Christmas (noun, 1): the festival marking the birth of Christ, celebrated by most Western Christian churches on the 25th of December [Oxford English Dictionary]
Interesting question Richard. As far as we know, celebrating birthdays was not an important part of Jewish culture at this period. So there wouldn't have been an reason to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Indeed, the Jewish-Roman historian Josephus says that Jews are prohibited from celebrating birthdays in 'Against Apion' (book II):
"Nay, indeed, the law does not permit us to make festivals at the births of our children, and thereby afford occasion of drinking to excess" [William Whiston translation]
Besides the example of Jewish royalty in the New Testament (I expect as a client king Herod Antipas was copying the Romans), the only other biblical example that comes to mind is Job's sons (Job 1:4). But I'm not an expert on this. So it would be great to hear the thoughts of other readers.
Hi Ariel. Alas, I don't know whether Best, Biddle, Nye, or other English anti-Trinitarians of the 17th century discussed this specific topic. Other scholars specializing particularly in the history of English anti-Trinitarianism might know it.
A little known historical episode. And quite revealing what people were preoccupied with at the time - at least according to the extant source material. I am always baffled by the near obsessive concern over the minutiae of religious practice of communities in the early modern period - especially in the Reformation and Counter-Reformation context. I enjoyed the notion of the Puritan critics’ wanting to overthrow what in their eyes amounted to rank heathenism — after all they (the Puritans) were so knowledgeable in their own eyes… Nicely done, Ariel. I enjoyed reading your piece!
Thanks so much, Doron. Glad you liked it too! Yes, things look quite different when we try and see developments through Puritan eyes. One of the parts that I left out concerns a theological aspect of the debate that I expect would be almost unintelligible to many modern readers - whether it was lawful for Christians to celebrate festivals (including Christmas)
Interestingly, Christmas day was an ordinary working day in Scotland until I think the 1950s or 1960s. New Year was the big holiday. Or, as the young people say, "New Years". Because everything is becoming Americanised!
Thanks - that's something I learned when researching this (only 1958, apparently, when 25 December became a public holiday in Scotland). So yes, that explains the importance of 'New Years' in Scotland (I remember those 'Hogmanay' TV specials as a child).
Yes, indeed, it all reminds one of the book of sports controversies — in which it wasn’t so much pastimes that were the problem as the use that some people (esp. Catholics) made of them, even politically and, as I recall, in Lancashire to agitate for toleration, that is, when King James was there in 1617.
So, yes, it all seems entirely convincing about the idea of the godly wanting to suppress the potential for popular expression in this form too.
Is there any evidence that Christmas was celebrated in the years before Jesus was born ?
Interesting question Richard. As far as we know, celebrating birthdays was not an important part of Jewish culture at this period. So there wouldn't have been an reason to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Indeed, the Jewish-Roman historian Josephus says that Jews are prohibited from celebrating birthdays in 'Against Apion' (book II):
"Nay, indeed, the law does not permit us to make festivals at the births of our children, and thereby afford occasion of drinking to excess" [William Whiston translation]
https://lexundria.com/j_ap/2.204/wst
Besides the example of Jewish royalty in the New Testament (I expect as a client king Herod Antipas was copying the Romans), the only other biblical example that comes to mind is Job's sons (Job 1:4). But I'm not an expert on this. So it would be great to hear the thoughts of other readers.
Pharaoh's birthday in Genesis 40 is the only other example I can think of (which you note in fn 1).
I note that all 3 biblical birthdays end with deaths!
Didn't know that all those biblical birthdays ended with deaths! Thinking about Job's sons and Josephus's comment now ...
Excellent, clear account of a largely unknown but important series of events. Well done!
Thanks so much, Diego. Glad you liked it! Do you know of any anti-Trinitarians besides Newton discussing the topic?
Hi Ariel. Alas, I don't know whether Best, Biddle, Nye, or other English anti-Trinitarians of the 17th century discussed this specific topic. Other scholars specializing particularly in the history of English anti-Trinitarianism might know it.
Thanks Diego. Would be an intriguing suggestion to follow up with the people mentioned.
A little known historical episode. And quite revealing what people were preoccupied with at the time - at least according to the extant source material. I am always baffled by the near obsessive concern over the minutiae of religious practice of communities in the early modern period - especially in the Reformation and Counter-Reformation context. I enjoyed the notion of the Puritan critics’ wanting to overthrow what in their eyes amounted to rank heathenism — after all they (the Puritans) were so knowledgeable in their own eyes… Nicely done, Ariel. I enjoyed reading your piece!
Thanks so much, Doron. Glad you liked it too! Yes, things look quite different when we try and see developments through Puritan eyes. One of the parts that I left out concerns a theological aspect of the debate that I expect would be almost unintelligible to many modern readers - whether it was lawful for Christians to celebrate festivals (including Christmas)
Interestingly, Christmas day was an ordinary working day in Scotland until I think the 1950s or 1960s. New Year was the big holiday. Or, as the young people say, "New Years". Because everything is becoming Americanised!
Thanks - that's something I learned when researching this (only 1958, apparently, when 25 December became a public holiday in Scotland). So yes, that explains the importance of 'New Years' in Scotland (I remember those 'Hogmanay' TV specials as a child).
Yes, indeed, it all reminds one of the book of sports controversies — in which it wasn’t so much pastimes that were the problem as the use that some people (esp. Catholics) made of them, even politically and, as I recall, in Lancashire to agitate for toleration, that is, when King James was there in 1617.
So, yes, it all seems entirely convincing about the idea of the godly wanting to suppress the potential for popular expression in this form too.
The book of sports controversies is a great parallel; thank you!