THE PLAIN TRUTH ABOUT CHRISTMAS – SYMBOLS AND IMAGES
Consider the various symbols used in Christmas celebrations. They all have their roots in paganism.
First, let us look at the ‘dear Santa Claus’. What Does Santa Claus Have to Do With Jesus and His Birth?
In many lands, Santa Claus is viewed as the one who brings children gifts. Children often write to Santa, asking for presents, which, according to tradition, elves help him to make at his North Pole headquarters.
But who is Santa? According to Langer’s Encyclopedia of World History, (article “Santa”), “Santa” was a common name for Nimrod throughout Asia Minor. After Nimrod's untimely death, his so-called wife, Semiramis, propagated the evil doctrine of the survival of Nimrod as a spirit being. She claimed a full-grown evergreen tree, what we today call the Christmas tree, sprang overnight from a dead tree stump, which symbolized the springing forth into new life of the dead Nimrod. On each anniversary of his birth, she claimed Nimrod would visit the evergreen tree and leave gifts upon it. Remember this is what Santa Clause does every December 25th. December 25th was acclaimed the birthday of Nimrod.
Some people say Santa Clause represents St. Nicholas, a kindly old saint who generously gave gifts to the needy. The facts of history however, prove otherwise. Actually there is no valid evidence that any “St. Nicholas” ever existed (in spite of Roman Catholic tradition). But the customs and traditions from which Santa Claus evolved, trace him back to Odin-the god of wisdom and war in the Norse mythology, or Saturn – the sun-god himself!
Talking of St. Nicholas, Revelation 2:6 and 15, we read about a “doctrine of the Nicolaitanes,” which Christ twice tells His Church “[He] hates.”
Santa has always been “a very old gray-bearded gentleman. He “is always someone mysterious and shadowy. His home is far away in Heaven or at the North Pole or in some remote country from which he comes on horseback, or in a sleigh drawn by reindeer. He may come secretly by night, or openly in the winter daylight, accompanied by a train of masked demons and strange animal forms. Often he is associated with fire, entering the house by the chimney, or leaving gifts by the hearth” (remember, he’s a sun-god), and “like the ancient gods from whom he is descended, he can read the heart and knows the hidden thoughts and actions of those he visits.”
Concerning the “divinity” attached to Santa Claus, can it be that we are back again with Odin, the Norse Allfather god, the "gift-giver", especially during the midwinter festival of Yule, where he led the Wild Hunt across the sky on his eight-legged horse, leaving gifts for the good and punishing the bad?
Undeniably, Santa Claus is some sort of a “god”, for he has attributes of deity. He can visit every house on earth in one night (omnipresence); he knows everything about every child’s behaviour (omniscience); he rewards the good and punishes the bad, just like God!
How dare we bring our children to this false god and encourage them to supplicate him for gifts and blessings? God will hold us accountable! We must forsake this idolatrous Santa-worship immediately.
2nd, let us look at the Christmas tree. Does the bible tell us anything about the Christmas tree? What are its origins?
Yes it does: Jeremiah 10:3-6 says: "The customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. Their idols[b] are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.”
This is a perfect description of the Christmas tree, termed by the Eternal as "the way of the heathen - the customs of the people. It is idolatry. The fifth verse shows that these trees cannot speak - cannot walk - must be carried. "Be not afraid of them; for THEY (the trees) cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good." They are not gods to be feared.
The first decorating of an evergreen tree was done by pagans in honor of their god Adonis – the Greek god of beauty and desire, who after being slain by a wild boar, was brought to life by the serpent god Aesculapius – the Greek god of health and healing. The representation of this slain god was a dead stump of a tree. Around this stump coiled the snake Aesculapius, symbol of life restoring. And lo -- from the roots of the dead tree comes forth another and different tree -- an evergreen tree symbolic to pagans of a god who cannot die! A feast was held in honor of him on December 25th called the "Birthday of the unconquered Sun."
The modern Christmas tree originated in Germany. But the Germans got it from the Romans, who got it from the Babylonians and the Egyptians.
The Christmas tree, holly, ivy, and mistletoe greenery were widely considered as symbols of immortality and fertility among the ancient pagan nations, since these evergreens never lost their leaves or turned brown (symbolizing death) through the winter season as did the other trees. Therefore, a certain reverence was attached to them by the superstitious pagans.
Holly, ivy and mistletoe were strong life symbols, not only because they are evergreens, but also because, unlike most plants, they bear fruit in winter. Female holly plants cannot have berries unless a nearby male plant pollinates them. It is easy to see why the holly wreath found its way into pagan rituals as a token of friendship and FERTILITY!
Mistletoe was held sacred by the Celtic Druids (Britain and part of France) and by the Norsemen (Norwegians and others from Scandinavian country). It was once called … the plant of peace, under which enemies were reconciled in ancient Scandinavia. It was believed it brought good luck and fertility. It protected the house that contained it from witchcraft and was an antidote to poison. The ancient Celtics (associated with the Druids) used to give mistletoe as a herbal remedy to barren animals to make them fertile. According to ancient Christmas custom, a man and a woman who meet under a hanging of mistletoe were obliged to kiss-hence encouraging fertility.
