In general, most Seventh-day Adventists do celebrate Christmas.
Since our denomination doesn’t have specific guidelines about holidays, it’s up to each member to decide whether to celebrate it, based on their personal convictions and study of the Bible.
In this article, we’ll give you an idea of what that can look like for Adventists, and we’ll cover some biblical principles to consider. Keep reading to discover:
- What Adventists believe about celebrating Christmas
- How we celebrate Christmas
- What the Bible says about celebrating Christmas
Let’s get into it!
What do Adventists believe about celebrating Christmas?
Photo by Greyson Joralemon on Unsplash
For most Adventists, Christmas is an opportunity to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, though a small minority may avoid this holiday for personal reasons.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church doesn’t have any specific rules about celebrating Christmas.1 This is because Scripture doesn’t provide any instruction to accept or reject Christmas. After all, the Bible was written long before this holiday was ever celebrated.
In matters like these, Adventists are advised to follow their personal conscience and look for overarching principles in the Bible to guide their decisions.
Why most Adventists celebrate
As we’ve already mentioned, for many Adventists (particularly in the West), Christmas is a time to reflect on the birth of the son of God and share that joy with others.
We see it as a great opportunity to connect with people who are already considering the deeper meaning of the holiday.
But in other parts of the world, such as East and Central Africa, the reason for celebrating Christmas has more to do with family. Christmas provides the chance to spend time with the people we love and strengthen relationships—whether through gatherings, meals, or gift-giving.
Our celebration of Christmas also stems simply from the fact that God is a God of joy. In the Bible, we find that Jesus Himself participated in the simple joys of a wedding celebration (John 2:2). Similarly, Christmas is a day for gaining a small glimpse into God’s joy through that fellowship.
Why some Adventists don’t celebrate
Photo by Samuel Holt on Unsplash
Some Adventists don’t celebrate Christmas because they’re concerned about its origins or some of the ways people celebrate it. They’re worried they and their families could get caught up in the materialism of this holiday and lose sight of what really matters—loving and serving others and spreading the good news of Jesus.
Others don’t participate in this holiday because a lot of its decorations and icons come from pagan festivals and worship.
Just take the date December 25th, for example.
Historians don’t have any evidence that Jesus was actually born on this day.2 The only thing that’s significant about it is that it was originally a pagan holiday to honor the sun god.3
At the same time, Adventists who observe Christmas might point out that nearly everything can be tied to pagan origins. That goes for the names of our planets and the days of the week. Now, though, Christmas has lost its pagan significance. And without this significance, objects like Christmas trees and mistletoes are just that—objects.
Still, materialism and paganism are both perfectly valid reasons for deciding not to keep this holiday. As Adventists, though, our goal is to not make this a divisive issue. No one should feel that their personal conviction to accept or abstain from Christmas is wrong.
Each individual person must decide for themselves.
For her part, Adventist pioneer Ellen G. White provided an answer to those who worried that certain aspects of Christmas would encourage paganism:
“Letters of inquiry have come to us asking, Shall we have a Christmas tree? Will it not be like the world? We answer, You can make it like the world if you have a disposition to do so, or you can make it as unlike the world as possible. There is no particular sin in selecting a fragrant evergreen and placing it in our churches, but the sin lies in the motive which prompts to action and the use which is made of the gifts placed upon the tree.
Will you not arise, my Christian brethren and sisters, and gird yourselves for duty in the fear of God, so arranging this matter that it shall not be dry and uninteresting, but full of innocent enjoyment that shall bear the signet of Heaven?”4
In this quote, Ellen White brings out the crux of the matter: The concern with Christmas centers around how we plan to celebrate. And notice, she encouraged us to make it a time of “innocent enjoyment.”
How do Adventists celebrate Christmas?
Adventists celebrate Christmas much like other Christian churches do. Around Christmas time, we might:
- Hear sermons based on the nativity story
- Host/attend Christmas programs or concerts
- Host food and toy drives for families in need
- Get the youth involved in church events like Christmas plays
- Decorate our homes and churches with Christmas trees, some of which have envelopes for donations to the poor, per Adventist tradition5
- Gather to open presents on Christmas day
- Enjoy a tasty (often, vegetarian) meal
- Watch a nativity movie
As far as Santa Claus goes, Adventist parents usually take an honest approach with their children.
