Fixing Christmas

 I always thought the "War on Christmas" was so much BS.

Never did we hear anything about the meaning of Christmas. It has been a  commercial holiday for some time now.

How the Book Business Invented Modern Gift-Giving

Also, never mentioned was how many Christian churches had taken a dim view of Christmas; that Easter was the important Christian festival.

So, when is Christmas is probably not a question you ever asked.

You can learn more by reading Very Rev. Barouyr Shernezian's The Christmas Date Dilemma and the Call for Ecumenical Unity.

In the early centuries of Christianity, different communities observed Christ’s birth on various dates. By the 4th century, the Western Church, influenced by Roman traditions, adopted December 25. This date coincided with the pagan festival of Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun), symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness. The idea was to replace the pagan celebration with a Christian feast, as our Lord Jesus Christ is seen as the “Light of the World.”

Meanwhile, the Eastern Churches, including the Armenian Orthodox Church, continued to celebrate Christ’s birth on January 6, a date traditionally associated with the Feast of Theophany, commemorating both His birth and baptism. Over time, most Eastern Orthodox Churches shifted their celebration to January 7 due to differences in the Julian and Gregorian calendars.

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While it is not our intention to assert that January 6 is the definitive date for celebrating Christmas—an argument that could be debated—the various theories surrounding this date are fascinating and worth exploring. What truly matters, however, is the spirit with which we embrace and celebrate the birth of Christ, not the specific day on which it occurs. That said, this remains an important topic for reflection and discussion among Church scholars and leaders, with the aim of reaching a thoughtful resolution. In a fast-paced, ever-evolving world, where Christian spirituality, practices, and traditions risk fading, it is crucial for Church leadership to take proactive steps in adapting and preserving these sacred traditions, making them accessible and relevant to today’s context. Preserving the Christian traditions passed down from our ancestors is indeed a sacred calling, but it is also a reminder that people play a vital role in shaping and evolving these traditions.

Think about it. 

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