More Understanding about Christmas (Part 3)
By Eusebio Tanicala
This is the third and final installment of our series on Christmas. We will briefly summarize the previous two parts and then address specific items, practices, beliefs, and myths attached to the observance of Christmas (defined here as the sending of Christ from heaven to earth). The central question remains: Is it proper for a Christian to believe or practice these traditions?
The Pauline Attitude & Example
In Part 2, we cited three key passages illustrating the principles Apostle Paul left for us to live by. For Paul, the paramount goal was bringing souls to know and believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Romans 14:5-12: This gives a disciple permission to dedicate special days of their choice for the glory of God.
Acts 21:17-26: This narrates Paul’s arrival at the Jerusalem temple, where he agreed to undergo ritual purification with four men, pay their expenses, shave his head, and offer sacrifices. This event, marking the end of his third missionary journey in A.D. 57, appears to be a compromise regarding the Law of Moses—a topic he had addressed strongly in the Book of Galatians (written theoretically eight years earlier). Here, "to the Jews, he became a Jew."
1 Corinthians 9:19-23: This passage highlights Paul’s adaptability for the sake of the Gospel.
From these verses, we derive principles for taking advantage of cultural situations to glorify God without losing sight of the Gospel’s core values. How, then, do we adjust our attitudes and actions regarding the Yuletide season to put Christ at the forefront without fearing certain mythological associations?
The Etymology of "Christmas"
Let us document the etymology of the word "Christmas." In Part 2, we looked at the definition from Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary. Below is a discussion on the origin of the words "Christmas" and "Xmas" by Jakub Marian (via Google), followed by my critique.
“The word Christmas comes from Middle English Cristemasse, which in turn comes from Old English Cristesmesse, literally meaning Christ’s Mass. Of course, we are not talking about the physical mass of Christ’s body. The origin of mass, in the Christian sense of the word, is not entirely clear. We know it comes from Latin missa, but there are several competing theories as to what missa is supposed to mean. Some scholars say it is a form of the Latin verb mittere, in which case it would mean ‘something that has been sent’ (but it cannot refer to Christ himself because missa is grammatically feminine). Others say that it is a late form of Latin mission, meaning ‘dismissal’. This is supported by the fact that Catholic masses are traditionally concluded with the words Ite, missa est. Yet another explanation is that it is, in fact, the Hebrew word missah, ‘unleavened bread’, which God commanded to be offered with the Passover sacrifice in the Exodus.”
Author’s Rebuttal to Jakub Marian:
Jakub Marian is correct that the Old English form is Cristes-messe and that it likely derives from the Latin verb mittere ("to send" or "to dismiss"). He also correctly notes that scholars interpret it as "something that has been sent." (See Part 1 of this series regarding verses about Christ being sent into the world).
However, I argue that Marian is incorrect on several points:
Gender of the Verb: Marian claims Christ cannot be the "sent one" because missa is feminine. However, "Christmas" is an English word, not governed by Latin gender conjugation. In English, verbs are genderless (e.g., "The boy was sent"). The word literally breaks down to Christ + Sent. The Bible is clear that Christ was sent from heaven to save mankind (Genesis 3:15; Galatians 4:4; John 1:14; John 3:16-18; John 20:21).
Hebrew Etymology: Marian suggests missah is the Hebrew word for "unleavened bread." This is an error. The Hebrew word for bread is lehem (as found in Bethlehem, meaning "House of Bread"). Consult a Hebrew lexicon or a Biblical Cyclopedic Index; you will find that in Exodus 12:8, Deuteronomy 8:3, and 1 Samuel 21:6, the word used is lehem, not missah. Marian’s assertion here lacks lexical authority.
Physical Mass: Marian states, "we are not talking about the physical mass of Christ’s body." On the contrary, we should think of the physical reality of Christ. His "becoming flesh" (John 1:14) is the essence of His humanity and a vital theological belief (1 John 4:1-3; Hebrews 10:5).
Church History: Marian overlooks the early church usage of mittere. As noted in an earlier series, the Latin Ite, missa est ("Go, you are dismissed") was originally an instruction to catechumens (unbaptized believers) to leave before the Lord's Supper (the Eucharist) began. Eventually, the term for dismissal (missa) became associated with the communion service itself.
Pros & Cons of Observance
The Pro-Christmas Argument: Those who observe Christmas view it as a celebration of the "sending" (etymology) of Christ into the world to become human for our salvation. They point to the angels who celebrated Christ’s birth with joyous announcements to the shepherds.
The Anti-Christmas Argument: Critics argue, "Christmas is not in the Bible and was not observed by the apostles; therefore, avoid it."
