Hold These Truths with Dan Crenshaw

Episode: The Origins of Christmas: Myths, Truths, and Traditions | Dr. Tim Larsen

Date: December 23, 2025
Guest: Dr. Timothy Larsen, Professor of History at Wheaton College; President of the American Society of Church History

Main Theme / Purpose

This Christmas special explores the origins of Christmas traditions, debunking popular myths and tracing how various practices—from gift-giving and stockings to Christmas trees and Santa Claus—developed over centuries. Congressman Dan Crenshaw and Dr. Tim Larsen dive into how biblical events merged with folklore, creative writing, and even American commercialization to create the holiday season we know today, while addressing ongoing debates about pagan roots, commercialism, and the essence of Christmas in the modern world.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Christmas: Extra Biblical, Not Unbiblical

• (02:05) Dr. Larsen explains that while the nativity story is central to Christian Scripture, the choice of December 25th as Christmas is “extra biblical”—not specified or forbidden in the Bible:
  • “It’s a very Christian biblical story. But the particular thing that people sometimes get hung up on is the date. December 25th is not in the Bible.” – Dr. Tim Larsen (02:36)
• The church designated the time to celebrate Jesus’ birth; the tradition persists across denominations.

2. Why December 25th?

• (03:23) Uncertain origins: Early church records are sparse due to persecution.
• Likely chosen for its symbolism: “My own theory is that it’s tied to the winter solstice in the Julian calendar… what Christmas means to Christians is that the light comes into the darkness… The winter solstice is… the light gets stronger and stronger.” – Dr. Tim Larsen (03:45)
• No definitive evidence on when or where the first December 25th celebration took place.

3. St. Nicholas and the Stockings

• (05:18-07:37) The real St. Nicholas was a 4th-century bishop who secretly provided dowries to poor girls, possibly inspiring the stocking tradition.
  • “He throws money through their window into their house secretly for each of these girls to get a dowry, some say into their sock hanging over the fireplace…” – Dr. Tim Larsen (05:37)
• Tradition of anonymous gift-giving, particularly through St. Nicholas, grows from this spirit of generosity.

4. How Christmas Survived Through History

• (08:30-09:26)
  • “Christmas, our word, comes from the Mass of Christ… the worship service celebrating Christ.” – Dr. Tim Larsen (08:30)
• Throughout the medieval period, Christmas is the second most important feast after Easter.

5. Gift-Giving and the Medieval Link

• Anonymous gift-giving carried through nuns who left presents labeled “from St. Nicholas” for the poor, fostering the playful, joyful culture around gifts at Christmas. (09:26-10:22)

6. Christmas Trees: Symbolism and Evolution

• (10:44-12:43)
  • Originated from medieval mystery plays, where a decorated tree was the “tree of life” in Eden.
  • Evergreens used for their symbolism: “Here is this tree that’s alive when all the other things look dead. And that’s why it’s an evergreen.” – Dr. Tim Larsen (11:56)
  • Shifted to homes and public squares in the 16th century.

7. The Invention of Santa Claus

• (13:43-15:04)
  • “Santa Claus is definitely a gift of the United States of America to the entire world… Americans are the one who figure out about Santa Claus.” – Dr. Tim Larsen (13:43)
• Dutch “Sinterklaas” morphs linguistically into “Santa Claus” via New York’s Dutch population.
• American writers (Washington Irving, Clement Moore’s “'Twas the Night Before Christmas”) invent elements: flying reindeer, chimney entry, North Pole base, and other fantastical traits.
  • “We’re the ones who track him.” – Dan Crenshaw (14:03), referencing the NORAD Santa tracker.

8. Modern Traditions Mistaken as Ancient

• Many customs often believed to be “pagan” or ancient are actually recent, or invented to suit community needs.
  • Flaming barrel processions in England started as Methodist prayer vigils (17:53-19:05).
• Christmas trees once thought to be of ancient pagan origin were popularized in the 19th century, sometimes on the basis of invented "history."

9. Country-Specific Christmas Variations

• Different nations historically had their own magical gift-bearers (e.g., France, Holland, Italy, Germany’s angelic “Christ child”), but American Santa has become most universal (20:46-22:03).
• Germany major exporter of ornaments, nutcrackers, and other familiar iconography.

10. American Commercial Influence: Rudolph and Frosty

• (23:12-24:18)
  • Rudolph was created as a marketing gimmick for Montgomery Ward department stores.
    • “They told somebody in their marketing department, ‘write us a Christmas story as a free giveaway,’ and he wrote Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.” – Dr. Tim Larsen (23:12)
• Frosty the Snowman also a product of commercial songwriting.
• Christmas commercialization is acknowledged as both a blessing and a natural evolution.

11. Debates Over Paganism and Commercialism

• Some critics, including secularists and devout Christians, decry Christmas as “paganized.”
• Dr. Larsen argues most traditions are rooted in Christian feast practices and joy, with many “pagan origins” claims unfounded or based on modern misunderstandings:
  • "All these things are perfectly biblical and good and sometimes people worry about them for reasons they don’t need to worry about them." (27:56)

12. The Christian Message Amid Secularity

• Christmas remains a season when the culture hears the gospel most broadly, and Dr. Larsen advocates embracing the glass-half-full:
  • "People are much more willing to accept an invitation to come to church in the Christmas season than they are at any other time of the year." – Dr. Tim Larsen (28:47)
• Even secular people “love Christmas,” and the season offers a chance to emphasize what is most meaningful.

