People keep saying that celebrating Christmas as his birth is no big deal. but isn't that perpetrating a lie?

Question

Should i celebrate the day of my birth in December when i was born in November.

Answer 1

No, it's not really perpetuating a lie. (see nerd moment below) And heck, I know people with December birthdays who choose to celebrate them in June cuz they want the celebration to stand on its own. Hey, whatever works.

Theology-nerd moment:

The real, true, honest theological reason for the celebration of Christmas is more than the birth of a baby. It is the celebration of God's love for us that was so strong, that God chose to walk among us as a man. The celebration is about the "incarnation" of God, the enfleshing of the Creator in a way that never happened before.

It's easier and "softer" to talk about the birth of the baby Jesus and celebrating a birthday and there's really nothing wrong with putting it in those terms. But the birth was the MEANS by which God's incarnation happened - the root of the celebration is the meaning of the event itself.

Answer 2

Many people believed the world was re-created on the first day of spring (March 25 of the Julian calendar followed in ancient Rome). How appropriate, then, for the world's redeemer to become incarnate that day!

Other scholars argued that Jesus became incarnate not at his birth but at his conception. If Jesus was conceived March 25, he would be born nine months later, Dec. 25.

This date didn't catch on immediately, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean region where people believed Jesus was born Jan. 6. But in the West Dec. 25 had much appeal. Why?

Many Romans venerated the sun, whose birthday was Dec. 25, or a virility god named Mithra with the same birthday. Also, the Romans observed a raucous celebration called Saturnalia Dec. 17-23. Thus, Dec. 25 offered a date with a good theological basis that also would counter several pagan holidays.

Although we don't know the final steps, in 336 the church at Rome officially observed the "birth day of Christ" Dec. 25. This tradition spread.

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Symbolism---

Also worth noting: In the Catholic Church Dec 25th is more of a "Feast Day" than a Birthday. We celebrate the birth of Jesus, but freely admit we don't know when He was born.

St. John the Baptist said "I must decrease so that He can increase". December 25th is right around the shortest day of the year (so the sun or Son) can do nothing but increase. (the feast day of St. John the Baptist is June 24th - near the longest day of the year so the light must decrease)

Answer 3

If you really want to get in this side of the argument, many people have birthday parties in other days than the actual birthday, for example on the Saturday following their birthday.

However, on Christmas (or, more correctly, Nativity Feast), Christians don't celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ, but only the birth, and the significance of the Son of God being born as a human being. Nearly all Nativity homilies (sermons) start with the words: "Today we celebrate the Nativity of our Lord, but not a birthday in the secular sense.

If you have any respect for God and for other people's faith, you will be more careful about equating your birthday with the Nativity Feast.

Answer 4

The reason they do this is because as the story goes Mary was impregnated around the time of Hanukah. That is why they celebrate his birth at that time, we know he was not born during December, but we don't know when he was born either. The celebration is the gift of salvation from God. JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD HAS COME. LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING

Answer 5

It's not a lie, for two reasons. First, Christmas is a celebration of the Incarnation, not a "birthday." Second, there is good evidence that Jesus was born in late December:

http://www.scripturescholar.com/DionysiusExiguus.htm

Answer 6

Yes it is, sweetheart! It's perpetrating more than one lie, as a matter of fact! Not only is Dec 25 not the date of Jesus' birth, but no matter WHEN Jesus was born, Jews of his day did not celebrate birthdays! I figure if God didn't think it was important enough to tell me in the Bible ( we know exactly when Jesus DIED) and Jesus didn't celebrate the day himself, nor asked ME to anywhere ( he did the evening meal before he was put to death) it would be really rude of me to go ahead and do it anyhow!

Answer 7

Its not a big deal. I celebrate my kids birthdays on the weekend closest to their birthday, because its easier. This last year, my 10 year old wanted a pool party, so we will be celebrating her Novemeber Birthday in May, so?

He knows when he was born, its just a tradition. It really is NO BIG DEAL.

Answer 8

My second son was born December 28th. Since this is a REALLY awkward time for a birthday, we always celebrated it during the summer.
I hope you don't have a problem with that?

Answer 9

And if your date or month of birth was unknown, then you would agree that no one should ever celebrate your birth since the date or month are uncertain?

In the case of Jesus, we KNOW He was born.
Emmanuel, "God with us".
We celebrate the fact of His birth.

Answer 10

i do no longer see how saying Merry Christmas is offensive to all people. i do no longer rejoice Christmas and persons say it to me each and every of the time. i'm no longer indignant. i think of the media is making a miles better subject of it that it particularly is. because whilst substitute into all people indignant? i think of the politically superb sect have long gone fairly mad. i'm no longer a christian and that i do no longer rejoice Christmas and nonetheless i do no longer see how those issues are offensive yule lighting fixtures, yule carols, yule ornament and persons saying merry yule. i understand no longer of one guy or woman in my faith who unearths it offensive. the laptop crowd ought to have greater suited issues to do with there time. Its such as you cant say Baa Baa Black sheep anymore because you could offend Black human beings. Its ridiculous and that i don't have self assurance that comes from black human beings the two yet laptop do gooders long gone mad.