Yep — I don’t celebrate Christmas.
Yep – I still love and serve my Creator.
It has nothing to do with an aversion to cinnamony smells and sweet treats…
but it has everything to do with Who I worship and what He desires.
Here are some of the reasons why I no longer celebrate Christmas.
Reason #1: Materialism
With the bazillion sales that transpire during the season and the multitudes of shoppers that emerge – too often spending their savings, going beyond their budget, charging up credit cards, putting off paying their bills and even taking out loans -, it’s a no-brainer to see how materialistic the season is (as an overall whole).
(for arguments sake, acknowledgment is made that there is a minority that does not fall into this category).
Reason #2: Gift giving = love
Perhaps that sounds like a ridiculous equation… and it is.
And perhaps not many would admit they believe such an equation (sure, there are some that do not)… But there is a vast tendency to fall into the trap that holds the big lie that says ‘to show someone your thoughtfulness towards them or that you really love and care about them, is to lavishly gift them’. (especially around this season, but not limited to)
Reason #3: The origins of Christmas
This can be a very touchy subject, indeed.
Once upon a time, Christmas was even banned among some Believers.
If one puts forth even a little effort, one can discover where this holiday originated from and what it represents.
In a nutshell, it commemorates sun worship, celebrating the re-birth of the sun and the winter solstice. December 25th is, also, the birthday of Mithras, a pagan god, commemorating a pagan festival, all tied to sun worship. And there is the festival of Saturnalia… and more.
I won’t go into anymore details here as, if one does a simple internet search, one would likely be blown away by the historical facts and truths that have gotten buried regarding this day.
Reason #4: Trees, bulbs, wreaths and the trimmings
This reason really belongs with #3. As one discovers the origins of the day, one discovers the original significance of the traditional trimmings that are included in the celebration of the day. ‘Nuff said.
Reason #5: Jesus is not “the reason for the season”
He just really isn’t. Researching reason #3 will reveal that this ‘season’ existed long before the birth of Jesus and it was a completely different reason to be celebrated. Furthermore, there is no evidence that Jesus was born on December 25th. In fact, there is far more evidence that he was born during the fall/autumn, during one of the Appointed Times/Feast Days of our Creator – The Feast of Tabernacles – which would, also, be a fulfillment of biblical prophecy. If one were to acknowledge/celebrate the birth of Jesus, does not this mentioned time (The Feast of Tabernacles) more appropriately fit the adage of “Jesus is the reason for the season”?
Reason #6: What it means to me doesn’t matter
“That’s not what it means to me”. I hear it often. I used to say it often. But, really… if I love my Creator and have a heart and resolve to serve, honor and obey Him, then “That’s not what it means to me” DOES NOT MATTER.
The only thing that matter is: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HIM?
We must evaluate our OWN selves… using Scripture as our standard, not our excuse.
So, with this reason, I only leave the following:
“When יהוה (YHVH- the LORD) your Elohim does cut off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, guard yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire about their mighty ones, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their mighty ones? And let me do so too.’ Do not do so to יהוה (YHVH- the LORD) your Elohim, for every abomination which יהוה hates they have done to their mighty ones, for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their mighty ones.”
Deuteronomy 12:29-31
“And in vain do they worship Me, teaching as teachings the commands of men. Forsaking the command of Elohim (God), you hold fast the tradition of men.”
Mark 7:7-8
I love Him. Enough to obey. Enough to honor. Enough to identify.
Enough to sacrifice my own way, my own everything.
It is not grievous. It is a delight!
May we always seek Truth. And may we be courageous and walk in It.
~ Christina
“And if it seems evil in your eyes to serve יהוה (YHVH- The LORD), choose for yourselves this day whom you are going to serve, whether the mighty ones which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the mighty ones of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But I and my house, we serve יהוה (YHVH- The LORD).” – Joshua 24:15
Christina Chronicles 
Thanks Christina for this post. We have at small tree this year, but our focus is not even on that. We rarely buy gifts, and we keep it Christ centered. It is scary– the more we learn, the more we grow, but the more we step away from everyone else. I’m sure your leaps of faith keep you closer to The LORD in all you do.
