Does Christmas Have Pagan Origins? Interview With Joshua Barnes (Repost)

In honor of the holiday season, we're bringing back two of our most popular episodes from 2023! In the first Christmas-themed interview, Joshua Barnes, host of popular YouTube channel The Bible Explained, answers questions like:

• Does Christmas have pagan origins?
• Does the date December 25th come from ancient holidays like Saturnalia or the Winter Solstice?
• Are traditions like caroling and decorating trees borrowed from other religions?
• Should Christians celebrate Christmas?

For a deeper dive, check out these resources:

• Was Christmas Pagan?
• Is Christmas a Pagan Holiday?
• Why the Puritans Cracked Down on Celebrating Christmas
• Is Christmas PAGAN? In Defense of Christmas (Video)
• A history of Christmas in the early Church (from New Advent)