The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour

Episode: Why We Celebrate Christmas

Date: December 12, 2025
Host: Scott Bertram
Guest: Dr. Ken Calvert, Professor of Ancient History, Hillsdale College

Overview

This episode explores the rich historical, theological, and cultural origins of Christmas. Dr. Ken Calvert joins host Scott Bertram to trace the roots of the holiday, clear up common misconceptions (especially about the date of December 25th), examine how traditions arose and evolved, and discuss the interplay between faith and modern culture. The discussion covers everything from ancient biblical calculations to the modern American Christmas experience, emphasizing Christmas’s core meaning as a time of mercy, humility, and celebration of the incarnation.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Origins and Dating of Christmas

Timestamps: 01:27 – 09:46

• Common Misconceptions about December 25th:
  Many believe Emperor Constantine established December 25th as Christmas; Dr. Calvert argues there is "absolutely no evidence" for this and debunks several myths about Constantine’s influence.

  "What befuddles me as an ancient historian is there is absolutely no evidence that Constantine made that happen." — Dr. Ken Calvert, 03:45

• Early Christian Biblical Calculations:
  Early Christians dated Christ’s birth by calculating from scriptural clues (not pagan holidays). They connected Zechariah’s temple service to high Jewish feasts and arrived at a conception date (March 25th) and subsequently a birth date (December 25th; Eastern tradition—January 6th).

  "From Scripture, and...the early church is looking at this, and they’re seriously considering all of these dates." — Dr. Ken Calvert, 05:55

• Role of Hippolytus, Julius Africanus, and Others:
  Early Christian scholars like Hippolytus connected prophecy and calendrical data to validate December 25th.

  "Hippolytus...figures this out, that...Jesus is conceived on March 25 and therefore is born on December 25. And these different Christians are all agreeing on this." — Dr. Ken Calvert, 07:13

• Pagan Festival Overlaps:
  The Roman emperor Aurelian established the festival of Sol Invictus (the invincible sun) on December 25th in the 270s AD, but this did not originate Christmas—Christian calendars already recorded the date.

  "What Aurelian does is choose December 25th as the festival for the worship of Sol Invictus." — Dr. Ken Calvert, 09:43

2. Early and Evolving Christmas Traditions

Timestamps: 12:45 – 17:02

• Contrast with Pagan Celebrations:
  Pagan feasts in December emphasized indulgence and excess; Christian observances stressed humility, charity, and giving to the poor, echoing key teachings such as Matthew 25.

  "We’re going to give the poor food, we’re going to give the wine to the poor, make their day happy. We’re going to give gifts to the poor. And this is an important part of really the tradition of Christian practice during Christmas." — Dr. Ken Calvert, 14:08

• Origins of Christmas Hymns:
  The earliest known Christmas hymn is “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” by Prudentius, 4th century, still sung today.

  "It’s one of our earliest Christmas hymns." — Dr. Ken Calvert, 15:22

• St. Nicholas’ Legacy:
  The generosity of St. Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop, influences traditions of gift-giving and the Santa Claus mythos. The story of Nicholas’s secret giving leads to the tradition of stockings and shoes.

  "He gave little bags of money to a poor man who had daughters and had no dowry to go with them." — Dr. Ken Calvert, 15:43

3. Distinctly American and Modern Traditions

Timestamps: 17:10 – 19:11

• Santa Claus, Sleighs, and Reindeer:
  The modern image of Santa, the sleigh, and reindeer largely originated in the 20th-century United States, merging Nordic and Dutch folklore, and became commercialized post–World War II.

  "St. Nicholas riding on a sleigh, being pulled by reindeer...Really, a 1950s invention now become kind of standard." — Dr. Ken Calvert, 17:20

• Commercialization and Cultural Blending:
  After WWII, Christmas exploded with new music, movies, and commercial traditions, reflecting both "relief and joy" and a turn toward prosperity after hardship.

  "There is a kind of relief and joy that some of us survived this. Let's make the most of it." — Dr. Ken Calvert, 24:09

4. The Interplay of Faith and Culture

Timestamps: 18:58 – 22:11

• Sacred and Secular Overlap:
  Dr. Calvert notes how explaining the incarnation to a pagan (and now secular) world has always been difficult, sometimes leading to misunderstandings and heresies.