Mike, please watch the 2 hr video “Truth or Tradition” by Jim Staley with your wife on youtube. This will open your eyes to christmas, its TRUE origins, history and goes perfectly with Cristina’s article. You will be amazed. God bless you 🙂
Also, “Sunburned” by 119 Ministries. It really opened my eyes to the truth. I haven’t celebrated christmas in 2 years. HalleluYAH!
It is not easy to follow God with our whole being and be set apart from this world! I would encourage you – keep studying and digging deep into His Truth!
AMEN, STEPHANIE!
“the more we learn, the more we grow, but the more we step away from everyone else” – Exactly. It really is a “Narrow Way”.
May He continue to guide you (all of us) and bless as we walk in obedience!
Sunburned pts 1 & 2 by 119 Ministries is amazing. Bc of that video teaching, last year was our last Christmas. God used it to speak mightily to us.
Agreed, Dani… those are good videos with compelling information! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Which videos are these?
Hi Elizabeth,
You can either go to 119 Ministries website and search their video teachings or you can go to youtube and do a search for “119 ministries sunburned” series.
I hope that helps.
THANK YOU!!!
“”…And if asked why you stand apart, answer with love, explaining to them that you and your family have chosen to SERVE THE LORD IN PURITY AND TRUTH, and DO NOT CELEBRATE THOSE THINGS OF THE WORLD OR THOSE THINGS ROOTED IN PAGANISM, but strive each day to please your God, love your neighbor, and rejoice always in your Savior, YahuShua HaMashiach, He who is called Christ and Jesus…”
http://trumpetcallofgodonline.com/index.php5?title=Regarding_the_Celebration_of_Easter
We still celebrate Christmas but as a season of light. Wishing you JOY. Baruch Ha Shem!
Thank you, Lisa. May you have joy and be blessed as you continue to seek His Ways.
Thank you for this article… I agree with everything you said … It has been so freeing to focus my time, energy, and life on Yahweh’s ways and His feast days that are in His word instead of focusing on pagan laced traditions of men.
“Freeing” – great word to describe it Stephanie! I agree! And what a blessing to have His grace that enables us to walk in His Way!
Thank you for posting this! My parents before they got married celebrated Christmas, but they always wondered why anybody does. The wondered about it’s history. They got married and decided to educate themselves and learned the truth about it. They stopped celebrating it about 7 or so years after their marriage. Up until about 7 years ago, my whole family celebrated it with my Dad’s parents so as to not offend them. It has taken years to get where we are now, and only by His grace. Christina, you said above it doesn’t matter what it means to us, it matters what it means to HIM. That is what my parents believe as well. That is what I believe. Instead of Christmas, we try and keep the Feast of Tabernacles. I say we try because it certainly isn’t perfect and we have been doing it for 12 years now. We keep, by His grace, the Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Pentacost, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles. It has been a journey, and a true eye opener. May we follow even more after Him daily in His grace and strength and love.
Praise Yah for that testimony, Abigail! May He continue to bless and guide!
“”…Do I then require perfection? Certainly not. I require sincerity and truth, a loving heart, a sincere striving to obey… A man fully converted in his inward parts, a man who continually humbles himself before Me, seeking My will with all trust; a servant who does not hesitate to come to Me when he stumbles; a man of My own Spirit, a man after My own heart.
Therefore, beloved, listen closely and take My words to heart,
All you who call of yourselves Christian:
I ask you, do you really love Me?…
Then follow Me.
Beloved, listen closely and take My words to heart,
All you who call of yourselves Christian:
Do you really love Me?…
Then obey My Word. Follow Me.
Beloved, listen closely and take My words to heart,
All you who call of yourselves Christian:
Do you really love Me?…
Then leave everything and follow Me! Let go!
