Creathminster Confession of Christmas I (Christmas Origins)

Hoping to establish a more perfect understanding of how we can best celebrate Christmas we find it necessary to give the definitions and origins of this holiday. The word "Christmas" originated as a contraction of "Christ's mass." It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase coined around 1038. The root of this word, "Christ", gives us the central theme for which to filter through our celebratory traditions.

As for the origins of Christmas we hold that the happenings found in the chronicled accounts of Matthew and Luke can be, and have been, incorporated into our observances of this event. These accounts give inspired detail into Christ's coming into the world and how this would ultimately lead to Him making atonement for His people. We believe this to be the original foundation and focus for why we, as believing families, observe Christmas.

Historically, Christmas, has been celebrated on the 25th of December. It is said that in part, the Christmas celebration was created by the early Church in order to entice pagan Romans to convert to Christianity without losing their own winter celebrations. It is also said that the most important gods in the religions of Ishtar and Mithra had their birthdays on December 25. Various traditions are considered to have been syncretised from winter festivals including Saturnalia, Natalis Solis Invicti, & Yule. As with any attempt to reform there will be concerns to keeping the traditional dates and details of precedented holidays. However, we hold that the Christian family should remember historically why we celebrate not when we celebrate.

For the Christian all festivities and observances should bring to mind Christ and His glorification. (1 Cor 10:31).