Why We Celebrate Christmas: A Christian Parent’s Guide to the Meaning, Date, and Traditions

Christmas tree with gift boxes

Biblical answers, historical clarity, and family-friendly explanations to help parents teach children the true meaning of Christmas.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace". Isaiah 9:6 KJV

The streets are getting lit. Boxes are being stacked up. Christmas trees of all shades and sizes are being planted in offices, homes, streets, and everywhere. Christmas is in the air. We can smell it, feel it, and literally touch it. I wake up to the sound of Christmas carols from the angelic voices of students at an elementary school just across the street from my house.

For many parents, the chase is on. Holiday decisions have to be made. Shopping for the festive season must be planned. The list of to-dos keeps spiralling as we rush around trying to catch up.

So yes, it is Christmas in a few days.

We look forward to reconnecting with extended family members, building memories, and generally enjoying the joy of the season. But what does Christmas really mean to us as Christian families beyond endless activities, packed schedules, and heavy spending? What is Christmas all about? Why Christmas?

These questions become especially important for us as Christians because of the many divergent views surrounding this sacred celebration. Questions are asked about the date of Jesus’ birth, the origin of the Christmas tree, Santa Claus, and more. Opinions and debates are as old as the celebration itself.

Yet as Christian parents, we owe ourselves and our children the gift of understanding. Christmas is not just a cultural holiday. It is a faith legacy, passed from one generation to the next, celebrating the birth of the Messiah, the Prince of Peace.

Scripture challenges us clearly:

“But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy and acknowledge Him as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.”(1 Peter 3:15, AMPC)

It is in the light of this call that we now explore the foundations of Christmas: its date, its symbols, and how it is fundamentally a celebration of Jesus’ birth by most Christians globally.

December 25 and the “Integral Age” Explanation

The Bible does not tell us the exact calendar date of Jesus’ birth. However, one of the oldest and strongest Christian explanations for why Christmas is celebrated on December 25 comes from a Jewish theological idea known as the Integral Age.

In ancient Jewish tradition, it was believed that great prophets often completed a “whole” lifespan, meaning they were conceived and died on the same date. Jewish writings taught that Moses, for example, was both conceived and died on the 7th of Adar (Megillah 13b; Kiddushin 38a; Babylonian Talmud, trans. Epstein, 1935).

Early Christians applied this same reasoning to Jesus. Western Christians calculated that Jesus’ death occurred on March 25 and placed His conception on that same date. Counting nine months forward led to December 25 as the date of His birth (Talley, 1991; Roll, 1995).

This theological reasoning appears consistently within early Christian reflection on sacred chronology and was later discussed by church fathers such as Augustine and Tertullian, whose writings reflect similar assumptions about divine completeness and sacred time, even when not presented as a formal doctrine (Augustine, trans. Hill, 1998; Tertullian, trans. Evans, 1975).

Eastern Christians used a similar calculation but placed the Passion on April 6, resulting in the celebration of Jesus’ birth on January 6. This explains why some Christian traditions celebrate Christmas on different dates while still honoring the same historical birth of Christ (Kelly, 2004; Talley, 1991).

This same biblical calculation approach is also reflected in Luke’s dating of John the Baptist’s conception and birth, which provides a relative timeline for Jesus’ birth narrative (Luke 1:26, 36).

What About the Roman Festival of Sol Invictus?

Another explanation often discussed is a Roman festival called Natalis Solis Invicti, the “birthday of the unconquered sun,” officially promoted by Emperor Aurelian in AD 274. Some scholars in the nineteenth century argued that Christians adopted December 25 to compete with this pagan celebration. However, modern historical scholarship has clarified an important correction: Christian calculations for December 25 were already in circulation before Sol Invictus gained widespread imperial prominence (Hijmans, 2003; McGowan, 2014).

Current scholarly consensus holds that:

• December 25 emerged primarily from Christian theological reflection on Jesus’ life, death, and conception

• The overlap with Roman festivals may have increased cultural visibility

• But it did not generate the Christian celebration itself (Bradshaw & Johnson, 2011; Hijmans, 2003; McGowan, 2014)

For Christian families today, the focus remains unchanged across cultures and centuries: Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, our Saviour and King.

The Authentic Story of the Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree is one of the most visible symbols of the season. While now global, its use developed gradually through documented European Christian history.

A.I generated evergreen tree

Evergreens in Ancient Europe

Before Christianity spread across Europe, evergreen plants such as fir, pine, and holly were admired for their ability to remain green during winter. These early practices symbolized life and endurance but were not Christmas trees and were not connected to the birth of Jesus (Bradshaw & Johnson, 2011).

