Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I would say that, although the various "seasons" of the church year originated in connection with events of theological significance to Christians (such as the birth of Jesus, the death and resurrection of Jesus, and the bestowing of the Holy Spirit), and although some of them may also be coincidentally based on dates or timing criteria of previous Jewish religious observances (such as Passover and Pentecost) as commanded by God in the Old Testament, those events were timed according to a lunar calendar, rather than the solar one in use today. That is why (even today) those observances occur on differing dates from one year to the next, making it difficult to know precisely (according to today's calendar) when events in Biblical times occurred. 

Also, with regard to Christmas, although the Bible gives a fairly detailed account of the circumstances surrounding Jesus' birth, and although His nativity has great significance for Christians, the Bible does not provide enough information (as far as I am aware) to pinpoint a calendar date on which it took place, nor is any observance or commemoration of that date mentioned or commanded as an annual event in the Bible itself. (One account that I have read suggests that His birth may actually have occurred in the early part of the year (March-April of the modern calendar), since that is when shepherds in that part of the world would have been most likely to be remaining with their flocks in their pastures by night (as noted in Luke 2:8), because of lambs being born.)

I have also heard of strictly secular considerations coming into play with regard to the timing of the observance of Christmas, in order to have it coincide with the pre-existing observance of the pagan Roman festival of Saturnalia, so that Christians would be less conspicuous when celebrating Jesus' birth, and thus not as subject to singling out for persecution.

Advent itself is also not mentioned in the Bible, but was instituted by the early Church as a period of spiritual reflection and preparation for the upcoming observance of Christmas. Thus, although it may have a beneficial and valid spiritual purpose, its observance was instituted by humans, rather than commanded by God.

Finally, although religious-themed Christmas carols are centered on Jesus' birth, Advent (as a season of the church year) runs all the way up to December 24. Thus, considering it "wrong" to play such carols prior to the actual celebration of Jesus' birth would (in my opinion) detract from Advent's effectiveness as a means of focusing people's thoughts on the coming observance and significance of Christmas, and spiritually preparing them for that event, which was Advent's original purpose.

December 04 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report