Are Christians supposed to celebrate Christmas? Is it okay for Christians to celebrate Christmas?

TL;DR:

The Bible does not command or forbid celebrating Christmas, leaving room for believers to honor Christ’s birth in a way that glorifies God. When celebrated with discernment and a Christ-centered focus, Christmas can be a meaningful time of worship, remembering, and sharing the gospel.

what does the bible say?

There has been a long-standing debate regarding whether Christians should celebrate Christmas. The church's celebration of Christmas on December 25 came later as a way to honor the day Jesus was born in Bethlehem. The Bible does not command Christians to celebrate Christmas, but it also does not forbid it, leaving the decision to personal conviction and a desire to honor the Lord. Old Testament feasts like Passover and Pentecost show that God values holy days of remembrance and teaching, which supports the idea that Christmas can serve as a meaningful time of worship and discipleship. The New Testament encourages believers to honor the Lord in how they observe special days (Romans 14:5–6), and Jesus’ birth is surely a special day. While concerns about pagan origins or cultural traditions surrounding Christmas are valid, they do not invalidate the celebration when it is centered on Christ. Jesus came to earth humbly, taking on humanity and fulfilling hundreds of years of prophecy, to save the world from their sins, which is something to remember and celebrate. When approached with discernment, Christmas can be a powerful opportunity to worship Jesus and share the good news of Jesus’ coming with others.

from the old testament

The Old Testament offers principles that can help us think through whether Christians should celebrate Christmas, even though it doesn’t mention Christmas directly. For example, God established holy days for remembrance and worship. God commanded Israel to observe feasts like Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Booths (Leviticus 23) as ways to remember His acts and worship Him. Much like Christmas, these days were filled with rituals, storytelling, and celebration—all designed to point people to God’s saving work.
Celebrations were meant to teach future generations. In Exodus 12:26–27, during Passover, parents were to explain the meaning of the feast to their children—celebration was both memorial and discipleship. This supports the idea that celebrations can be used to teach about God’s character and salvation.
God warned against mixing worship with pagan practices. Deuteronomy 12:30–31 warns Israel not to adopt the worship practices of the nations around them. This principle calls for discernment in how holidays are celebrated, especially if they contain unbiblical elements.

from the new testament

The Bible recognizes the birth of Jesus as a special event. It was a virgin birth (Matthew 1:18). It was announced by angels (Luke 2:10-14), attended by shepherds (Luke 2:15-20), and acknowledged by wise men (Matthew 2:1-12). The fact that both Matthew and Luke share reports of this event note its importance to the early Christians.
Romans 14:5-6 offers a helpful principle related to the celebration of Christmas: "One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord." There is no command to celebrate Christmas, yet Christmas can be celebrated in honor of the Lord. The goal of the believer is to honor God each day, including December 25, regardless of one's personal thoughts related to practices related to the Christmas holiday.

implications for today

Some objections to celebrating Christmas are based on concerns that, while understandable, are not necessarily grounds for rejecting the holiday altogether. One common argument is that since the exact date of Jesus's birth is unknown, choosing December 25th is arbitrary and even misleading. While it’s true that Scripture does not record the precise day of Christ’s birth, this does not make it wrong to set aside a specific day to honor and remember this world-changing event. The significance lies not in the date itself but in the meaning of the celebration—the arrival of the Savior into the world.

Others object to Christmas due to its association with pagan traditions or secular cultural elements. Some point to early connections between December 25th and pagan festivals, while others take issue with modern customs like gift-giving, Santa Claus, or materialism. These concerns deserve thoughtful consideration, especially when cultural practices risk overshadowing Christ. However, the presence of non-Christian elements does not negate the value of celebrating Christ’s birth. When approached with discernment and a heart focused on worship, Christmas can be a meaningful and God-honoring celebration for believers.

Moreover, Christmas presents a unique and powerful opportunity for gospel outreach. In a culture where many observe the holiday without understanding its true purpose, Christians have a chance to redirect the focus toward Jesus. Celebrating Christmas with intentionality—through worship, generosity, and conversations about the incarnation—can open doors to share the hope and truth of the gospel with family, friends, and neighbors who may otherwise never hear it.

understand

The Bible neither commands nor forbids celebrating Christmas, making it a matter of personal conviction.
Celebrations can serve as meaningful times of remembrance, worship, and teaching about God’s saving work.
Christmas offers a powerful opportunity for worship, discipleship, and sharing the gospel.

reflect

How do you personally keep Christ at the center of your Christmas celebrations?
What traditions or habits during the holiday season help you worship and remember God's saving work?
How do you respond when concerns about the origins or commercialization of Christmas challenge your focus on Christ?

engage

How can we encourage one another to celebrate Christmas in a way that honors the Lord rather than following the culture’s expectations and traditions?
How can we see convictions to celebrate Christmas in an open-handed way?
How might Christmas create opportunities for us to share the gospel with those around us who don’t yet know Jesus?