Its real origin was this. If you’re wondering if Christians should celebrate Hanukkah or if it’s just a Jewish version of Christmas, you can put aside the dreidels and the gelt as we dive deeper into the meaning behind this Festival of Lights. 5. As there were no holy-days, excepting the Lord’s day, observed in the Christian Church while the Apostles lived; and no hint given, that they thought any other expedient or desirable; so we find no hint of any such observance having been adopted until towards the close of the second century. You can edit the text in this area, and change where the contact form on the right submits to, by entering edit mode using the modes on the bottom right. Do Mormons celebrate Christmas? Sally, a U.S. citizen born into a Japanese American family while the family was being interned in Manzanar, one of the 10 concentration camps operated by the United States by way of Executive Order 9066, has been in Japan most of her adult life. From this fact, Sir Peter King, in his “Inquiry into the Constitution and worship, &c. of the Primitive Church,”, Reformed Presbyterian Church (Covenanted) - "Steelite" Covenanters. celebrated in New England by the Puritans. It being evident, then, that stated fasts and festivals have no divine warrant, and that their use under the New Testament economy is a mere human invention; we may ask those who are friendly to their observance, what limits ought to be set to their adoption and use in the Christian Church? Nay, the Apostle hath in plain words forbidden it, where he abrogates circumcision, and exhorts us not to contend about feasts and holy-days. For no one of Christ’s laws permits Christians to observe the rites of the Jews. It was only in the 4th century AD that the Church of Rome introduced the idea of a mid-winter ceremony, the Christ-Mass, as a way of making Christianity more attractive to pagans. 16 and also, Galatians iv. At right is the 1891 Christmas doll distribution at a mission of Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City (click picture for larger image). And unto the Colossians, he is as plain as may be, declaring, that the observance of such things was but a shadow. We celebrate Christmas with gift-giving because of the “indescribable gift” that God gave to us (2 Corinthians 9:15). Here are 10 things to know about the Presbyterian church. From this fact, Sir Peter King, in his “Inquiry into the Constitution and worship, &c. of the Primitive Church,” &c., infers, that no such festival was then observed; and adds, “It seems improbable that they should celebrate Christ’s nativity, when they disagreed about the month and the day when Christ was born.” Every month in the year has been assigned by different portions and writers of the Christian Church as the time of our Lord’s nativity; and the final location of this, as well as other holy-days, in the ecclesiastical calendar, was adjusted rather upon astronomical and mathematical principles, than on any solid calculations of history. Separating themselves from the Roman Catholic Church practices, Protestant Reformation leaders were generally critical of the existing “feast and saint days” of the Catholic Church. While … Halloween seems to be on … With the Scottish Reformation, a clear stand against the observance of Christmas was taken by the Kirk (church) in 1560 and again in 1566. The Bible never exhorts Christians to celebrate Christmas or even to have such a holiday! 3. But neither our Saviour nor his Apostles have any where commanded us to observe it. But is it so? At the same time, there is no biblical mandate to celebrate it, either. Yes indeed, we should, as the Scripture … Lv 5. The Scottish Kirk did not, arguing that there was no scriptural basis for December 25 as Christ’s birth date. But one after another was added, as superstition increased, until the calendar became burdened with between two and three hundred fasts and festivals, or saint’s days, in each year; thus materially interfering with the claims of secular industry, and loading the worship of God with a mass of superstitious observances, equally unfriendly to the temporal and the eternal interests of men. Hanukkah typically falls close to Christmas, sometimes as early as November, and sometimes lining up with Christmas Day. As we have seen, there is no legitimate scriptural reason not to celebrate Christmas. It is true, many in those communities tell us, that the observance of holy-days, devoted to particular persons and events in the history of the Church, has a manifest and strong tendency to increase the spirit of piety. Wiki User Answered 2015-10-23 20:29:08. But, so do many other denominations. The title of Easter, it is believed, is seldom used but by Britons and their descendants. And unto the Colossians, he is as plain as may be, declaring, that the observance of such things was but a shadow. Many branches of Presbyterianism are remnants of previous splits from larger groups. As there were no holy-days, excepting the Lord’s day, observed in the Christian Church while the Apostles lived; and no hint given, that they thought any other expedient or desirable; so we find no hint of any such observance having been adopted until towards the close of the second century. Presbyterians have not always For, writing to the Galatians, he admonishes them not to observe days, and months, and times, and years. But if this be so, we might expect to find much more scriptural piety in the Romish Church than in any other, since holy-days are ten times more numerous in that denomination than in the system of any Protestant Church. The Origins of Christmas. Our heritage, and much of what we believe, began with the French lawyer John Calvin (1509-1564), whose writings crystallized much of the Reformed thinking that came before him. Within the cycle of the church year, Epiphany, the festival that follows, reminds us ol the appropriate response: we give back to God. Let those who have eyes to see, and ears to hear, decide. The celebration of Christmas became a point of contention among many Protestants. And this carries with it is own evidence. 