Christmas is here, even with debates, let’s reflect on Christ

Every year December 25, Christians throughout the world celebrate Christmas, which marks the birth of Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity. The day is marked with church services, pilgrimages to holy sites, exchange of gifts, and other merry-making events.

Although widely accepted in the Christian fraternity that Jesus Christ was born on that date, there have been debates whether it was the ideal date. Orthodox Churches celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on January 6.

Origin of Christmas

The origin of Christmas is presented in the Biblical account of the Gospels of Luke and Mathew. These gospels present Jesus being born in Bethlehem to a virgin mother, Mary. Joseph, his earthly father and Mary, were   part of a census, and had travelled to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born in a manger.

Among church fathers, John Chrysostom (347-407) argued that December 25 was the correct date.  He maintained that Zechariah received the message of John’s birth on the Day of Atonement and John the Baptist was born around June and July and the birth of Jesus took   place six months later.

Some early Jewish sources also suggest that the normal traffic of sheep was between November and March. This is when shepherds would have been tending their flocks in the field. This is corroborated by the Biblical story of the shepherds who saw the star and went to see Jesus born in a manger.

On the other hand, according to other traditions, the December 25 date might have been influenced by paganism of the sun god of Mithra religion, which dates back to over 4,000 years. He was the light and power behind the sun. The Mithraic was a mystery religion practised in the Roman Empire from about the 1st to 4th centuries AD.  According to the book, Great Religions of the World, Mithra was born on December 25. This was a day to celebrate the birthday of Mithra and it spread so fast across the Roman Empire and marked throughout the first few centuries after Jesus Christ.

It was until 336 AD that Emperor Constantine who had converted into Christianity and made conducive environment for Christian growth made the pagan tradition into the celebration of Christian Christmas. But irrespective of   the date, the truth of Jesus Christ birth cannot be denied. Let us reflect on Jesus Christ who is the reason for the season.

Rev Dr Martin Olando Wesonga, Kenya Methodist University.