a divinity of light, closely related to the sun, and a god of salvation. Mithras seems to be easily related to Sol, Marduk, Horace and other sun gods. Ironically, December 25 was regarded as the birth of "the Sun of Righteousness." Natalis solis invicti (birth day of the unconquered sun), as was called the day, was a celebration of the return of the sun after the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year). Another related Roman custom was Saturnalia, a festival dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture, and to the renewed power of the sun. This festival was marked on December 17. All these festivities were easily renamed or renovated to make a new 'Christian' holy day. The "sun" became the "Son." The nativity of the sun, became the Nativity of the Christ. The pagan converts easily took up the new names and carried on in their same traditions.

It is not up to this writer to decide if the intent of those who instigated this new festival was pure or not. I cannot judge the hearts or minds of men. Whether or not we as believers are to celebrate this festival called Christmas, we will discuss in the conclusion to this study. The intent of this brief history lesson is simply to show the source of this holiday, and that being of men, not the Scriptures, and not YHVH. This writing reflects much time in thought and study. My time writing this article has also been much. I hope that my conveyance of this history has reached its intended target, that of conveying truth. I myself have spent a lifetime enjoying this season, that of Christmas, but now must consider the beginnings of this celebration.

In our next section, we will be discussing the modern traditions associated with this festival called Christmas. We will discuss only a few, but will get into the roots of the traditions, their modern application, and what we as believers need to be aware of.

Shalom!
Scott Callas
The next section: The Traditions of Christmas

The Christian Counter
waysoflife.info