JesusDraft · awaiting advisor review

Aren’t Christmas and Easter really pagan festivals?

In short

Not in the way often claimed. The Bible doesn’t give Jesus’ birth date, and how 25 December was chosen is uncertain, but the popular story that Christians copied a Roman sun festival has a dating problem. Easter is tied to Passover, not to a goddess. Some customs around both festivals did come from local cultures, and Christians differ on keeping festivals at all.

The Objection

Christmas falls at the winter solstice, like Saturnalia, and “Easter” sounds like Ishtar or the goddess Eostre, with eggs and rabbits. Christianity simply rebranded pagan festivals.

Put as its strongest advocates would put it.

The Christian Case

Historical evidence
The Bible doesn’t give Jesus’ birth date. The popular claim is that Christians took 25 December from the Roman feast of the Unconquered Sun. But that feast was set up by Emperor Aurelian in 274, and Christians were already linking Jesus’ birth to late December around 200, so the borrowing story has a dating problem.
Historical evidence
Another theory, developed by scholars such as Louis Duchesne and Thomas Talley, is that the date was calculated: early Christians dated Jesus’ death to 25 March, believed he was conceived on the same day of the year, and counted nine months forward. Andrew McGowan concludes we can’t be sure, but this explanation is at least as strong.
Scripture
Easter is tied to Passover, not to a goddess: Jesus died at Passover, and Paul calls him “our passover”. Many languages call Easter by a form of “Pascha”, from Passover; the English word’s origin is debated.
Christians differ
Christians differ on keeping festivals at all. Most churches celebrate Christmas and Easter; some traditions avoid days not commanded in Scripture. Paul leaves room for both, as long as each is done “unto the Lord”.

Where the Evidence Is Weaker

Some customs around both festivals did come from local cultures, and the origin of the 25 December date is genuinely uncertain. Where the English name “Easter” comes from is also uncertain, which leaves room for competing stories.

Arguments to Avoid

Repeating that “Easter” comes from Ishtar: the two words only sound alike in English, and many languages name the feast from Pascha, Passover.
Claiming Christians borrowed nothing at all: some customs clearly came from local cultures.
Telling Christians who keep Christmas that they worship pagan gods.

Read for Yourself

Luke 2:8–14

⁸And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. ¹⁰And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. ¹²And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

1 Corinthians 5:7–8

⁷Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: ⁸Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Romans 14:5–6