They explain that while stories about Santa can be fun, they’re not the true reason to celebrate Christmas. They encourage their children to instead show thanks to God and their family members. And while giving and receiving gifts is a great blessing, children are reminded that the best gift of all is Jesus’ birth.
Keep in mind that Christmas celebrations can vary from culture to culture. Adventists often follow the traditions within their countries, and these traditions may have nothing to do with whether someone is Adventist or not.
But in short, Christmas is a wonderful time of the year to remember the birth of Christ, serve our communities, and spend quality time with family and friends. Let’s take a look at how we can follow biblical principles with our holiday activities.
What does the Bible say about celebrating Christmas?
The Bible doesn’t say anything about celebrating Christmas, but it does give us principles to guide the way we keep it.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Here are some simple questions to ask yourself:
- How does this holiday relate to my beliefs in God’s Word? (John 17:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:5).
- How does observing this holiday affect my behavior? (Galatians 5:13–14, Romans 12:1–2).
- How does observing this holiday affect the way I treat others? (Philippians 2:3–4; Romans 12:10–13).
- How does observing this holiday affect my relationship with God? (Matthew 6:33; Luke 16:13).
As we mentioned earlier, your answer to these questions might differ from somebody else’s. And that’s okay!
Christmas might encourage one person to embrace Christian values of charity and kindness. But it might encourage another person to get caught up in materialism, greed, or holiday stress. God calls us to the same standards of character, but in the end, we all struggle with different issues and temptations. We respond to situations differently because everyone’s Christian journey is unique.
That’s why each Adventist makes a decision for their life that best aligns with these biblical principles.
This is the case with other holidays, too. Curious to know about them?
Ideas for Celebrating Christmas in a Christ-Centered Way:
- Collect toys for children in need and donate them to a toy drive or charity.
- Participate in food drives so everyone can have a nice Christmas dinner.
- Donate money to the church or a favorite non-profit.
- Use your Christmas decorations to remind your neighbors of Christ’s love.
- Read or watch media about the Christmas story.
- Get your children engaged with the Christmas story through books, media, or some of these Christmas activities.
- Listen to Christmas songs or hymns.
- Go caroling in your neighborhood.
- Talk to or visit loved ones you don’t see very often.
- Bring your neighbors food and presents to show them you love them.
- Invite people to your church’s Christmas program.
- Invite people to your family’s Christmas dinner.
- Share literature about the Christmas story with others.
- Participate in your church’s Christmas program.
- Enjoy quality time with your family.
- Buy loved ones heartfelt gifts. Thank God for the ability to bless others.
- Receive gifts with thanksgiving. Thank God for all the blessings He has given you.
- Reflect on the ultimate gift of Jesus’ coming and sacrifice on the cross.
Related Articles
- “Do Adventists Celebrate Christmas?” General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. [↵]
- Hillerbrand, J., Hans, “Christmas,” Brittanica.com. [↵]
- Ibid. [↵]
- “Do Adventists Celebrate Christmas?” [↵]
- Ibid. [↵]
More Answers
Does the Adventist Church Have Youth Ministry Programs?
Does the Adventist Church Have Youth Ministry Programs?The Seventh-day Adventist Church has been organizing and operating youth ministry programs since 1879. In our opinion, youth ministry is one of the most important ministries a church can have. Being a tween or a...
How does one become a Seventh-day Adventist?
To be a Seventh-day Adventist Christian means to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This means to recognize that Jesus alone can save you from sin and death (Savior) and to give Him full authority over your life (Lord and Master).
What Are Adventist Evangelistic Meetings?
The Seventh-day Adventist Church puts a huge emphasis on sharing the gospel through evangelism, or sharing the gospel through preaching, teaching, and testimony. One of the ways we accomplish this is by organizing public events called evangelistic meetings.
What Do Adventists Offer for Young Adults?
What Do Adventists Offer for Young Adults?In recent years, the age group often classified as “young adults” has been trickier to engage. It’s been a significant concern for Christian churches around the world. Though interestingly enough, similar observations...
Does the Seventh-day Adventist Church Believe in Paying Tithe?
Seventh-day Adventists believe in paying tithe and offerings based on the biblical command and our commitment to being wise stewards of God’s resources. These donations help fund the mission of the Adventist Church by supporting pastors, missionaries, church expenses, and evangelistic projects, among other things.