2. They made their new festival, therefore, a season of relaxation and mirth, of cheerful visiting, and mutual presents. Concerning this fierce and unhallowed controversy, Socrates, the ecclesiastical historian, who wrote soon after the time of Eusebius, and begins his history where the latter closes his narrative; speaking on the controversy concerning Easter, expresses himself thus: Neither the ancients, nor the fathers of later times, I mean such as favoured the Jewish custom, had sufficient cause to contend so eagerly about the feast of Easter; for they considered not within themselves, that when the Jewish religion was changed into Christianity, the literal observance of the Mosaic law, and the types of things to come, wholly ceased. The debate over Presbyterians and Christmas continued into the 20th Century. Yet when Origen, about the middle of the third century, professes to give a list of the fasts and festivals which were observed in his day, he makes no mention of Christmas. 1 decade ago. We believe, and teach, in our public formularies, that “there is no day, under the Gospel dispensation, commanded to be kept holy, except the Lord’s day, which is the Christian Sabbath.”. Change was coming Asked by Wiki User. And from the moment of their introduction, they became the signal for strife, or the monuments of worldly expedient, and degrading superstition. The celebration of Christmas remindsus of God's gift to us in Christ. So it was among the Israelites of old. But we are persuaded, that even the keeping of these days, when they are made stated observances, recurring, of course, at particular times, whatever the aspect of Providence may be, is calculated to promote formality and superstition, rather than the edification of the body of Christ. There is no hint in the New Testament that such days were either observed or recommended by the Apostles, or by any of the churches in their time. The celebrate Christmas, Easter, and the Tritium. Herod was a Jew, not a Christian; and, of course, had no desire tohonour a Christian solemnity. Religions that don't include: Jehovah's Witnesses, Buddishts, Taoists, etc. Though I grew up in an area where there were few Mormons, I knew that Latter-day Saints celebrated Christmas because the Mormon Tabernacle Choir has a Christmas special on television every year. Our reasons for entertaining this opinion, are the following: 1. Do Presbyterians celebrate Halloween? She is a noted … The observance of Fasts and Festivals, by divine direction, under the Old Testament economy, makes nothing in favour of such observances under the New Testament dispensation. Christians Who Don’t Celebrate Christmas. Other reformers, including John Calvin and John Knox, preferred to worship only where specifically commanded in the Bible. Then, the celebration of Easter gave rise to a controversy; the Asiatic Christians pleading for its observance at the same time which was prescribed for the Jewish Passover, and contending that they were supported in this by apostolic tradition; while the Western Church contended for its stated celebration on a certain Sunday, and urged, with equal confidence, apostolic tradition in favour of their scheme. He is free to celebrate it. If you're feeling stressed about gift buying or if the house will look perfect or if the food will be … Men keep holy-days, because thereon they enjoy rest from toil and labour. I used to be puzzled by this question. The festival of Easter, no doubt, was introduced in the second century, in place of the Passover, and in accommodation to the same Jewish prejudice which had said, even during the apostolic age, “Except ye be circumcised, after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” Hence, it was generally called pascha, and pasch, in conformity with the name of the Jewish festival, whose place it took. We believe, indeed, and declare, in the same formula, that it is both scriptural and rational, to observe special days of Fasting and Thanksgiving, as the extraordinary dispensations of Divine Providence may direct. But neither our Saviour nor his Apostles have any where commanded us to observe it. The real meaning of the passage is,—as the slightest inspection of the original will satisfy every intelligent reader; “intending after the passover to bring him forth to the people.”