Stop breaking My heart and giving heed to the devil! Follow Me!…””
http://trumpetcallofgodonline.com/index.php5?title=Many_Are_Called%2C_Few_Are_Chosen…*All_Shall_Be_Saved._The_First_Harvest_Shall_Be_Lowly…The_Second%2C_Plenteous.
Abigail, that is wonderful. What you just wrote made me realize that this is why the house of Israel is the Apple of YHVH’s eye. WE have been dispersed for many centuries now, but we are coming back, coming together. May YHVH continue to have mercy on us as we make our way back to Him (t’shuva).
Wonderful article. Very encouraging. Thank you for sharing. We have been learning God’s true way for about 30 years now, and it was difficult at first to give up the traditions we were brought up in, but obedience to Him is more important then pleasing man so we finally “got it” and gave ourselves totally to observing Him in His way. May we all be covered in the dust of Messiah.
REEEEAAALLY, don’t like the swastika design in the little box by my name!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How fantastic, PraisinYeshua! May He continue to teach us His ways!
Yes! Agreed. 100%. Thanks for sharing.
Nice posting, but Yeshua could not have been born during Sukkot. Three times a year the people of Israel were commanded to go to JERUSALEM. He was born in Bethlehem, not Jerusalem, probably on Trumpets
Thank you, Shefer, for your thought. That is not, currently, my understanding… but that’s okay. 🙂 The point still remains that he was, indeed, NOT born during the time of the pagan celebration and either way, his birth aligns with the Father’s Appointed Times – thus, fulfilling prophecy. YHVH is awesome! Blessings! May He continue to open eyes and show His people His Truth!
Agreed he was not born in Dec. but am still researching “when”. Matthew 2:1 tells us Y’shua was born in Bethlehem (City of David) during the time Herod was king. The Magi were astrologers/astronomers who were originally taught by Daniel the prophet while in Babylon. They saw the signs and were traveling to witness the prophecy as what they had learned from Daniel was becoming a reality.
Luke 2:1 tells us that a decree from Augustus Caesar went out that the names of all the people of his dominion should be written down. Everyone went to his own city to be registered. Joseph was from Bethlehem, from the house and clan of David which is why he and his bride went there to be registered.
I have not found in Scriptures any report that states Y’shua was born during the time of Sukkot. I am researching the time frame when this census was taken…
“”…For you do all things I have said you shall not do, and forsake that which I, even I, commanded be done, kept and honored. You have turned to Me your backs, and at My Word you hiss and wag the head, turning from Me, embracing wrath and judgment, and doing that which I have said you shall not do… Even to the marrying of yourselves to those doctrines and traditions which are against Me, even those things I do hate, even of all these holidays and festivals of men, which are of the world and are rooted deeply in paganism…””
http://trumpetcallofgodonline.com/index.php5?title=Churches_of_Men%2C_Hear_the_Word_of_the_Lord
We don’t celebrate Christmas, but I am grateful to all who do…mainly because the Christmas lights light up the darkness this time of year! At least we have a month of cheer…whatever the reason.
Is it really a month of cheer? Most people get in debt, many commit suicide, all the hustle and bustle, people get upset they didn’t get the gift(s) they wanted, so much materialism and covetousness. Thank YHWH that I am free from the so called cheer.
I agree, Tp…that was another reason I decided that the LORD wanted me to seek HIs truth about all of this….
Thanks so much for sharing this! I just learned about the Hebrew roots to our faith less than 2 years ago. My children and I have greatly enjoyed celebrating His feasts and this is our first year not celebrating Christmas as “normal”. I enjoyed your article. Blessings to you and yours!!
Thank you for sharing your testimony, Elizabeth! Praise Yah! Shalom! 🙂
I enjoyed your article. Our family stopped keeping the pagan holidays over 10 years ago. Each year I am more and more grateful freedom it has brought to us. The world is so stressful and hectic at this time, yet now free from this mess I am now able spend more time with my savior and experience His peace. It really is not a sacrifice at all. The world has everything so upside down. God’s ways are not our ways for sure. His yoke IS easy!
