Every year around this time we hear pleas to put Christ back into Christmas. I know that these pleas are well meaning but the simple fact is, Christ was never in or a part of Christmas. Christmas does not come from the Bible! The Bible does not record a date for the birth of Jesus and celebrating birthdays was considered a pagan practice to Jesus and his followers. There are only three birthdays mentioned in all the bible and on each of these occasions something terrible occurred. During the time Joseph was in Egypt, the Pharaoh, on his birthday hung his baker.

And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand: But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. (Genesis 40:20-22)

In the opening chapter of Job we find that one of Job’s sons celebrating his birthday with all his sibling’s in attendance. A great wind (tornado) killed them all during the celebration.

And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day (birthday); and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. . .And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house. . .While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. (Job 1:4-5, 13, 18-19)

It is quite clear from Job’s reaction on this occasion that he considered the birthday celebration a sin.

The final mention of a birthday celebration in the bible was that of Herod, it ends with a particularly gruesome event as John the Baptist’s head is served up on a platter.

But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger. And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. (Matthew 14:6-11)

There is no record of early Christians observing Christmas before sometime in the third or fourth century. We do find however that Tertullian who is often referred to as “the father of Latin Christianity” taught against the practice of celebrating the winter festivals to pagan gods such as Saturnalia and Minerva.

What less of defilement does he recur on that ground, than a business brings which, both nominally and virtually, is consecrated publicly to an idol? The Minervalia are as much Minerva’s, as the Saturnalia Saturn’s; Saturn’s, which must necessarily be celebrated even by little slaves at the time of the Saturnalia. New-year’s gifts likewise must be caught at, and the Septimontium kept; and all the presents of Midwinter and the feast of Dear Kinsmanship must be exacted; the schools must be wreathed with flowers; the flamens’ wives and the µdiles sacrifice; the school is honoured on the appointed holy-days. The same thing takes place on an idol’s birthday; every pomp of the devil is frequented. Who will think that these things are be fitting to a Christian master, unless it be he who shall think them suitable likewise to one who is not a master?. . . Hence the devil gets men’s early faith built up from the beginnings of their erudition. Inquire whether he who catechizes about idols commit idolatry. But when a believer learns these things, if he is already capable of understanding what idolatry is, he neither receives nor allows them; much more if he is not yet capable. Or, when he begins to understand, it behoves him first to understand what he has previously learned, that is, touching God and the faith. Therefore he will reject those things, and will not receive them; and will be as safe as one who from one who knows it not, knowingly accepts poison, but does not drink it.
Early Church Fathers – – Ante-Nicene Fathers, volume 3, chapter 10: The Writings of the Fathers Down To A.D. 325.

It is clear from even a cursory reading of the New Testament that Christians kept Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and other Holy days which were then considered to be Jewish Holy and Feast Days. Jesus kept them, the Apostles kept them, and those who were called to Christianity kept them. Jude wrote the following:

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:3-4)

It’s clear from this instruction that it is not OK to celebrate these holidays of pagan origin and neglect the Holy Days and Feasts of our Lord. Regardless of what we may think of those who maintain that it is quite alright, proper, and harmless to do so; they are among those who have “crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” There is but one authority whom is able to change these days and that is God. God hasn’t changed anything concerning his Holy Days and he has not added to them. The holidays we call Christian are all of pagan origin and the observation of them is sin. The penalty for sin is death. It is high time we repent of these sins and start keeping God’s Holy Days.