  "This, too, has been a part of the Christian story all along...in trying to explain very difficult things, right, we can go off the rails fairly easily." — Dr. Ken Calvert, 19:11

• Importance of Logos and Reason:
  Relating Christmas back to the concept of "Logos" (the Word) in the Gospel of John; invites listeners to see belief in the incarnation as both historically grounded and rational.

  "There is a Logos, there is a mind...the Christmas story that he became flesh, right, and lived among us. This is such a great opportunity..." — Dr. Ken Calvert, 21:09

5. Symbols and Traditions: Trees & Nativities

Timestamps: 25:48 – 29:43

• Christmas Tree:
  Introduced into England from Germanic tradition by Queen Victoria in the 19th century, the Christmas tree symbolizes life, light, and fruitfulness. Ornaments recall fruit; lights recall candles and the light of Christ.

  "A symbol of life, of greenery...the round Christmas ornaments that we buy and put on our tree, you know, symbols of fruit growing on a tree and of life." — Dr. Ken Calvert, 26:35

• Nativity Scenes (Creche):
  The live-action nativity tradition started with St. Francis of Assisi in the 13th century, aiming to make Christ’s birth vivid and accessible.

  "He wanted to find a new way, really, to celebrate the Nativity...live animals in a manger..." — Dr. Ken Calvert, 28:56

6. The Deeper Connection: Christmas and Easter

Timestamps: 29:43 – 31:02

• Centrality of the Cross:
  For Dr. Calvert, the deepest Christian symbolism is connecting Christmas to the crucifixion and resurrection—birth is always linked with sacrifice and redemption.

  "The birth of Jesus...is always connected with Easter...I think that any Christian family who...incorporates that into their celebration of Christmas is just doing the right thing." — Dr. Ken Calvert, 29:51

7. Christmas in a Pluralistic Society

Timestamps: 31:02 – 33:40

• Is Christmas Still Good?
  Despite commercialization or secularization, Dr. Calvert sees Christmas as a universally positive celebration—offering moments of joy, reflection, and opportunity for mutual understanding even across religious divides.

  "Even among, you know, our atheist friends and fellow citizens, I think just the idea of a time of joy, a time of celebration, I think they could can certainly understand." — Dr. Ken Calvert, 33:21

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Constantine Supposedly Creating Christmas:

  "I've got my own opinions about that guy. But in the end… Christmas had been celebrated on December 25 for quite a long time." — Dr. Ken Calvert, 03:55

• On Humility vs. Excess:

  "Christianity is just the opposite. It's about humility. It's about bowing before the true God of the universe…" — Dr. Ken Calvert, 13:36

• The Lasting Kernel amid Commercialization:

  "...there’s still that kernel, you know, in the midst of it and a time of joy and of light. You know, the lights on the tree, you know, Christ is the light coming into the world. All of that is still pointing back to the original meaning." — Dr. Ken Calvert, 18:24

• On St. Nicholas and Giving:

  "He gave little bags of money to a poor man who had daughters and had no dowry to go with them..." — Dr. Ken Calvert, 15:43

• On Bringing it All Together:

  "Christmas celebration is always connected with Easter....bringing all of that together, the whole message. Right." — Dr. Ken Calvert, 30:07

Segment Timestamps for Important Sections

• The Origin of December 25th: 01:27 – 09:43
• Early Christian Practices vs. Pagans: 13:01 – 15:14
• St. Nicholas, Hymns, and Charity: 15:20 – 17:02
• American Traditions and Modernization: 17:10 – 18:58
• Post–WWII Expansion of Traditions: 23:33 – 25:48
• Christmas Tree and Nativity Scene Origins: 25:48 – 29:43
• Theological Symbolism and the Cross: 29:43 – 31:02
• Inclusivity and the Value of Christmas: 31:02 – 33:40

Conclusion

The episode challenges the assumption that Christmas is merely a repurposed pagan festival and lays out a rich tapestry of historical, biblical, and cultural factors behind December 25th. Dr. Calvert emphasizes Christian humility, charity, and sacrificial love as core aspects of both historic and contemporary Christmas celebrations. Even as pop culture and commerce have added new layers, the essential message—joy, mercy, and the light of Christ—remains accessible and meaningful across faiths and backgrounds.