While the New Testament tells us that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born in Bethlehem of Judea, it does not specify that His birth occurred on December 25th. The association of December 25th as the birth of Jesus Christ with Christmas has no basis in Biblical Christian history. Instead, the celebration of Christmas was adopted from pagan cultural practices that were widespread at some time in history.                     

 

Christmas is a celebration that has pagan Babylonian religious practices roots.

 

Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel. Thus says the Lord: “Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the Gentiles are dismayed at them. For the customs of the peoples are futile; for one cuts a tree from the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails and hammers so that it will not topple" (Jeremiah 10:1-4).

 

 

The festive day of Christmas brings familiar traditions: decorating the Christmas tree, hanging ornaments, twinkling lights, the long-bearded Santa Claus, reindeer, and celebrating on December 25th. Among these, the Christmas tree has become especially popular around the world. However, the origins of these customs are deeply rooted in ancient history. For instance, the use of evergreen trees to celebrate the return of the sun after the winter solstice can be traced back to Babylonian pagan rituals.

The image of the modern Santa Claus, with his jolly demeanor and gift-giving, also carries connections to ancient Babylonian customs. The Anakim, a Babylonian evil deity, is depicted as a long-bearded figure holding a tree and accompanied by a reindeer. This image may have influenced the Santa legend, where he rides through the sky on a sleigh, rewarding children for good behavior. Interestingly, this imagery shares similarities with the biblical depiction of God, who is described as riding "on the wings of the wind" and making "the clouds His chariot" in Psalms 104:3.

Even seemingly innocent acts, such as bringing trees into our homes, placing stars atop them, decorating with silver and gold ornaments, and lighting candles, carry deeper historical significance. These practices are rooted in ancient rituals, linking Christmas to traditions that predate Christianity.

While Christmas is celebrated worldwide, for many it revolves around family gatherings, feasts, and exchanging gifts. For others, it marks the birth of Jesus Christ. However, it's important to recognize that the customs associated with Christmas do not originate from Christ’s birth. Instead, they are based on pagan traditions that predate Christianity by over two millennia.

 

The Roman Reverence to the Ancient Sun god

 

The story of the sun’s symbolism and its association with renewal has roots in ancient Babylon, particularly through the figure of Nimrod. Nimrod, often identified in the Bible (Genesis 10:8-12) as a wicked mighty hunter and warrior, was also the founder of important cities such as Babylon, Nineveh, and Assyria. Nimrod was historically linked to the worship of Baal, a term meaning “lord” or “master,” and signifying someone who holds dominion over land, property, or people. He is believed to have been born on December 25th, aligning with the Winter Solstice.

 

The Babylonians were keen astronomers (Daniel 1:1-7 - 2:1-27), so they closely observed the sky and noted celestial events like winter and summer solstices, eclipses, and the movement of planets. Their detailed knowledge of the heavens allowed them to track the changing patterns of sunset times across the year.

 

In Babylon, the Zagmuk festival was celebrated to honor the rebirth of the sun god they revered (Jeremiah 8:2), a key event marking the return of longer days after the Winter Solstice. The festival was a New Year’s celebration, held in Nisanu, the first month of the Babylonian calendar, which typically fell around March or April in the Gregorian calendar. It was a time of feasting, revelry, and gift-giving, rituals that would later influence the traditions of Christmas. The festival celebrated the renewal of light and the defeat of darkness, emphasizing themes of renewal and rebirth.

Marduk, also referred to as Merodach in the Bible (Jeremiah 50:2), became the deity honored during the Zagmuk festival. Marduk’s triumph symbolized the victory of light and life, a central theme in the annual rituals of the Babylonian people. This connection between Marduk, the sun’s return, and the celebration of light would have a lasting influence on later religious practices, including those that celebrated the birth of the sun, or the "Son," even in Roman cultural and religious traditions.

 

Temple of Saturn, Rome

 

The Roman festival of Saturnalia, held from December 17th to 23rd, honored the god Saturn, father of Jupiter, and was characterized by feasts, gift-giving, and role reversals. It was a time of merrymaking and communal celebration, coinciding with the winter solstice. Similarly, ancient Babylonian festivals, like those honoring the god Marduk, involved giving offerings to the gods and celebrating the return of sunlight after the darkest days of the year.

Over time, these pagan customs influenced various civilizations, including the early Christian church. The adoption of December 25th as the date for Christmas is indeed a matter of historical tradition rather than being based on Christian Scripture. The Romans chose this date, likely to coincide the pagan winter solstice festivals, such as the birthday of the unconquered sun (Sol Invictus) and the continuation of Saturnalia. This helped to ease the transition to Christianity for converts from these traditions.

These ancient celebrations gradually merged, forming the foundation of what would become Christmas. Over time, they traveled through various civilizations and influenced Christian traditions. The word "Christmas" itself comes from the Roman terms "Christ" and "Mass." which directly relates to Catholic Christian liturgical observance. The date of December 25th as Christmas Day is not rooted in Christian Scripture but instead was adopted from Babylonian and Roman pagan practices.

 

In conclusion, Christmas, as we know it today, is a fusion of pagan and secular traditions. While the holiday honors the birth of Jesus Christ, many of the symbols (e.g., threes, lights, feasts, gifts), customs and the date of December 25th have roots in pagan Babylonian and Roman festivals, celebrating the winter solstice, the return of light, and the joy of giving. These traditions, over time, merged and became the celebration of Christmas. This fusion of religious and secular practices has shaped the holiday over centuries, resulting in the global celebration of Christmas we know today.