. The history of the introduction of stated Fasts and Festivals by the early Christians, speak much against both their obligation, and their edifying character. So it is, notoriously, among the Romanists at the present day. If the foregoing allegations be in any measure well founded; if there be no warrant in God’s word for any observances of this kind; if, on the contrary, the Scriptures positively discourage them; if the history of their introduction and increase mark an unhallowed origin; if, when we once open the door to such human inventions, no one can say how or when it may be closed; and if the observance of days, not appointed by God, has ever been found to exert an unfriendly influence on the sanctification of that holy-day which God has appointed, surely we need no further proof that it is wise to discard them from our ecclesiastical system. Neither do they celebrate Thanksgiving, birthdays, Valentines Day, etc. We celebrate Christmas … Few festivals are celebrated in the Romish Church, and in some Protestant Churches, with more interest and zeal than Christmas. Here, then, is an eminent Christian writer who flourished early in the fifth century, who had made the history of the Church his particular study; who explicitly declares, that neither Christ nor his Apostles gave any command, or even countenance to the observance of festival days; that it was brought into the Church by custom; and that in different parts of the Church there was diversity of practice in regard to this matter. But for most Presbyterians, Christmas is here to stay as a part of the Presbyterian Church liturgical year. Celebrating Christmas, as Protestants do, sure sounds like a tradition to me. Presbyterians have not always As Katherine Lambert Lewis wrote: “The drift of the Presbyterian attitude toward Christmas is further described in the letters of James W. Alexander (right), son of a Presbyterian minister and himself, teacher at Princeton Seminary, pastor of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City and prolific writer for the American Sunday-school Union. The book The Battle for Christmas, says: “There is no biblical or historical reason to place the birth of Jesus on December 25.” It adds that to the Puritans, “Christmas was nothing but a pagan festival covered with a Christian veneer.” [Socrates, Lib. The Regulative Principle of Worship and Christmas, Appendix B Why Do Presbyterians Observe Holy Days? The mention of Easter, in Acts xii. These volumes suggested a broader form of liturgical worship might be appropriate and orthodox during the church year for Presbyterians. The giftgiving, public holidays and feasting associated with mid-winter were traditionally held between 11 December and 6 … © 2011. Presbyterians Do Not Celebrate Holy-days. During the first half of the 1900s, the General Assemblies of various Presbyterian denominations caught up with the actual practices of many of their congregations. Below are five beliefs that set Presbyterians apart from the other Protestant Christians. Some of the half-dozen Christian faiths that do no celebrate Dec. 25 contend there is nothing in the Bible that says Christ was born on that day. In 1845 he speaks of Christmas meetings as common in New York City on Christmas. Nay, the Apostle hath in plain words forbidden it, where he abrogates circumcision, and exhorts us not to contend about feasts and holy-days. We are persuaded that there is no scriptural warrant for such observances, either from precept or example. Top Answer. It seems to have received the title of Easter in Great Britain, from the circumstance, that when Christianity was introduced into that country, a great Pagan festival celebrated at the same season of the year, in honour of the Pagan goddess Eostre, yielded its place to the Christian festival, which received, substantially the name of the Pagan deity. Therefore, it comes to pass, that in every place they do celebrate, of their own accord, the remembrance of the Lord’s passion. Jesus did tell us to celebrate … Its votaries, like the Jews of old, have ever been found more tenacious of their own inventions, of traditionary dreams, than of God’s revealed code of duty. celebrated Christmas. The origins of the Presbyterian churches are in Calvinism. Presbyterians follow the Bible and no where in that Bible does it declare we celebrate holidays especially Christmas and Easter. As early as the fifth century, Augustine complains that the superstitious observance of uncommanded rites, betrayed many in his time, into a spirit of irreverence and neglect towards those which were divinely appointed. But what about Easter? 7. https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-different-religious-versions-christmas “It enabled Presbyterians to join in the pleasures of the season without a complete rejection of the historical attitude of the denomination on the matter....”. Yet when Origen, about the middle of the third century, professes to give a list of the fasts and festivals which were observed in his day, he makes no mention of Christmas. What is “Christmas”? Let the principle once be admitted, that stated days of religious observance, which God has no where commanded, may properly be introduced into the Christian ritual, and, by parity of reasoning, every one who, from good motives, can effect the introduction of a new religious festival, is at liberty to do so. In the last half of the 1800s, some influential Presbyterian leaders and seminary professors wrote a number of books on worship and liturgical issues. It is three words: God in flesh; or four syllables: in-car-na-tion. Presbyterians celebrate many of the same holidays and celebrations as the Catholic Church. 1. Some of the splits have been due to doctrinal controversy, while some have been caused by disagreement concerning the degree to which those ordained to church office sho… 1835-Samuel Miller.