Amein, Susan! Yah is good!
I love your article and I did share it with a note to family and friends, saying that you explained it so much better than I could. Finding that “narrow” way is an awesome journey
Wonderful, Linda! May Abba use it and may He continue to open eyes and restore His people!
I agree that the season has been hijacked by materialism and the average person doent understand or appreciate its original and true meaning.
But Satan likes to take what is good and use it for his benefit.
I therefore dont say, ‘I don’t belive in sex but still love my wife. (Because of how the world has abused it)
Yes, the Evil One does, indeed, have a way of taking what is good and what is YHVH’s and misusing it. However, the people of God, also, have a way of taking what is evil and trying to spiritualize it – attempting to redeem it. People are redeemable, not things or even ‘days’. May we NOT look at how the pagans worshiped their gods and try to worship our God in that way. (Deuteronomy 12:29-31). May we search the Scriptures and choose to worship our God the Way He has instructed us and desires to be worshiped.
Hi Christina
Thanx for the article, love your facebook chronicles. It seems that we are on the same path in our search for truth, which is really a search for YHWH and His kingdom.
I brought my family to Israel over the Christmas period, what an amazing experience to be away from the normal Christmas madness!
Shalom from Tiberias.
Ian
Hi Ian! What a blessing to meet a fellow sojourner!
We had friends that went to Israel this year during the christmas period. We are still waiting for their return. But what a blessing! We can’t wait to hear about it!
Shalom to you and yours!
– Christina
Lots of people do not realize that everything started good and was corrupted. Christmas means CHRIST for many of us, so as Paul says, we do not judge everything by traditions, but by the thoughts and intents of the heart!
Thank you for sharing, Stephen.
Thing is… christmas was never “started good” to be corrupted. It began corrupted. It’s origins are corrupted and not of our God.
Not sure which passage from Paul (Shaul) you are referring to, but even he kept the Feasts/Appointed Times of our Creator… not christmas and many other various holidays.
In fact, it was Jesus (Yeshua) who pointed out that many valued their traditions above keeping the Instructions of God.
May we be people that truly seek after His heart and thirst for His complete Truth … and to walk in it.
Reblogged this on A mixed bag.
Thank you, Jenna, for sharing!
Perhaps the best explanation I have seen…spot on!
I am so happy to read this! I have shared with some friends and family as this is our first year Xmas free! I really struggled last year and knew this year I just couldn’t go against the God who loves us so much that He only wants us to know HIS truth for our good! HE IS AN AWESOME GOD! HE IS A GOOD GOD! I feel FREEEEEEEEED! God Bless!
A wonderful testimony, Elizabeth!
May Father bless you as you seek and follow Him. May He strengthen you and may you be a shining light!
I have been allowed to witness much more by NOT participating! HALLELUJAH!
Does anyone here celebrate Hanukkah instead?
I observe Hanukkah, Beth. Do you?
Yes, indeed! Yeshua celebrated Hanukkah, so my family and I do what Yeshua did and that is celebrate his commanded feast and any other feast He participated in. Aren’t we suppose to follow Him?….lol
Greetings, Beth! We do observe Chanukkah because of the brave history/example and the wonderful meaning in it.
Christina, are you Messianic? Gentile, I assume? Thank you for writing this. You give people like us a voice. Yeshua changed my life 5 years ago- blessed me with Messianic literature. I have never felt the same about Christmas since then. I don’t keep the feasts, but I try to remember them. I have felt more freedom and joy in Yeshua than I ever did celebrating traditional Christmas.
Blessings,
Naomi
Hello Naomi! Thank you for sharing your testimony. I am Messianic – in the sense that I believe in our Creator’s Messiah, and that is is Yahshua and that he will be coming again. Depending on one’s definition of “gentile”, I tend not to dwell in that ‘box’. I am, however, part of our Father’s set-apart nation, Yisrael – part of the scattered and/or grafted in tribes – and, as a part of Yisrael, I strive to learn, understand, and walk in Torah – by His grace and mercy. May Abba bless you as you continue to seek Him!
