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.”