Is Christmas Pagan?

Are Christmas Trees Based on Paganism?

This is perhaps the only fair argument I have actually seen on this topic, only as the accuser is entirely correct that Pagans did use evergreens. I will even be so humble as to admit this tradition predates Christianity; however, there are still several issues with this perspective that Christians stole Christmas trees. Firstly, the evergreens used were not kept as trees, but instead, they were usually divided into branches as many believed it would sway ghosts, evil spirits, and illnesses.  As the History channel notes, "Long before the advent(beginning) of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs(large branches) over their doors and windows. In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness," (3).

The actual concept of bringing the entire tree, a Christmas tree, is entirely Christian in origin actually starting in Germany around the 16th century, "Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes... It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree. Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he erected a tree in the main room and wired its branches with lighted candles," (3).

The Encyclopedia of Britannica also notes, "The modern Christmas tree, though, originated in western Germany. The main prop of a popular medieval play about Adam and Eve was a “paradise tree,” a fir tree hung with apples, that represented the Garden of Eden. The Germans set up a paradise tree in their homes on December 24, the religious feast day of Adam and Eve," (1). Even though the tradition of Christmas trees may seem odd, in the end, its roots are fairly rooted in Christianity.

Does Santa Come From Odin:

Some people will try and claim Santa came from Odin; specifically, they will say that Odin had a long white beard, rode around in the sky on an eight-legged horse, and he gave people presents. Firstly, possessing a long-white beard is not a fair parallel. It is far too vague to actually make a claim there, old men such as Santa have long-white beards unless they shave. Is my Grandpa based on paganism if he had a white beard? It would be rather strange to claim so. 

It is true that Odin had a horse that possessed eight legs; one that was born after the god Loki become a female horse and gave birth to him... Norse mythology is quite interesting; anyways, this horse even flew apparently. The only problem? Well, it actually was invented way after Saint Nicholas.  About 600 years in fact. According to World History Encyclopedia,  "Sleipnir is first mentioned by name in 10th-century Eddic poetry which was among the sources used by the Icelandic historian and mythographer Snorri Sturluson (l. 1179-1241) for the Prose Edda, a unified narrative of Norse myths written in the 13th century. The eight-legged horse as a shamanic symbol of transformation, however, predates Sleipnir’s name (at least in writing) as Gotland rune stones feature the image of Odin on the eight-legged horse arriving in the afterlife as early as the 8th century," (5). Saint Nicholas was born sometime around the third century and Christmas became a holiday in the early fourth century. Strangely enough, paganism may have actually borrowed from the tales of Nicholas here. Sinterklaas, the Dutch name for Santa Claus, actually was depicted with a white horse before he ever had reindeer believe it or not. In the biography "Saint Nicholas" by Joe L. Wheeler, Nicholas actually had a horse A white horse, "...his(i.e. St. Nicholas') great white horse," (P.123). You can actually read this biography at the bottom of the page. 

Giving presents is also not something one can really say is a parallel as it is too vague and even if it wasn't vague, as mentioned prior, the concept of Sleipnir was invented hundreds of years after the Saint. In the end, it seems very unlikely that Santa was copied off of Odin.

Is Eggnog Pagan?

Not that a beverage being made by pagans would mean we can thus not drink it, but I would still like to debunk this claim. In an article from Britannica, this is written, "The origin of the drink was likely a monastic(relating to monks or nuns) holiday beverage called posset, made of milk and eggs and usually laced with ale, wine, or barleywine. It is first attested in medieval England in the 14th century. Although the treat originated in Britain, the term eggnog first appeared in Britain’s North American colonies—soon to be the United States," (4).

The Origins of Christmas Stockings:

The origins of Christmas stockings are rarely debated upon, but even so, it is good to debunk every possible claim we can. The largest story of its origins tells of a poor man with three daughters, but no means to provide them with dowries. A dowry is like a payment the family of the bride pays to the groom. (2) Without dowries, it was unlikely that the daughters would ever find husbands and be able to provide for themselves. In response to the man's plight, Saint Nicholas secretly dropped bags of gold coins down the chimney; the coins fell into the daughter's stockings, which were hanging by the fireplace.

As a result of this legend, it is customary to hang Christmas stockings by the fireplace in the hope that they will be filled with small gifts and treats on Christmas morning. This was indeed a legend, but it is the only specific origin we have on it.(6, 7)

Was The Date of Christmas Changed to Coincide With Yule?

There are so many errors in this very claim that I laugh at the one who made it. Firstly, Christmas was made before Yule. "The first recorded Christmas celebration was in Rome on December 25, AD 336," (Christmas and Its Cycle, Vol. 3). Yule most likely started sometime around the 5th century. It should also be noted that Yule was rescheduled, not Christmas. When Haakon arrived in Norway, he was a confirmed Christian, but since the land was still entirely heathen and the people still practiced pagan practices, he hid his Christianity to receive the assistance of the "great chieftains.”  A law was passed by Haakon establishing that Yule celebrations would take place simultaneously with Christmas celebrations among Christians. In Heimskringla or The Chronicle of The Kings of Norway, this is said, "He made a law that the festival of Yule should begin at the same time as Christian people held it, and that every man, under penalty, should brew a meal of malt into ale, and therewith keep the Yule holy as long as it lasted," (Heimskringla or The Chronicle of The Kings of Norway, Book 2:Hakon The Good's Saga, Chapter 15: Hakon Spreads Christianity). You can read this book below. 

Works Cited:

(1)Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Christmas tree". Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Dec. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/plant/Christmas-tree. Accessed 12 December 2022.

(2)Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "dowry". Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Sep. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/topic/dowry. Accessed 22 December 2022.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Haakon I Adalsteinsfostre". Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Jul. 1998, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Haakon-I-Adalsteinsfostre. Accessed 25 November 2022.

(6)Collins, Ace. Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas. United States, Zondervan, 2003 (P. 174-177).

Gulevich, Tanya. Encyclopedia of Christmas: Nearly 200 Alphabetically Arranged Entries Covering All Aspects of Christmas, Including Folk Customs, Religious Observances, History, Legends, Symbols, and Related Days from Europe, America, and Around the World .... United States, Omnigraphics, 2000.

(3)History.com Editors (2009) History of Christmas Trees, History.com. A&E Television Networks. Available at: https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas-trees (Accessed: December 12, 2022).

(4)McNamee, Gregory Lewis. "eggnog". Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Oct. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/topic/eggnog. Accessed 25 November 2022.

Image by Annie Spratt

(5)Mark, Joshua J.. "Sleipnir." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 30 Aug 2021. Web. 22 Nov 2022.

(7)Morris, Desmond. Christmas Watching. United Kingdom, Cape, 1992 (P. 14-15). Read Below, if you do not have an account(accounts are free) on archive.org you may not be able to read much.

“Nog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nog. Accessed 25 Nov. 2022.

"Christmas and its cycle". New Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 3 (2nd ed.). Catholic University of America Press. 2002. pp. 550–557.

Sturlason, S., Killings, D.B. and Widger, D. (2009) “Chapter 15: Hakon Spreads Christianity,” in Heimskringla or The Chronicle of The Kings of Norway. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: The Guttenberg Project. Read Below:

Wheeler, Joe L.. Saint Nicholas. United States, Thomas Nelson, 2010 (P.123). Read Below: