If you purchase a pre-printed calendar these days, you’re likely to find many different kinds of holidays: Christian holidays, holidays celebrated by other world religions, and days that the U.S. government determined should be days off to honor a person or event. It can be easy to lose the Christian holidays in the mix. While there are several Christ-centered holidays throughout the year, people are most familiar with Christmas and Easter. Even people who don’t believe in Jesus have co-opted these holidays to celebrate without any reference to Jesus (a secular Santa Claus and Easter bunny are all the evidence we need there).
When I was in junior high, my family stopped regularly attending church, but my parents still found it important to go on Christmas and Easter. My parents still thought it was important that their children understand that Jesus, the Savior of the world, came to earth, died for our sins, and rose again. Therefore, it made sense that they would want us to be exposed to messages about his incarnation at Christmas and His resurrection at Easter–even if we were considered “Chreasters.” As an adult, I know that these are the most important Christian holidays, but now, thankfully, I have a greater understanding of both.
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We are so conditioned to celebrate a joyous Christmas holiday every December that it’s strange to think that Jesus' birth was a shock to the people of Israel. In the Old Testament, the Israelites, God’s chosen people, heard repeatedly from prophets of God that someone was coming to save them from their conquerors. A king would be raised up in the line of David (Jeremiah 23:5-6), and His kingdom would never end (2 Samuel 7:12-13). He would be anointed to proclaim good news to the poor (Isaiah 61:1). There were several prophecies regarding his birth as well: he would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) in the town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) and that King Herod would kill innocent children in an attempt to eliminate a newborn rival king (Jeremiah 31:15).
God decided more than 2,000 years ago that it was time for the prophecies to be fulfilled. Jesus didn’t arrive as a conquering king in the way the Israelites expected. And that was the point. Jesus humbled himself to be born as a baby and experience all of the struggles of being human while teaching people what God is like. Knowing what we know about Jesus on this side of the cross, we revel in the joy of celebrating the day that He was born and became “Immanuel” or “God with us.”
There are many theories on why December 25 was chosen as Jesus' “birthday” and when believers began to call this Christian holiday “Christmas." In the article “Do We Know When Jesus Was Actually Born?” author Britt Mooney says the Bible gives us clues to the season He may have been born, and it likely wasn’t in the winter time. One reason given was that shepherds would not have had their flocks in the field in the winter time, so the scene of angels singing to shepherds would have taken place during warmer months (it is winter in Israel when it’s winter in the United States).
Why, then, do we celebrate Christ's birth in December?
Mooney continues: “A leading theory for why Christianity chose December 25 for Christmas comes from the influence of the Roman pagan festival of Saturnalia, a popular winter celebration of the god Saturn," which was one of Rome’s most celebrated pagan holidays. “By assigning Jesus’ birth to December 25, the church could help the culture more easily give up their pagan focus and now use the same time to worship Christ.”
Regardless of the time of year Jesus was born or why the celebration of his birth now takes place in December, the important thing for Christians today is that we are privileged to honor Him each year by singing songs that celebrate His birth, giving gifts similarly to the three wise men, and fellowshipping with one another with our eyes fixed on His second coming.
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Does one day stand out as the most important Christian holiday? Absolutely, and again, it started with people who were amazed that God didn’t do what they expected. If we go back to Jesus’ last days on earth over 2,000 years ago, we find His 12 disciples celebrating a Passover dinner with Him. Jesus told them He was going to be given over to authorities, be crucified, and die for the sins of the world. The disciples were dumbfounded. This is not what they anticipated, and they tried to tell Him He was wrong. Jesus turned their hopes for Him upside down; they were looking for a conquering king like David who would overthrow their oppressors. His followers were devastated and confused as he was crucified and buried.
On the third day (as He promised), Jesus rose from the grave and proved that He had power over our biggest oppressors: evil and death. He showed Himself to His disciples and to hundreds of others, who likely just began to understand what He meant by rising after three days. Before he ascended back to heaven, proving yet again that He was the all-powerful Son of God, He told them He would send the Holy Spirit to be with them until He returned. An eternal relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit–nothing on earth could compare to it.
The Resurrection is pivotal and essential to Christians who have accepted God’s free gift of grace. Though our sins separated us from God, Jesus paid the price for them. For those who believe this good news message, and repent of their old life, they “will never perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). There is no more important event in the history of the universe, and therefore no more important holiday than Easter. So we gather on Easter Sunday and sing our “hallelujahs” to our Savior, Redeemer, King, and Friend who will never leave us or forsake us.
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There are three holidays that are not celebrated in the same way as Christmas and Easter, but they are no less important in understanding what Jesus did for us.
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There are other Christian holidays that are celebrated by many denominations that serve either as commemorations or special observances.
The first day of Lent is Ash Wednesday when believers in some denominations have ashes in the shape of the cross placed on their foreheads (symbolizing that we are made from dust and to dust we shall return, and ultimately, that we are in need of a Savior).
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It may sound trite, but it's true to say that the best way to celebrate Christian holidays with a Christ-centered focus is to understand what we are celebrating! And not just understand, but have reverence for each observance and learn what it means in terms of our relationship with Jesus. That starts with opening the Bible to read more about the life of Jesus, and to ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate what you should learn in order to become more like Christ.
Another great way to celebrate is to gather in church and participate in the traditions and rituals surrounding each Christian holiday. This is a fantastic opportunity to fellowship with those who are just as excited to honor Christ as Lord and Savior.
Christian holidays also run the gamut of human experience and emotion, and therefore I believe that’s another reason to celebrate with our brothers and sisters in Christ. At Christmas, we are in awe and rejoice. At Easter, we are elated. At Lent we are humbled. On Good Friday, we are devastated (as we consider Christ’s torturous death for us).
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Christian holidays are essential in the life of a believer. Over and over in the Bible, God tells us to remember the things He has done and to share them with our children and others. That’s exactly what we do when we get together to celebrate each of these days. By rehearsing over and over each year what each day/season signifies, our spirit is renewed, we hide God’s word deeper in our hearts, and we encourage one another to keep the faith until Jesus returns.
Additionally, Christian holidays provide an opportunity to build community and strengthen relationships within families, churches, and broader circles. By gathering to worship, share meals, and engage in meaningful traditions, believers can encourage one another in faith and reflect the love of Christ to the world. These celebrations are a reminder that our faith is not just personal but also communal, drawing us closer to both God and one another.
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