A star is also always put on top of the Christmas tree. They call it the star of Bethlehem. But that star has strong accultic connections. The astrologers use it in ceremonies both to call up demons and to keep them away. It is used to call forth demons to place spells and curses on the intended victims. Sorcerers call it the talisman of Saturn-who happens to be the god of Christmas.
For the star that led the ‘wise men’ to Jesus, clues are provided by what the star actually did. For one thing, it did not lead the men directly to Bethlehem, but to Jerusalem, where their inquiries about Jesus reached the ears of King Herod. Herod then “secretly summoned the wise men from the east,” who told him about the newborn “king of the Jews.” Herod then said: “Make a careful search for the young child, and when you have found it report back to me.” Herod’s interest in Jesus, however, was anything but noble. This proud and ruthless ruler was resolved to put Jesus to death!—Matthew 2:1-16.
Interestingly, the “star” now led the wisemen south to Bethlehem. There “it came to a stop” above the house where Jesus was.
Clearly this was no ordinary star! And why would God, who had used angels to inform humble shepherds of Jesus’ birth, now employ a star to guide pagan astrologers—first to Jesus’ enemy and then to the child himself?
How tragic it is that the Christian church today continues to hold this unholy alliance with the world in the celebration of Christmas:
• They put up the same forbidden trees in their homes (Jeremiah 10:1-5),
• Cover it with globes (symbols of the sun – remember the Saturnalia is sun worship),
• They hang lights and garlands all around the house and hearth (pagan symbols of fertility), and engage in virtually every other aspect of this renamed pagan festival, just like the world!
The Bible asks: “Can the leopard change its spots?” (Jeremiah 13:23) Of course not! And so it is with Christmas. Underneath the “Christian” veneer, it is still the Roman Saturnalia! They’ve changed its name but not its nature. Jesus said, “a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit,” and “a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit” (Matthew 7:17-18).
Lastly, let us examine the exchanging of gifts. In Bible accounts, whenever celebrations and gift giving were done at someone's birthday party, sin and evil prevailed and murder followed. For example:
• On Pharaoh's birthday, the chief baker was hanged and beheaded.
• During Herod's birthday celebration, John the Baptist was beheaded for preaching against sin.
• In Rev. 11 we read how wicked people celebrated the slaying of God's two faithful witnesses by making merry and sending gifts to one another.
I believe that gifts can be great blessings. But a gift is of no value whatever unless it is given in love. Today the common custom seems to be to give a gift at Christmas as a part of a bargain to receive one.
The bible says, Joy and generosity characterize true worship. “There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving,” said Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:35) .Luke 6:38 says Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Now, examine the giving of gifts at Christmas. It is a ritualized giving or giving that is compelled, perhaps by social custom. In describing the true spirit of generosity, the Bible states: “Each person should give as he has decided for himself; there should be no reluctance, no sense of compulsion; God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Those who heed these excellent Bible principles give because their generous heart impels them to do so, which can be at any time of the year. This kind of giving has God’s blessing, and it is never burdensome.
Suppose someone you love has a birthday. You want to honour that person on his or her birthday. Would you lavishly buy gifts for EVERYONE ELSE, trading gifts back and forth with all your OTHER friends and loved ones, but ignore completely any gift for the one whose birthday you are honouring? What would you think, if the whole world celebrated your birthday, but no one brought presents to you?
People give to others on Christmas merely because they expect to receive gifts themselves! They honour a day that is not Christ's birthday by spending every dime they can scrape together in presents to trade back, yet nearly all Christians forget to give gifts to Christ and His cause almost altogether during this period.
Now consider what the Bible says about the wise men giving gifts to Jesus. Why did they present gifts to Him? Because it was His birthday? Not at all. They came several days or weeks after the date of His birth. And they did not exchange gifts among themselves, but "they presented unto HIM gifts." They gave their gifts to Christ, not to their friends, relatives, or one another.
Why? The people of the east never approach the presence of kings and great personages, without a present in their hands. In other words, they were following an old and ancient eastern custom of presenting gifts to a king when they came into his presence - even as the Queen of Sheba brought gifts to Solomon.
Let us examine the roots of this tradition of giving gifts: Ancient Romans exchanged gifts during the winter festival of Saturnalia. The presents were simple boughs of greenery brought from the groves of the goddess Strenia-the Roman goddess of new year. Many were charms as well as gifts.
Today, on Christmas season, shopping malls becomes more popular than the church; families go deeply into debt buying presents. Can you see anything “Christian” is this commercial, materialistic festival? Why don’t you give up this carry-over-from-paganism custom? Christ isn’t glorified in it. If anything, He is forgotten!
So, what will you do? What will you follow? What will you believe? What should we do with Christmas season? 1 Samuel 5:1-4 states; After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.2 Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon. 3 When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. 4 But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. That is exactly what we need to do during Christmas season; to let the Pagan gods bow to the God almighty.
How do we accomplish this? By taking what God has given you and sending it as a gift to the Lord to aid in some needy missionary work in a dark and foreign land. Think awhile on those poor of the earth, those millions of souls who have never heard the glad tidings of Christ for the lack of support of real Christian missionaries. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matt. 25:40).
Sermon for Wednesday Vespers 24th Dec 2025. Mt. Olives SDA Church Ngong.