The Medieval “Paradise Tree” and Adam and Eve Plays

By the late Middle Ages, churches in parts of Germany and Central Europe used mystery plays to teach biblical stories to largely illiterate populations. On December 24, the Feast of Adam and Eve was observed, and a central prop in these plays was the Paradise Tree, an evergreen decorated with apples symbolizing the Tree of Knowledge in Eden (Roll, 1995).

As these plays moved from churches into town squares and homes, the Paradise Tree tradition followed, forming one of the clearest historical roots of the modern Christmas tree (Bradshaw & Johnson, 2011; Roll, 1995).

From Apples to Ornaments

As German glassmaking developed, real apples were gradually replaced with red glass balls. This transition is widely cited in cultural histories of Christmas decorations, alongside the use of paper ornaments, nuts, and sweets shared with children after celebrations (Roll, 1995).

The Tree in German Christian Homes

By the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Christmas trees were firmly established in German Protestant households. They were family-centered practices rather than church rituals and were associated with Christian celebration in the home (Bradshaw & Johnson, 2011).

German immigrants later introduced the Christmas tree to England, France, Scandinavia, and North America, where it was gradually adopted and adapted.

Martin Luther and Candlelit Trees

A popular story credits Martin Luther with adding candles to Christmas trees. While there is no surviving document confirming he personally originated the practice, historical evidence confirms that candle-lit Christmas trees were common in German Protestant homes, particularly in Lutheran regions (Roll, 1995).

Victorian Popularization

The Christmas tree became widely popular in the English-speaking world during the Victorian era. A pivotal moment occurred in 1848 when an illustration of the British royal family celebrating around a decorated Christmas tree appeared in the Illustrated London News, accelerating the tree’s spread across Britain and America.

Christian Symbolism (Interpretive, Not Commanded)

The Bible does not command Christians to use Christmas trees. Over time, however, Christian families came to interpret the tree symbolically:

• Evergreens as reminders of life

• Lights as reminders that Christ is the Light

• The upward shape of the tree as pointing toward God

These meanings are theological reflections, not biblical instructions.

In the same way, the date of Christmas is not commanded in Scripture, yet it developed through early Christian reflection centered on Jesus’ life and saving work.

In Summary

• Christmas celebrates the real birth of Jesus

• December 25 grew from early Christian calculations, not pagan worship

• The Christmas tree developed from medieval Christian teaching traditions

• Both the date and the tree are tools Christians use to point hearts toward Christ

• The true focus of Christmas remains Jesus, the Prince of Peace

Our prayer for you is that as you celebrate this season with your family, may the light of Christ fill your hearts now and forever.

We want this season to be special and truly reflective of its true meaning. We invite you and your family to journey through Christmas using the original source, God’s Word. Our Christmas devotionals are thoughtfully designed and packed with meaningful, fun, and reflective activities that explore the history of Jesus’ birth as recorded in Scripture and supported by historical accounts.

Download the LoL Parenting Network Christmas devotional here and make this Christmas a season of faith, learning, and lasting family memories.

References

• Augustine of Hippo. (1998). On the Trinity (E. Hill, Trans.). New City Press. (Original work written c. 399–419)

• Bradshaw, P. F., & Johnson, M. E. (2011). The origins of feasts, fasts, and seasons in early Christianity. Liturgical Press.

• Hijmans, S. E. (2003). Sol Invictus, the winter solstice, and the origins of Christmas. Mouseion: Journal of the Classical Association of Canada, 3(3), 377–398. https://doi.org/10.1353/mou.2003.0026

• Kelly, J. N. D. (2004). Early Christian doctrines (5th rev. ed.). Continuum.

• McGowan, A. (2014). How December 25 became Christmas. Bible History Daily. Biblical Archaeology Society.https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/new-testament/how-december-25-became-christmas/

• Roll, S. (1995). Toward the origins of Christmas. Kok Pharos Publishing House.

• Talley, T. J. (1991). The origins of the liturgical year (2nd ed.). Pueblo Publishing Company.

• Tertullian. (1975). Adversus Judaeos [Against the Jews]. In E. Evans (Ed. & Trans.), Tertullian: Adversus Judaeos (pp. 1–96). Oxford University Press. (Original work written c. 197)

• The Holy Bible, Amplified Bible, Classic Edition. (1987). Zondervan.

• The Babylonian Talmud. (1935). Megillah 13b; Kiddushin 38a (I. Epstein, Ed.). Soncino Press.