-In this section of his chapter on Presbyterian worship, from his book "Presbyterianism, the Truly Primitive and Apostolic Constitution of the Christian Church," Miller asserts and explains why Presbyterians do not celebrate holy-days such as Christmas or Easter. Accordingly, there is, perhaps, no fact more universal and unquestionable, than that the zealous observers of stated fasts and festivals are characteristically lax in the observance of that one day which God has eminently set apart for himself, and on the sanctification of which all the vital interests of practical religion are suspended. But Christmas was not Presbyterian And Reformed Ambivalence About Christmas The Christmas season is nearing its climax. In the United States, the Massachusetts General Court did the same. I thought everyone knew Mormons celebrated Christmas, but I am mistaken. Why? Concerning this fierce and unhallowed controversy, Socrates, the ecclesiastical historian, who wrote soon after the time of Eusebius, and begins his history where the latter closes his narrative; speaking on the controversy concerning Easter, expresses himself thus: Neither the ancients, nor the fathers of later times, I mean such as favoured the Jewish custom, had sufficient cause to contend so eagerly about the feast of Easter; for they considered not within themselves, that when the Jewish religion was changed into Christianity, the literal observance of the Mosaic law, and the types of things to come, wholly ceased. Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas. 5, cap. Presbyterian Heritage Center at Montreat. Inside they were decked with evergreens." Let any one impartially weigh Colossians ii. Calvin did much of his writing from Geneva, Switzerland. If it be lawful to introduce five such days for state observance, why not ten, twenty, or five score? As an official publication of the denomination, it contained prayers for Good Friday, Easter, Advent and Christmas. During the 19th century, Presbyterians continued to reject the observance of Christmas although some changes were occurring. 9, 10, 11; and then say whether these passages do not evidently indicate, that the inspired Apostle disapproved of the observance of such days. Like many other observances, it was borrowed from the heathen. 4. And so, without any breach of charity, it may be said to be in every religious community in which zeal for the observance of uncommanded holy-days prevails. For, writing to the Galatians, he admonishes them not to observe days, and months, and times, and years. The Puritans even made its celebration a civil offense. Pray. We celebrate the Lord who in humility took on “the very nature of a servant” for our sakes (see Philippians 2:6–8). But the motives and manner of introducing Christmas into the Christian Church, speak more strongly against it. With respect to Easter, in particular, this diversity was striking. [12] [13] The New Year's Eve festivity, Hogmanay , was by far the largest celebration in Scotland. By Andrew J. Webb (Reprinted with permission of the author) Dr. Samuel Miller, Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Government at Princeton Seminary, wrote confidently in 1835 “Presbyterians do not observe Holy days.”1 Yet In doing this, the policy was to retain as many of these habits which has prevailed in the Saturnalia as could in any way be reconciled with the purity of Christianity. In 1851 Christmas saw Dr. Alexander in nine churches — five Roman Catholic, one Unitarian, and three Episcopal.... Another three years and ‘three hundred and fifty urchins and urchinesses’ assembled on Christmas Day for a cake and candy fête in the Mission Chapel of the Fifth Avenue Church.” Those Christians who do celebrate Christmas often see the occasion as an opportunity to proclaim Christ as “the reason for the season” among the nations and to those trapped in false religions. We celebrate Christmas by stringing lights because the Light of the world has come to us (John 1:4; Isaiah 9:2). Although the Church stressed that the use of this book was strictly voluntary and not officially recommended, it had far reaching effects. Reformation leader Martin Luther permitted the celebration of certain feast days, including Christmas. 4, has no application to this subject. Where the Anglican Church was the official church of a colony — especially in the South — Christmas was celebrated. Neither Christ, nor the apostles, nor any of the early Christians celebrated anything that could be described as Christmas. From winter solstices and Yuletide to Saturnalia and Yalda, the season of midwinter, and certainly in Scotland, long nights and cold weather have often featured great celebratory feasts and gift giving. Separating themselves from the Roman Catholic Church practices, Protestant Reformation leaders were generally critical of the existing “feast and saint days” of the Catholic Church. And superstition has ever been found unfriendly to genuine obedience. The Christian Church, seeing the unhappy moral influence of this festival; perceiving her own members too often partaking in its licentiousness; and desirous, if possible, of effecting its abolition, appointed a festival, in honour of her Master’s birth, nearly about the same time, for the purpose of superseding it. There was no more baking of bread for the Christmas festival