Christmas in New Zealand
The meaning of Christmas matters
A cultural festival
Christmas is our appointed cultural commemoration of the birth of Jesus — celebrated, like Easter, in recognition of the significance of his life to many of our cultural values and benefits. Ideas as simple as a politician being called a public servant rather than a ruler can be directly traced to Jesus’ teachings and influence throughout history.
As a cultural festival – like Easter – Christmas exists to help us remember the stories that shaped our remarkable values.
A culture that despises its own history has no future.
There is a story to know, value, and tell.
A Christian festival
Regarding the Christmas story itself, Christians believe that God — the embodiment of love — visited Earth as Jesus. In the greatest act of humility ever, the immortal God took on human form, choosing never to use his power for his own advantage. Modelling perfection, his ultimate purpose was to take upon himself the punishment we deserved for human wrongdoing, so that we might go free. It was the greatest possible act of love.
In history
While Christmas is not a required festival in Christianity, just as wise men, shepherds, and angels celebrated Jesus’ birth, early Christians soon desired to celebrate it too.
With Jesus’ death transferred from the Jewish to the Roman calendar — initially set at 25 March — a tradition suggested that a great prophet would die on the same day they were conceived. This is the most likely explanation for how 25 December became the chosen date. History records this as a well-established tradition prior to AD 200.
While questions about the celebration are debated by some (for instance, no one knows the date on which Jesus was actually born), the essential story has stood the test. (If that question is of interest, you can read more HERE).
Various modern myths have developed around these things. Our A Minute in History videos and audios consider these, as does our free online booklet, Unwrapping Christmas.
Read our ‘Unwrapping Christmas’ booklet online here:
To explore the hope and love that Christians experience through their choice to engage in a relationship with God, watch this video:
Plus we highly recommend taking the 10 DAY CHALLENGE which can be found here.
God isn’t distant or unknowable. He not only reached down from heaven — he visited. God desires to be known — and through faith, he can be.
Watch our Christmas History Short videos here
Explore other hope-filled stories