A Hermeneutical Response:
To the objections, one might counter: The apostles also did not have Bible colleges, orphanages, airplanes for missions, radio/TV ministries, streamlined worship programs, or songbooks like Awit Papuri. Why do we utilize these today if the apostles did not? This requires proper hermeneutics. Even if a practice is not literally named in the Bible, if it aligns with biblical principles and expediency, it may be permissible.
Agreeing on a Community Date
In the Philippines, we observe National Heroes Day on August 30. This legal holiday honors all heroes, even though they were not all born (nor did they die) on that date. Similarly, we have Undas (All Saints' Day) on November 1st. While our relatives did not all die on November 1st, the government deems it a beneficial cultural tradition to remember the departed. It reminds us of our mortality—a sentiment supported by Ecclesiastes 7:2, "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting."
Define Your Own Celebration
The term "Holy Week" is not in the Bible, yet Thursday and Friday are legal holidays. In our fellowship, we take advantage of this vacation time to focus on the passion of the Messiah. We hold Bible studies and invite "truth seekers." We deviate from the majority customs (superstitions) and define our own God-glorifying activities.
This implies we can adopt a similar principle regarding Christmas: Define a scriptural observance that glorifies Christ, the Sent of God.
Just as we have discarded the superstitious atang (food offering to spirits) while keeping the respectful memory of the dead during Undas, we can navigate Christmas. The Olympic Games were originally dedicated to Zeus, but today, Christians participate in athletics without the pagan religious atmosphere. A custom with mythological roots can become an acceptable activity if the idolatry is stripped away.
Beliefs and Practices: A Christian Filter
The Magi (Wise Men): Matthew 2:1 uses the Greek magoi. Many scholars believe they came from the region of ancient Babylon (Iran), where Jews had been held captive. Daniel the Prophet was once made chief administrator over the wise men of Babylon (Daniel 2:48). Just as King Nebuchadnezzar gave gifts to Daniel, Yahweh moved these magoi to gift the Messiah.
Correction: Traditions naming them "kings" (Melchor, Gaspar, Balthazar) have no biblical basis. We should discard the concept of them being kings.
The Manger: Depicting the manger reinforces the biblical teaching of Christ’s humility (Philippians 2:1-8).
Swaddling Clothes: This suggests the humility of Deity participating in humanity. He became poor so that we might become rich.
Christmas Lights: Glittering lights can represent the clear sky over the shepherds or the heavenly bodies rejoicing at the Creator entering His creation.
The Star: The Star is biblical (Numbers 24:17; Matthew 2:2). It represents the fulfillment of prophecy.
Star-shaped Lanterns (Parol): The Philippine parol is typically a five-pointed star made of bamboo and crepe paper (unlike the six-pointed Star of David). It is to the credit of Filipinos that we express our belief in the sending of Christ through these lanterns.
Halloween vs. Christmas: In some cultures (like the US), Halloween decorations are more elaborate than Christmas ones. While visiting Texas, I saw homes decorated with hollowed pumpkins (kalabasa) and candles. We must ensure our focus remains on light, not darkness.
Christmas Carols: Angels sang praises to God. Singing has positive Christian value and properly belongs to the observance of the Messiah’s arrival.
Belen (Diorama): These are artistic representations of the events of Christ's birth.
Christmas Tree: In pre-Christian Western Europe, evergreens were brought indoors to symbolize life during winter—a generator of hope. As hope is a Christian value (1 Corinthians 13:13), the tree can be viewed as a symbol of hope rather than an idol.
"Dashing through the Snow": This imagery is foreign to Israel. It is a Northern European addition refined by commercialism. It is not necessary for a Christian observance.
Santa Claus:
Sleighs and Reindeer: Not practiced in Israel; a commercial addition.
Kissing Mama: Suggests the husband/father is the real gift-giver.
St. Nicholas: While based loosely on a benevolent 4th-century Bishop (Nicholas of Myra), the modern myth of the fat man in the red suit is secular fiction. Christians should discard this to stick closer to the biblical narrative.
Gift Giving: This is biblical. The Magi presented gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11). Culturally, gift exchange (monito-monita) builds bonds and is an enjoyable experience.
Misa de Gallo (Simbang Gabi): This is a Roman Catholic tradition. Our fellowship does not practice this, as we find no biblical basis for this specific dawn mass.
Conclusion
Tribes and communities inevitably develop customs—from Egyptian embalming to Cordilleran burial practices. However, knowledge of the Bible changes how we view these traditions.
Let us allow Christianity to give better, brighter meaning to the observance of Christmas. In its true etymology, Christmas is the sending of Christ into the world, taking human form for the salvation of mankind. For my part, celebrating the incarnation of Christ has a solid basis in the Bible.
This is my personal opinion. You are free to disagree, and I am ready to read your treatise if you have a contrary view.
Maraming salamat po.