Society defines our calendars. At first, I questioned that statement, but the more I thought about it, I think I agree.
According to the Britannica online information, January was determined to be the first month of the year by the Roman king, Numa Pompilius as January was named after the Roman god, Janus, who was the god of all beginnings. Julius Caesar confirmed this idea, and January 1 became the first day of the year on the Julian calendar, which we still use today. After the fall of the Roman Empire, some Christian countries altered their calendars to be more reflective of their religion and used March 25 as the beginning of the year. (Can you image our year starting on March 25? It’s almost inconceivable!) Other societies start their years on different dates, some being aligned with the cycles of sun and moon. But for the USA and many other countries, the first day of the year is defined as January 1, just as Julius Caesar decreed.
The calendar that came to us from this ancient society is the official framework that our society has used to define other special dates throughout the year. In addition to New Years Day, several other holidays have been defined by our society, some of which are unique to our country. Our society defined the work week, the school year, and the specific dates of some of these holidays. Our society also determined how these holidays would affect the work and school schedules.
Some holidays have assigned dates, like Christmas, Valentines Day and Independence Day, while others are more loosely defined as a certain day of the month. For instance, Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday in November and Labor Day is the first Monday in September. Therefore, the actual date varies from year to year.
It is interesting to note that other designated holidays originally had assigned dates. But by an Act of Congress in 1971, their dates were moved to the closest associated Monday so that workers could have three-day weekends.
Probably the most popular holiday in our society is Christmas. In the fourth century A.D., the Roman Catholic church designated December 25 as the date that Jesus Christ’s birthday would be celebrated. So, Christians have utilized this date for around 1600 years. Right or wrong, good or bad, our society adopted December 25 as Jesus’ birthday and the name, Christmas.
All of this seems to substantiate the opening statement.
However, many Christians take exception to Christmas. Bible scholars and historians agree that December 25 was not actually the date of Jesus’ birth. So, Christians who seek the accuracy of the Bible find celebrating Jesus’ birthday on December 25 to be hypocritical. I respect their opinion, and I have wrestled with the same thoughts.
And this brings me to my next point. Our society defined the calendar, but our culture outlined how holidays should be celebrated. Unlike our calendars, which are pretty much set in stone, our celebrations are personal choices. Culture may promote certain protocols, but it does not and cannot mandate them. People may choose for themselves how they celebrate holidays or if they want to celebrate at all.
For me, I have determined that I can celebrate some of the culturally accepted Christmas traditions because they really have nothing to do with Jesus’ birth. Therefore, my celebrating Christmas is not an acknowledgement that December 25 is Jesus’ birthday. It is enjoying the cultural traditions of my choosing. I can remember the Lord’s birthday during the Christmas season, but I do that frequently throughout the year anyway.
I have many wonderful memories of Christmases when I was a kid, and many more while my children were growing up. I enjoy the time that the holiday affords for our families to be together. I enjoy Christmas decorations. I collect Santa Clauses. I enjoy our Christmas tree especially when it’s lit. We hang stockings. We watch Christmas movies. We have a special Christmas breakfast and a big Christmas dinner. And we enjoy some unique Christmas Eve family traditions.
Now, here’s the rub. Because society defined our calendars, Christmas comes seven days before New Years Day every year. The two holidays, being a week apart, make for a wonderful vacation from school or work, but these holidays can also put pressure on us. We may feel anxious to achieve a picture painted by our culture of the “perfect” family in the “perfect” home celebrating the “perfect” Christmas, with a brand-new car in the driveway topped by a giant red bow. Then before we have recovered from that angst, we have to host the “perfect” New Years Eve party with all the “right” people in their designer outfits. I’m exaggerating, of course. But I think you know what I mean and may have felt that anxiety yourself at some point. I have certainly put pressure on myself over the years to try to make these holidays “perfect”.
To be clear, when we talk of the culture of today, we need to recognize that the worldly culture even in our country, is at best only partially based on Biblical principles. Therefore, we can’t always adhere to it. So, if we yearn to conform to all the cultural norms, we may be getting tricked.
I think most of us realize that Christmas has been overly commercialized. We are inundated with massive amounts of Christmas merchandise as early as October. All this ‘merch’ is designed to entice us to spend lots and lots of money. And when it comes to Christmas, we might get sucked in sometimes. Our enjoyment of “everything Christmas” might lead us to want more and more of it. There is even a TV show where people compete for the best and biggest outdoor display of Christmas lights. I must admit that I like seeing their elaborate displays, but considering the costs and extensive efforts involved, it begs the question, “how much is too much?”
As Christians, we strive for balance in our lives. We strive to keep ourselves in alignment and harmony with God’s Word in every facet of our lives, which includes holidays. And Christmas is no exception. Whatever choices we make about how (or if) we celebrate the holiday; they need to be in balance with what we know from God’s Word. Romans chapter 14 addresses these kinds of concerns. Verse 22 of that chapter basically summarizes the issue.
Romans 14:22 – Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
And here is my conclusion. The calendar is the calendar. January 1 will likely always be the first day of the year and Christmas will likely always be December 25. No one is anxious to revamp the calendar that has been defined for over a thousand years. But what we do with cultural directives is up to us. If you want to celebrate Christmas or any other holiday to the max, go for it. If you don’t want to celebrate at all, that’s okay. We are all free to make those choices. And there is no judgement. We do not compare ourselves among ourselves. The Bible directs our steps, but it doesn’t specifically address every cultural ordinance we face. We are in this world, but we are not of this world. Therefore, we must utilize the truth we know from the Bible as the standard for making our choices in worldly / cultural situations. And when we make our decisions in this manner, we will have peace of mind.
So, I hope your recent Christmas and New Years holidays were wonderfully happy occasions for you and your family. And as we begin 2025, we can join together in expecting a terrific year ahead. Likeminded prayers abounding!
Note to my readers: I continue to work hard to keep my posts coming. I hope you’ll stick with me. I love you!