In the first article of this two-part series on Debunking the Myths of Christmas we addressed the origins of Christmas itself. This second article is dedicated to examining the origins of many of the traditional trappings of Christmas.
Tree worship was common among the pagan Europeans and survived their conversion to Christianity in the Scandinavian customs of decorating the house and barn with evergreens at the New Year to scare away the devil and of setting up a tree for the birds during Christmastime; it survived further in the custom, also observed in Germany, of placing a Yule tree at an entrance or inside the house during the midwinter holidays.
Encyclopedia Brittanica on Christmas trees
If we were to be transported back in time to the first century and were to study “Moses and the Prophets” as Jesus, the disciples, and the two men on the road to Emmaus did (Luke 24:27), what would we learn? What portraits of the Messiah would we find? Come… join our band of believers and study Scripture in the footsteps and pattern of our Lord and Savior.
If we were to be transported back in time to the first century and were to study “Moses and the Prophets” as Jesus, the disciples, and the two men on the road to Emmaus did (Luke 24:27), what would we learn? What portraits of the Messiah would we find? Come… join our band of believers and study Scripture in the footsteps and pattern of our Lord and Savior.
The bedrock foundation of first-century studies included an annual reading of the Torah: Genesis through Deuteronomy. The passages that are studied this time of year are found in the book of Genesis chapters 37:1-40:23. The chapter and verse numbers that we use to identify passages of Scripture today did not exist in the days of the Master. Instead, they identified the weekly passages, known as a parashah (”portion”) by the first word or two of that passage. This week’s parashah is known as Vayeshev (pronounced vye yeh SHEV). This Hebrew word means “and he lived” as it is written in the beginning of our portion:
If we were to be transported back in time to the first century and were to study "Moses and the Prophets" as Jesus, the disciples, and the two men on the road to Emmaus did (Luke 24:27), what would we learn? What portraits of the Messiah would we find? Come… join our band of believers and study Scripture in the footsteps and pattern of our Lord and Savior.
The bedrock foundation of first-century studies included an annual reading of the Torah: Genesis through Deuteronomy. The passages that are studied this time of year are found in the book of Genesis chapters 32:3-36-43. The chapter and verse numbers that we use to identify passages of Scripture today did not exist in the days of the Master. Instead, they identified the weekly passages, known as a parashah (”portion”) by the first word or two of that passage. This week’s parashah is known as Vayishlach (pronounced vye eesh LOCK). This Hebrew word means “and he sent” as it is written in the beginning of our portion:
“Then Jacob sent messengers before him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.” - Genesis 32:3 (NASB)
Realizing that this may be a sensitive subject for some who are just beginning their Torah walk, Christmas is the next topic that is examined in the In Support of Torah Observance- Debunking the Myths series. Christmas will be examined in two parts:
Part 1: What does Scripture and history say about Christmas? Part 2: Where do the traditional trappings of Christmas come from?
If we search the whole of Scripture in English or the original languages we find no mention of "Christmas". While the birth of Messiah is definitely described in Scripture, it is recorded in only one place: Luke 2:1-7. Examining these verses we find that there is no mention of "Christmas", trees, holly, yule logs, gifts, tinsel, wreaths, Santa Claus, or reindeer. Where did the traditional Christmas come from?