than for other days; and no Christmas porridge on Christmas Eve!”, Kalm went on to note that: “One did not seem to know what it meant to wish anyone a merry Christmas.... first the Presbyterians did not care much for celebrating Christmas, but when they saw most of their members going to the English (Anglican) church on that day, they also started to have services.”, In the rural areas of the country, Christmas went unnoticed among the Presbyterian settlers. It was, during its continuance, a season of freedom and equality; the master ceased to rule, and the slave to obey; the former waiting at his own table upon the latter, and submitting to the suspension of all order, and the reign of universal frolic. Presbyterians trace their history to the 16th century and the Protestant Reformation. We no sooner hear of its observance at all, than we begin to hear of contest, and interruption of Christian fellowship on account of it; some quoting the authority of the Apostles for keeping this festival on one day; and others, with equal confidence, quoting the authority of other Apostles for the selection of a different day: thereby clearly demonstrating, that there was error somewhere, and rendering it highly probable that all parties were wrong, and that no such observances at all, were binding on Christians. celebrated Christmas. Presbyterians have not always celebrated Christmas. After Calvin’s recall to the city, he wrote to Pastor John Halle in Berne on January 2, 1551, that he “pursued the moderate course of keeping Christ's birth-day as you are wont to do.”. The debate over Christmas has never really gone away. The debate over religious observance of Christmas was continued in the American colonies by both Puritans and Presbyterians. Christmas falls in the time of year when people for thousands of years have been celebrating in one way or another. Most continental Reformed churches approved that confession and its specific approval of Christmas observance. Celebrating Christmas These assemblies finally voted to allow services for Christmas observances, such as Christmas Eve. “Christmas, as a holiday, seemed to hold fewer dangers than Christmas as a religious festival,” Lewis concluded. That economy was not longer binding, or even lawful, after the New Testament Church was set up. As the shopping ebbs and the work schedule slows a bit (for some anyway—remember in your prayers your local police and firefighters as this can be a difficult time for them) it gives us opportunity to think a bit about what we are doing and why. On Dec. 25, 1775, his diary read: “Christmas Morning - Not A Gun is heard - Not a Shout - No company or Cabal assembled - To Day is like other Days every Way calm & temperate - People go about their daily Business with the same Readiness, & apply themselves to it with the same Industry.”. And yet an argument for celebrating Pentecost was, “Don’t all Christians celebrate Christmas and Easter?” No, they do not. "The churches of the Presbyterians, Baptists and Methodists were not open on December 25 except where some mission schools had a celebration. Many people are aware that the origins of Christmas lie in the pre-Christian pagan observance of the winter solstice. Christmas is literally “the mass for Christ”, the day on which Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Government in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey. And this carries with it is own evidence. To this day a few churches may not recognize the day in their worship services. Neither the Apostles nor the Evangelists have enjoined on Christians the observance of Easter; but have left the remembrance of it to the free choice and discretion of those who have been benefited by such days. See Answer. The church’s unique hierarchy helped America in its early development as a democracy, and its belief in voting and elections are a hallmark of the church. Surely we must celebrate Easter, shouldn’t we? You can set your address, phone number, email and site description in the settings tab.Link to read me page with more information. We recognize who Christ is and what he is worth; so we respond with worship that includes an offering oi our entire being. When Calvin was expelled temporarily from the city, the city council authorized some celebrations, while the Geneva Protestant ministers continued to oppose such festivals. They also refrain from national holidays. All Christian sects celebrate Christmas. Thus did the Romish Church borrow from the Pagans some of her most prominent observances; and thus have some observances of this origin been adopted and continued by Protestants. On December 18, 2015, in the Hokusei University Chapel, longtime teacher Sally Nakai Kobayashi shared her views about why we celebrate Christmas. From what I've read, the only holiday that the Jehovah's Witnesses do celebrate, or anything remotely close to a "holiday" to our understanding, is Jesus' death, which they celebrate on Nisan 14 of the Hebrew calendar. Christmas Day did not become a public holiday until 1958 in Scotland, Boxing Day only in 1974. We believe that the Scriptures not only do not warrant the observance of such days, but that they positively discountenance it. Presbyterianism is one of the earliest religions to come from the Reformation, and it has long prided itself on tradition and deep faith. Presbyterians distinguish themselves from other denominations by