A True Story

A story of hope light and love (did I also mention it is a true story 🤫)

The birth of a true king and Christmas

But wait isn't Christmas a pagan holiday?

My answer might surprise you but I believe in short no, 😱 but to have a better understanding of why I believe this lets dig a little deeper.

Christmas as it is celebrated today does have some historical links to pre-Christian (often called “pagan”) festivals, but it’s important to separate origins of certain customs from the Christian meaning of the celebration..

A bit of history

The Bible does not give a date for Jesus’ birth. When Christianity spread across the Roman world, early Christians often reframed existing cultural practices to point people toward Christ rather than pagan gods. things like

1) Evergreen plants these were used in various ancient cultures as symbols of life enduring through winter. Christians later adopted the tree as a symbol of eternal life through Christ. (The Christmas tree as we know it developed much later mainly in Germany in the 16th century).

2) Holly, Ivy, and Mistletoe These plants were used in winter festivals because they stayed green. Christians reinterpreted them: Holly berries → Christ’s blood, Sharp leaves → the crown of thorns.

3) Feasting and Gift-Giving Saturnalia involved feasting and exchanging gifts.

 Christians connected gift-giving to: The wise men’s gifts God’s gift of Jesus to humanity.

4) Candles and Lights Pagan cultures used fire and light during winter festivals. Christianity reshaped this symbolism to reflect: Jesus as the Light of the World Hope overcoming darkness.

All of this above helped new converts understand and accept the faith. But Hippolytus of Rome (c. AD 204) (who was a prominent, influential Christian scholar, writer, and theologian in the early 3rd century, known as a fierce critic of Roman bishops) disagreed and wrote that Jesus was born on December 25th, based on theological calculations rather than pagan festivals. The Depositio Martyrum (AD 336), a Roman calendar, clearly lists December 25th as the Nativity of Christ This places the practice firmly in Rome before Christianity was dominant, not as a late invention

Why December? (Theological Reasoning)

Early Christians believed: Jesus was conceived on the same date He would later die (a common Jewish belief about prophets). They placed the crucifixion around March 25th. Nine months from March 25th leads naturally to December 25th. So the date came from theology and symbolism, not simply cultural borrowing. From Rome, December 25th spread through Italy, North Africa, and Western Europe. By the 4th century, it was well established across the West.

Eastern Christians originally celebrated Jesus’ birth on January 6th (Epiphany). Over time, they adopted December 25th as well: (Constantinople: late 4th century) (Antioch: around AD 386 (taught by John Chrysostom) Some Eastern churches kept both dates, assigning different meanings to each. This use of December: Predates Christianity becoming the Roman state religion and was not initially a response to pagan festivals it was a way to proclaim Jesus as the true Light entering the world When pagan midwinter festivals existed, Christians didn’t celebrate them—they reclaimed the season to preach Christ.

But regardless of what side of the fence you sit on whether you believe the theological reasoning of Hippolytus of Rome or the notion of deep rooted pagan ideas one thing that stands is. Christians have the ability to redefine the season’s meanings, like many have done centring them on Jesus. What matters most is who is being honoured and why. Scripture itself shows God reclaiming symbols (e.g, altars, temples, feasts) and redirecting them to true worship. And  Psalm 24:1 lets us know that “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” Which leads us to the question

Why is the birth of Jesus so important

The celebration of Christs birth is far more important than a date on a calendar or a season marked by lights, gifts, and celebration. At its heart, it (Christmas) is a remembrance of a moment that changed the course of history—the birth of a true king.

In a quiet town called Bethlehem, in circumstances humble and unexpected, God chose to enter the world not as a king in a palace, but as a child laid in a manger. There were no grand announcements to the powerful, yet angels filled the skies to proclaim the good news to shepherds—ordinary people, awake in the dark, watching over their flocks. This alone speaks volumes about the nature of God’s love: it reaches the lowly, the overlooked, and the weary. The birth of Jesus is the fulfilment of ancient promises. Prophets spoke of a Saviour who would bring light into darkness, peace into a broken world, and hope to those longing for redemption. his birth marks the beginning of that promise being lived out in human form. God did not remain distant; He came close. He took on flesh, shared in our weakness, and walked among us. At Christmas, we are invited to remember that love is not loud or forceful, but often arrives quietly and patiently. The manger tells a story of humility. The child tells a story of grace. And the season itself invites us to pause and reflect on what truly matters—faith, compassion, forgiveness, and love. While traditions may change and celebrations may look different from one home to another, the true meaning of Christmas remains constant. It is about God’s gift to the world: His Son. In Jesus, we see the depth of God’s love and the promise of salvation, not only for that night in Bethlehem, but for all of humanity, for all time. Christmas, then, is not just a celebration of a birth—it is a celebration of hope born into the world, light breaking into darkness, and love made visible.

Official invitation

If you are reading this text then this is your official invitation to sit down and read the true story that is Luke 2: 2-20 and enter a time of thanks and giving, don't just blindly give gifts appreciate all that you have and make it your mission in 2026 to get to know god and his FREE offer of salvation. Christ was born and died for us, we don't get that deal twice, tomorrow is not promised and yesterday has already gone time ticking will you accept?