40 Days With Jesus: Celebrating His Presence (Jesus Calling®)

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A number of figures are associated with Christmas and the seasonal giving of gifts. Among these are Father Christmas, also known as Santa Claus (derived from the Dutch for Saint Nicholas), Père Noël, and the Weihnachtsmann; Saint Nicholas or Sinterklaas; the Christkind; Kris Kringle; Joulupukki; tomte/nisse; Babbo Natale; Saint Basil; and Ded Moroz. The Scandinavian tomte (also called nisse) is sometimes depicted as a gnome instead of Santa Claus.

Christmas can be stressful. With the added pressures of buying gifts, hosting parties, and attending events, Christmas can be a stressful time of year. As in England, Puritans in Colonial America staunchly opposed the observation of Christmas. [93] The Pilgrims of New England pointedly spent their first December 25 in the New World working normally. [93] Puritans such as Cotton Mather condemned Christmas both because scripture did not mention its observance and because Christmas celebrations of the day often involved boisterous behavior. [123] [124] Many non-Puritans in New England deplored the loss of the holidays enjoyed by the laboring classes in England. [125] Christmas observance was outlawed in Boston in 1659. [93] The ban on Christmas observance was revoked in 1681 by English governor Edmund Andros, but it was not until the mid-19th century that celebrating Christmas became fashionable in the Boston region. [126] This story is often seen as a cautionary tale, though the celebration of the birthday itself isn’t directly criticized. While the Bible (KJV) doesn’t give a definitive stance on celebrating birthdays, the idea of giving thanks for life and recognizing its seasons can be seen as in line with Christian values. Always remember to celebrate responsibly and in a way that honors your faith. 🎉✨ Final Thoughts – What Does the Bible say about Birthdays

Play the video. It includes a short introduction to the Christian religion before telling the story of the birth of Jesus (the 'nativity'). The video ends with the words: '...Christians celebrate Jesus's birthday as one of their main holy days - Christmas Day.' Some early Christians marked Jesus's crucifixion on a date they deemed equivalent to the 14th of Nisan, the day before Passover in the Hebrew calendar. This feast was referred to as the Quartodeciman (Latin for "fourteenth"). Some early Christian writers equated the 14th of Nisan with the equinox on March 25, and made the date of his conception or birth the same as that of his death. [70] [71] Duchesne conjectured that Jesus was thought to have been born and died on the same day, so lived a whole number of years, "since symbolic number systems do not permit the imperfection of fractions". However, he admitted that this theory is not supported by any early Christian text. [72] Steven Hijmans of the University of Alberta wrote: "It is cosmic symbolism ... which inspired the Church leadership in Rome to elect the southern solstice, December 25, as the birthday of Christ, and the northern solstice as that of John the Baptist, supplemented by the equinoxes as their respective dates of conception". [58] The Christian treatise De solstitia et aequinoctia conceptionis et nativitatis Domini nostri Iesu Christi et Iohannis Baptistae ('On the solstice and equinox conception and birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ and John the Baptist'), [59] from the second half of the fourth century, [60] dates John's birth to the summer solstice and Jesus's birth to the winter solstice. [42] [61]

Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:23-25): The Feast of Trumpets is a Jewish holiday that marks the beginning of the civil year. It is observed with a special meal and the blowing of the shofar. God does not have an explicit opinion on birthdays. However, He does have a great deal to say about how we should approach our lives and our celebrations. He encourages us to be joyful and thankful for our blessings, to use our gifts and talents for good, and to honor and celebrate those around us. The Christian View of Birthdays

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Use the story questions to help children to talk about the story they have watched and to recall the main events. Christmas is a great time to bring families together. Christmas is a special time of year where families can come together to celebrate, enjoy each other’s company, and create lasting memories. Remember, faith is not about following rituals and traditions perfectly; it's about understanding their significance and allowing them to bring you closer to God. Whether it's Christmas, Hanukkah, or any other religious holiday, what truly matters is the love, faith, and devotion they inspire in us. Guru Nanak’s Birthday (November 23rd): Sikhs celebrate the birthday of their founder, Guru Nanak, on the tenth day of the Kartik month. This day is known as Guru Nanak Jayanti and is celebrated with prayer, devotional singing and feasts.