13. Evolving and Strange Traditions

• Some practices (like fruitcake) are born of historical necessity—preservation rather than taste!
  • “A fruitcake is not a great food, I think, but the reason is because it’s traditional… food that doesn’t go off, but it doesn’t taste very good.” – Dr. Tim Larsen (31:15)
• Many foods and rituals last simply because they became tradition, not because of any deep symbolism.

14. Christmas Movies: What Counts?

• Themes of reconciliation and forgiveness echo the gospel of Christmas (e.g., "It's a Wonderful Life," "The Bishop's Wife").

  • "'A Christmas Carol' ... is really a Christian conversion story. It’s about a man who is lost, who becomes found...literally transformed overnight.” – Dr. Tim Larsen (39:46)

• Ultimate debate: Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?

  • “Not only is it set at Christmas, but it really is about turning towards the people you love and seeing that they matter in your life.” – Dr. Tim Larsen (36:57)

• Many Christmas movies accidentally or intentionally include deep Christian symbolism; others are commercial or just set during the season.

15. Notable Quotes on Iconography and Symbolism

• On candy canes:

  • “People always say, oh, it’s really the shepherd’s crook, or the red is Christ’s redemption through blood… No, it’s just candy.” – Dr. Tim Larsen (43:34)

• On red & green colors:

  • “It’s from the holly… the holly has red berries on it and it’s got green leaves.” – Dr. Tim Larsen (43:56)

• On mistletoe:

  • “It’s alive in the winter when most things aren’t… people associated it with fertility. So it’s a kind of fertility symbol.” – Dr. Tim Larsen (44:45)

• Defining ‘pagan’:

  • “The word pagan actually comes from people in the country… still keep to the old ways. So it basically just means the pre-Christian folk religions, polytheistic religions in Europe.” – Dr. Tim Larsen (46:10)

16. Christmas Tree Topper: Star or Angel?

• Dr. Larsen is partial to angels—but says do what you prefer; he displays both star and angel at his house. (47:00-47:11)

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “It’s a very Christian biblical story. But the particular thing that people sometimes get hung up on is the date. December 25th is not in the Bible.” – Dr. Tim Larsen (02:36)
• “What Christmas means to Christians is that the light comes into the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it.” – Dr. Tim Larsen (03:45)
• “Santa Claus is definitely a gift of the United States of America to the entire world… we’re the ones who figure out about Santa Claus.” – Dr. Tim Larsen (13:49)
• “If you could write a Christmas, you know, like, pop hit, that thing will never die.” – Dr. Tim Larsen (25:35)
• “All these things are perfectly biblical and good and sometimes people worry about them for reasons they don’t need to worry about them.” – Dr. Tim Larsen (27:56)
• “People are much more willing to accept an invitation to church in the Christmas season than they are at any other time of the year.” – Dr. Tim Larsen (28:47)
• “A fruitcake… just has a practical advantage, rather. So why are we still doing it? And the answer is, well, just tradition.” – Dr. Tim Larsen (31:15)
• “A Christmas Carol… is really a Christian conversion story. It’s about a man who is lost, who becomes found… transformed overnight.” – Dr. Tim Larsen (39:46)
• “People always say, oh, it’s really the shepherd’s crook, or the red is Christ’s redemption through blood… No, it’s just candy.” – Dr. Tim Larsen (43:34)

Important Timestamps

• 02:36 – Clarifying 'extra biblical' vs. 'unbiblical'
• 03:45 – The winter solstice: origins of the date
• 05:37 - 07:37 – The story of St. Nicholas and the stocking
• 10:44 - 12:43 – Christmas trees: from Eden to home decor
• 13:43 - 15:04 – The invention and Americanization of Santa Claus
• 23:12 - 24:18 – Rudolph’s commercial origin
• 27:56 – Why “pagan origins” aren’t usually accurate
• 28:47 – Christmas as a unique opportunity for spreading the gospel
• 39:46 – “A Christmas Carol” as a Christian narrative
• 43:34 – The true origins of the candy cane

Tone and Atmosphere

The conversation is light, curious, and sometimes humorous—balancing scholarly rigor with accessibility and warmth. Crenshaw asks wide-ranging, sometimes playful questions, keeping the discussion relatable and lively.

Memorable Moments

• Crenshaw’s astonishment at NORAD’s Santa tracking (“We’re the ones who track him!” – 14:03).
• The behind-the-scenes truth of the fruitcake’s shelf-life (31:15).
• The playful debate over the angel vs. star as tree topper (47:00).
• The Die Hard Christmas movie debate—settled in favor of yes! (36:57).

Summary Takeaway

Crenshaw and Larsen illuminate the rich, evolving tapestry of Christmas—dispelling fears of “paganism,” celebrating the inventiveness of tradition (from stockings to Santa to fruitcake), and reaffirming that the holiday’s heart remains a celebration of generosity, reconciliation, and the enduring power of the gospel story. Whether you put an angel or a star on your tree, eat fruitcake or not, or debate the Christmas credentials of Die Hard, the magic and meaning of Christmas are ever-evolving, delightfully layered, and always worth sharing.