Shalom,
Christina
Todah Rabah dear sister of Yahweh! Thank you so much for sharing your sincere heart and truth with us all. As a Rabbi/Pastor’s wife it’s so nice to see fellow believers out there and standing for what is Biblical!!!! Many blessings to you and your family!
Thank you, Chrissie! Always a blessing to meet like-minded Believers! Blessings!
Reblogged this on Scribal Habit and commented:
Bravo for Christina going as far as she goes, but she doesn’t go far enough. The question is not whether one can avoid Christmas and still love God. The question is how one can love God and break His commandments (one can’t). Keeping Christmas actively breaks His commandments, both by commission and by omission. When people really understand that, then Christmas observance will disappear from the earth – to be replaced by the Sabbaths, Festivals, Holy Days, and New Moons actually ordained by God.
Reblogged this on 1servant’s Blog and commented:
Cool 🙂 ~ I don’t know people will hear this, but this article is nicely and clearly worded ~ My family has found that the pagan additions to celebrating Christ *DO* offend Him. It was quite a shock as God showed it to us from His Word and in prayer, then confirmed it with other Bible-following brethren. Whether you do or do not celebrate Christ on December 25th (we celebrate Him all year round), that is your choice – but if you celebrate lots of other things and think you can add Christ in there too – you’re offending Him. ~ food for thoughts and prayers, as spiritual growth takes time (for all of us)… ~ Watching, Preaching, Praying, SH
This is a good posting. This will be my first year to actually not celebrate at Christmas although I was thinking about it enough last year that I got rid of the tree when it came down. I have thought about this for years, but when the kids were in school, I wanted them to enjoy the wonder of Christmas. We had blow out Christmases. This year, the second half of the year, I kept the 3 Holy Days as closely as possible. Gave each a gift just to pull them into it and to help ease the way when I do nothing at Christmas this year. I am now the grandmother and I am not really sure how to handle Christmas morning. If anyone has ideas, I would love to hear them. Actually, I wish I had followed up on this Hebrew Calendar many years ago when it first entered my mind. It feels so right.
Dear Christina, Elizabeth, PraisinYeshua, Susan, Charlotte, and all those whom I feel such affinity for here, thank you so much for these beautiful posts and for sharing your stories. I’m so happy to connect with people who love our Creator and respect His Word. Christina and PraisinYeshua, I love the way you talked about seeking our Father’s heart, thirsting for His truth, and closely following in His Son’s footsteps. I hope all of you will be as encouraged (as I was in reading your posts) by a similar story of somebody who, in uncovering the pagan origins of the traditional Christian holidays, ultimately began discovering the incredible blessings of the biblical Holy Days: http://www.ucg.org/the-good-news/why-some-christians-dont-celebrate-christmas I think you will also find much to celebrate in the following article about our love for יהוה and ישוע and passionate commitment to not letting anything interfere with the closeness of that relationship: http://www.ucg.org/the-good-news/the-top-10-reasons-why-i-dont-celebrate-christmas Lastly, here’s a sermon about Torah observance and how keeping Christmas breaks all 10 commandments! http://members.ucg.org/sermon/keeping-christmas-breaks-all-ten-commandments Shalom.
Well said Christina. You did not bully, you did not understate. Like the little bear’s porridge, this blog post is “just right.” My dh and I haven’t ‘celebrated Christmas” for many years. We don’t miss a thing about it. We still give our grown daughter a gift, she’s still traditional and her birthday comes during the season so we make it a nice combined gift. And we exchange one gift each, because we have for decades so that’s the way it is. I put out my nativity set during Sukkot and we enjoy it then. I like it so much better this way. We no longer have to “survive Christmas” like we used to. Whew !