Summary4 min read

Breakpoint — “Is Christmas a Pagan Holiday?”

Host: John Stonestreet (Colson Center)
Date: December 23, 2025

Overview

In this episode, John Stonestreet addresses the perennial question: "Is Christmas a pagan holiday?" With widespread claims circulating during the holiday season—ranging from online memes to skeptical Christians who question the Christian roots of Christmas—Stonestreet seeks to clarify the issue by applying theological and historical analysis. Drawing from the "What Would You Say?" video series, the episode examines the biblical, historical, and cultural origins of Christmas, dispelling popular myths while affirming the holiday’s Christian significance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Scriptural and Christ-Centered Roots of Christmas

Christmas Is Rooted in Scripture:
- The accounts of Jesus’ birth (Matthew and Luke) were penned in the first century.
- Quote: “No serious historian believes that Jesus’ Jewish disciples were copying some pagan tradition when they told this story.” (00:45, Narrator from "What Would You Say?")
- Regardless of later traditions, the “reason for the season” is directly found in the Gospels.
- Early Christian worship, including the singing of Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1), focused entirely on Christ’s birth.
- Activities like gift-giving and carol-singing are in keeping with early Christian practice of gratitude and celebration.

2. The Date of Christmas — Myth-Busting Pagan Origins

December 25th: Not a Pagan Appropriation:
- While the precise birth date of Jesus is unknown, December 25th’s association with pagan festivals (like Roman feast days) is often overstated.
- Quote: “This theory has actually fallen out of favor with many historians. In fact, according to the Biblical Archaeology Society, we don’t have evidence of Christians adopting pagan festivals in the third century, at which point in time dates for Christmas were established.” (01:45, Narrator from "What Would You Say?")
- A more compelling theory: Early Christians arrived at December 25th as nine months after March 25th, the believed date of Jesus’ conception/death.
  - St. Augustine wrote: “For Jesus is believed to have been conceived on the 25th of March, upon which day he also suffered. But he was born, according to tradition, upon December 25th.”
- The link between Christmas and pagan festivals was not even suggested until the 12th century, making it a later speculation.

3. Redeeming Traditions: Christian Participation & Transformation

Embracing and Redeeming Formerly Pagan Traditions:
- While elements like decorated trees, yule logs, and mistletoe may predate Christianity, their mere origin doesn’t disqualify them from Christian use.
- Quote: “Just because a tradition has pagan roots doesn’t mean Christians can’t enjoy it. The cross…was a Roman tool of torture before it was transformed into a symbol of eternal life by Christ.” (02:40, Narrator from "What Would You Say?")
- Examples from everyday life:
  - Months and weekdays (e.g., Wednesday, Thursday) are named after pagan gods, yet Christians use calendars without issue.
  - The image and idea of Santa Claus is rooted in the Christian St. Nicholas.
- Key Principle: “Christ is Lord of all. He created pine trees. He’s not trapped by the ways that pagans thought of them long ago.” (03:15, Narrator from "What Would You Say?")
- As long as cultural traditions do not distract from the centrality of Christ’s birth, Christians can participate in and even “redeem” them for the glory of God.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“No serious historian believes that Jesus’ Jewish disciples were copying some pagan tradition when they told this story.”
(00:45, Narrator from "What Would You Say?")
“This theory [of pagan origins for Christmas] has actually fallen out of favor with many historians. ... Thus, it seems unlikely that the date was simply selected to correspond with pagan solar festivals.”
(01:45)
“Just because a tradition has pagan roots doesn’t mean Christians can’t enjoy it. The cross … was a Roman tool of torture before it was transformed into a symbol of eternal life by Christ.”
(02:40)
“Christ is Lord of all. He created pine trees. He’s not trapped by the ways that pagans thought of them long ago.”
(03:15)

Important Segment Timestamps

00:01–00:35: Introduction and overview of the Christmas/pagan debate.
00:35–03:44: Key arguments from the “What Would You Say?” video:
- Scriptural/Christ-centered origins (00:35–01:25)
- Discussion of the December 25th date and pagan festival misconception (01:25–02:30)
- Redeeming and transforming traditions (02:30–03:44)
03:44–end: Call to listen to the full video and closing remarks (content largely about the Colson Center and ministry, not included here).

Tone and Language

The tone is clear, authoritative, and invitational—Stonestreet and the narrator speak directly to common concerns with warmth and assurance. The approach is both intellectual (citing historians and St. Augustine) and pastoral (encouraging Christians to celebrate freely in Christ).

