Introduction

Christmas is one of the major Christian festivals. It celebrates the bith of Jesus Christ - the Son of God who Christians believe was sent to repair their relationship with God. In the western churches it is celebrated on 25th December, and in the Eastern Orthodox churches that still follow the Julian calendar, it is celebrated on 7th January.

A celebration of the Incarnation

During Christmas, Christians reflect on the birth of Jesus. The story of this is called the Nativity, and it is told in two of the Gospels - Matthew and Luke

Matthew’s Gospel

Matthew’s Gospel begins with a genealogy that traces Jesus’ heritage right back to Abraham and Sarah, through King David. This is important as Old Testament prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel) declared that the saviour - the Messiah - would be a descendent of King David. This royal heritage can be seen in the Christmas carol,

Bethlehem was the ancestral home of King David - so that Jesus being born there gives more weight to the claim that he is the Messiah.

The Gospel continues with a focus on Joseph, such that when he learns that Mary is expecting a child, an angel appears to reassure him that the conception is by the Holy Spirit and that he should take Mary as his wife.

After Jesus is born in Bethlehem, Magi (the 'wise men') from the East follow a star to honour the newborn king, bringing their symbolic gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Their visit alarms King Herod, whose fear leads to the massacre of infants in Bethlehem and forces the Holy Family to flee to Egypt.

Matthew's account highlights Jesus as the true heir to David's throne, and showcases how his birth provokes both worship (the wise men) and opposition (King Herod).

Luke’s Gospel

Luke’s Gospel offers a gentler portrait of Jesus’ birth, focusing on Mary and God’s favour toward ordinary people. It opens with the angel Gabriel announcing both John the Baptist’s conception and Mary’s unique calling to bear the Son of God, to which she responds with faithful acceptance.

A Roman census brings Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, where Jesus is born and placed in a manger, emphasising the humility of his birth. Nearby shepherds become the first to receive the news as angels fill the sky with praise, prompting them to visit the child and share what they have witnessed.

Luke continues with Jesus’ presentation in the Temple, where Simeon and Anna recognise him as the saviour.

Throughout the his Nativity story, Luke highlights God’s compassion for ordinary people.

How Christmas is celebrated

Advent

Advent is the period over the four Sundays before Christmas, and is a time for Christians to prepare for the arrival of the birth of Jesus.

One more candles is lit each Sunday, so that when Christmas arrives, the four Advent candles have each burned down to a different height.

One popular carol that is sung during Advent is O come, O come, Emmanuel. The name Emmanuel is from the Hebrew, and literally translates as 'God with us' - reflecting the spiritual signficicance of the Incarnation.

Candles

Light is used to symbolise the arrival of Jesus, who, when challenged by the Jewish authorities as to who he thought he was, replied,

Midnight Mass

Roman Catholics, and some Protestants will attend a eucharist service at midnight on Christmas Eve. The service will include Bible readings from Matthew and Luke on the Nativity, and Christmas carols will be sung.

Service of 9 lessons and carols

The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols is a Christmas worship tradition that interweaves nine short Bible readings - from Genesis through the Gospels - with carols that reflect on each passage. Originating at King’s College, Cambridge in 1918, the service traces the story of salvation from creation and prophecy to the birth of Jesus Christ, using music and scripture together to illuminate the meaning of the Nativity.

Nativity scene

Nativity scenes are set up in many churches and Christian homes during the Christmas season, using figures to represent the key characters from the birth story - Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, shepherds, angels, and the wise men.

These displays serve as a visual reminder of the humble circumstances of Jesus’ birth and help families reflect on the spiritual meaning of Christmas. In many traditions, the figure of the newborn Jesus is placed in the manger on Christmas morning, symbolising his arrival and marking the beginning of the celebration.

Children often take part in a Nativity play, dramatising the events of the first Christmas. These plays give young people a chance to engage with the Nativity story and help congregations experience the story in a memorable way.

Through Nativity scenes and plays, Christians connect with the story of Jesus’ birth.

Present giving

People exchange gifts at Christmas, and this tradition carries two important symbolic meanings.

First, it echoes the story of the three wise men who visited the infant Jesus and offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh - acts that honoured his identity and pointed towards his future importance. Second, the practice reflects the deeper Christian belief that Jesus himself was God’s gift to humanity, given out of divine love to bring hope, peace, and salvation.

By giving gifts to one another, Christians symbolically reenact both the generosity of the Magi and the self-giving love of God revealed in the birth of Christ.

A time of peace and goodwill

Christmas is often thought of as a time of peace and goodwill, and Christians believe this reflects the message at the centre of the Nativity story. When Jesus was born, the angels made this proclamation:

A famous example of Christmas inspiring peace is the Christmas Truce of 1914 during the First World War, when opposing soldiers briefly stopped fighting, exchanged greetings, and even played football together. Although temporary, this moment showed how the message of Christmas can break down barriers and encourage people to recognise one another’s shared humanity.

Many Christians see this as a powerful reminder that the birth of Jesus calls people towards reconciliation, kindness, and the pursuit of peace in the world today.