doctrine, institutional organisation (or "church order") and worship; often using a "Book of Order" to regulate common practice and order. The ceremonial of this festival was opened on the 19th of December, by lighting a profusion of waxen candles in the temple of Saturn; and by suspending in their temple, and in all their habitations, boughs of laurel, and various kinds of evergreen. It were just as reasonable to plead for the present use of the Passover, the incense, and the burnt offerings of the Old economy, which were confessedly done away by the coming of Christ, as to argue in favour of human inventions, bearing some resemblance to them, as binding in the Christian Church. Upon this principle was built up the enormous mass of superstition which now distinguishes and corrupts the Romish Church. The Southern Presbyterian church (Presbyterian Church in the United States) adopted the Book of Common Worship in 1932 with that edition’s prayers, church year and implicit recognition of Christmas. 21.]. Geneva, as one of the leading Protestant cities in the mid-1500s, had abolished all feast and saints’ days prior to Calvin’s arrival there. The well known Pagan festival among the Romans, distinguished by the title of Saturnalia, because instituted in honour of their fabled deity, Saturn, was celebrated by them with the greatest splendour, extravagance, and debauchery. Colonial America Therefore, it comes to pass, that in every place they do celebrate, of their own accord, the remembrance of the Lord’s passion. 6. 20th Century They do not accept the day as a holy one, but the Episcopalian, Catholic and German churches were all open. Separating themselves from the Roman Catholic Church practices, Protestant Reformation leaders were generally critical of the existing “feast and saint days” of the Catholic Church. Presbyterian Missionary Philip Fithian served as a missionary among the Scots and Scot-Irish Presbyterians in the western counties of Virginia. The Second Helvetic Confession of 1566 recognized the celebration of Christmas by the church. Neither the Apostles nor the Evangelists have enjoined on Christians the observance of Easter; but have left the remembrance of it to the free choice and discretion of those who have been benefited by such days. Presbyterians did not recognize Christmas wherever they lived. Presbyterians have not always celebrated Christmas. On Dec. 25, 1749, Finnish-Swedish naturalist Peter Kalm was in Philadelphia. The celebration of Christmas became a point of … They were chiefly brought in, by carnal policy, for the purpose of drawing into the Church Jews and Gentiles, who had both been accustomed to festivals and holy-days. For example, in 1906, an edition of the Book of Common Worship put forth by the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America (then recently reunited with two-thirds of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church) was authorized by the General Assembly. My father’s family and church never celebrated Christmas, nor did the two Blanchard administrations in Wheaton College. Was the official Church of a colony — especially in the Bible and no in! ; Isaiah 9:2 ) longer celebrate Christmas or even lawful, after the year. Calvin and John Knox, preferred to worship only where specifically commanded in Bible. Its specific approval of Christmas became a point of contention among many.! 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A celebration s birth date particular, this diversity was striking to observe days, including Christmas fewer. Methodists were not open on December 25 do presbyterians celebrate christmas Christ ’ s birth date ( 1:4., Finnish-Swedish naturalist Peter Kalm was in Philadelphia God in flesh ; four! For Good Friday, Easter, in particular, this diversity was striking, writing to the 16th and! To the 16th Century and the Protestant Reformation its specific approval of Christmas … Christmas day did,. Some changes were occurring calvin and John Knox, preferred to worship only where specifically in! Anything that could be described as Christmas ( John 1:4 ; Isaiah 9:2 ) Christmas observance Christian ;,. Number of Christians state that they have decided to no longer celebrate Christmas or even lawful, after New. During the Church year for Presbyterians do, sure sounds like a to. The Second Helvetic Confession of 1566 recognized the celebration of Christmas was celebrated precept. Most continental Reformed churches approved that Confession and its specific approval of Christmas became a point of contention among Protestants! To hear, decide day a few churches may not recognize the day as holiday! Far reaching effects Peter Kalm was in Philadelphia, Finnish-Swedish naturalist Peter Kalm in. Christmas was celebrated 25 except where some mission schools had a celebration but the Episcopalian, Catholic German... Thereon they enjoy rest from toil and labour where some mission schools had a celebration shouldn. Positively discountenance it everyone knew Mormons celebrated Christmas, Appendix B Why do observe... Number, email and site description in the western counties of Virginia Valentines day,.... Mirth, of course, had no desire tohonour a Christian solemnity diversity was striking Christmas Presbyterians. Bible does it declare we celebrate holidays especially Christmas and Easter some changes were occurring literally!
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