Summary Takeaway

The episode provides a concise, well-argued answer to the perennial question: Christmas is not a pagan holiday. Its roots are scriptural and centered on Christ; the December 25th date is more plausibly a function of early Christian tradition than pagan appropriation; and while some seasonal trappings may have pre-Christian origins, they can be joyfully adopted and transformed by Christians. As Stonestreet and his team encourage, the focus should remain on the meaning of Christ’s birth while celebrating traditions “to the glory of God.”

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Transcript3 lines

[00:01]
A
Welcome to breakpoint, a daily look at an ever changing culture through the lens of unchanging truth. For the Colson Center, I'm John Stonestreet. Is Christmas a pagan holiday? Tis the season for memes and skeptics and even some Christians who claim that it is that Christ is not the origin of Christmas, that the trappings of trees and presents and celebrations are really incompatible with Christianity. A very helpful video in the what would you say? Series tackles this question from a theological and historical perspective. Here's a clip from the video. Is Christmas a pagan holiday?
[00:35]
B
Here are three things to remember. Number one Christmas is rooted in scripture and it's always been about Christ. The accounts of Jesus birth in Matthew and Luke were written in the first century. No serious historian believes that Jesus Jewish disciples were copying some pagan tradition when they told this story. Even before the Church settled on the date of or the word Christmas was invented, the reason for the season was right there in the Gospels. When we read the accounts of Jesus birth in the Gospels and sing carols about him and show our gratitude to God for giving us His Son by giving to others, we are doing what the very earliest Christians would have done. In fact, the song that became the very first Advent hymn is Mary's Magnificat. You can find it in Luke chapter one, Number two. The date of Christmas probably has nothing to do with pagan festivals. No one is exactly sure when Jesus was born. Sometimes people claim that December 25th was chosen as the date of his birth because it coincided with a Roman feast day. But this theory has actually fallen out of favor with many historians. In fact, according to the Biblical Archaeology Society, we don't have evidence of Christians adopting pagan festivals in the third century, at which point in time dates for Christmas were established. Thus, it seems unlikely that the date was simply selected to correspond with pagan solar festivals. A more convincing theory is that the early church simply calculated December 25th as Jesus birthday because it was nine months from the day they believe to be the date of his conception and death. March 25. For instance, St. Augustine wrote, For Jesus is believed to have been conceived on the 25th of March, upon which day he also suffered. But he was born, according to tradition, upon December 25th. In fact, it wasn't until the 12th century that any writer even suggested the date for Christmas was influenced by a pagan festival. Number three. It's okay to adopt and redeem some pagan traditions. The origins of decorated trees, yule logs, mistletoe, and other seasonal trappings aren't exactly clear. Historians think they were traditional to parts of Europe in even before Christianity arrived. But just because a tradition has pagan roots doesn't mean Christians can't enjoy it. The cross that sits on top of many of our church steeples and hangs around many necks was a Roman tool of torture before it was transformed into a symbol of eternal life by Christ. Several months of our year are named after Roman deities in the very days of the week, like Woden's day and Thor's Day are named after Norse gods. Yet Christians still use calendars. Christ is Lord of all. He created pine trees. He's not trapped by the ways that pagans thought of them long ago. Even the idea of Santa Claus is based on a Christian saint. As long as these traditions don't distract us from the true meaning of Christmas, there's nothing wrong with Christians using them to celebrate Jesus birth.
[03:45]
A
That was a segment from a video in the what would you say? Series answering the question is Christmas a pagan holiday? For the full video, visit the what would you say? YouTube channel or whatwouldyousay.org for the Colson Center, I'm John Stonestreet with Breakpoint. If you're a fan of Breakpoint, leave us a review wherever you download your podcast. And for more resources to live like a Christian Today, go to Breakpoint.org hi friends and listeners of Breakpoint, this is John Stonestreet. You know, every single Wednesday morning, after an entire week of exchanging numerous emails about various stories of things happening in our culture, we get together as an editorial team and wrestle with the stories that we need to talk about. From what some have called a vibe shift to AI to ivf, to even what's now known as assassination culture. This is a moment that is moving fast. It's hard to make sense of it, much less know how to respond. And that's been the strength of the Daily Breakpoint commentaries Ever since Chuck Colson founded it over 34 years ago, we offer listeners a daily look at an ever changing culture through the lens of truth that never changes. The goal has never been about just providing content. It's about providing clarity. And that's why our breakpoint team wins. Not when we say something clever or deliver some really cool hot take. But it's when something that we say and provide equips a Christian with the clarity, confidence and courage they need to live out their calling and the cultural moment where God has placed them. If you're one of those who've been impacted by this decades long ministry of the Colson center, would you please make a gift to the Colson center to support this work between now and December 31st. Thanks to a generous $500,000 challenge, every single gift given before December 31st will be doubled in impact. So please make your gift today@colsoncenter.org December that's colsoncenter. Org December.