The Leadership Structure of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Leadership Structure of the Seventh-day Adventist ChurchThe Seventh-day Adventist Church has a representative form of structure that connects its 90,000-plus congregations across the globe and gives its members a part in decision-making. Though the Church was...
Seventh-day Adventist World Population and Demographics
Did you know that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has more churches around the world than all the Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, and Subway restaurants combined?
Do I Need to be an Adventist to be Saved?
The answer to this question is simply, “no.”
All about Adventist Elementary Schools
The Seventh-day Adventist Church operates the largest Protestant education system in the world. A big part of this system is our K-8 elementary schools, or primary schools, as they’re known in other parts of the world.
Everything You Need to Know About Sabbath School
Sabbath School is the Bible study component of the church program at most Seventh-day Adventist Churches. It’s a time of Bible study on a specific topic or lesson. Instead of listening to a preacher, people interact with one another, making it a great opportunity for building friendships.
What Is Vespers?
Friday rolls around, and you’re spending time with your friends or relatives when they mention they’re going to vespers this evening.
Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe in Medical Care?
Adventists talk a lot about health principles and disease prevention. But how do we handle sickness and medical needs when they inevitably come along?
Do You Have to Be Vegetarian to Be Adventist?
Of course not. Membership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church has never included any dietary requirements.
How Do Adventists Do Baby Dedications?
For Christians, dedication ceremonies for babies are a special and memorable time for parents and the church. They often happen during a congregation’s main worship service when parents present their child before God and the church community, similar to how families did in the Bible.
What to Expect When You Go to an Adventist Church
If you’re attending an Adventist church for the first time, you may wonder what it’s really like. While each Adventist church is unique in its collective personality and local culture, Adventist church services are generally similar to most other Protestant Christian church services.
Everything You Need to Know About Sabbath Meals
For Seventh-day Adventists, sharing a Sabbath meal with friends and family is one of the most special and memorable parts of the Sabbath.
Why do Adventists Emphasize Religious Liberty?
Adventists see religious liberty as an essential human right. After all, God endowed humanity with freedom of choice from the very beginning. So we believe it’s best for governments to also support their citizens’ rights to worship based on their convictions.
All About Seventh-day Adventist Colporteurs
The Seventh-day Adventist Church uses a variety of methods to spread the hope of the gospel to the world. One of these ways is through colporteuring, also called “canvassing” or “literature evangelism.”
The Benefits of A Seventh-day Adventist Academy
Adventist academies are high schools (grades 9-12) that are owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Who Are Adventists
The Seventh-day Adventist Church—“Adventists” for short—is a Christian denomination of ordinary people who seek to follow Jesus and live out His mission in this world. Established in 1863, we hold to the Protestant principle of sola scriptura, which means the Bible guides everything we do.
Evangelism
Evangelism is simply sharing the truths of the Bible with someone else. And Adventists are all into it.
Adventist Pastors
What is the role of a pastor in the Adventist Church?
What Is ASI (Adventist-Laymen’s Services and Industries)?
ASI, which stands for Adventist-laymen’s Services and Industries, is a membership-based organization that provides support for Seventh-day Adventist laypeople (Adventist professionals who aren’t pastors).
Sola Scriptura—What Does It Mean, and Why Is It So Important?
Sola scriptura is a term that originated during the Protestant Reformation. It represents the way many Christians view the Bible and its authority.
What is the Concept of “Present Truth” and Why is it Important?
Present truth is the principle that certain biblical truths are relevant to God’s people at specific times in history. God sends the Holy Spirit to reveal truths that help us better understand how to interpret and apply His Word in a present moment.
What Does the Bible Say About Modesty
The Bible teaches that modesty, a form of humility and respect, is a valuable quality in everyone—men, women and children. It has to do with how we present ourselves, which should exemplify our inner relationship with God.
13th Sabbath Offering: What It Is and Why It Matters
On the last Sabbath of every quarter, Adventist churches participate in the 13th Sabbath offering—a special offering that goes to mission fields around the world.
Adventist Movies: Where Faith and Film Meet
The Seventh-day Adventist Church’s mission from the beginning has been to share God’s truth in the Bible. And as times have changed, we’ve explored new ways of doing this—one of those being movies.
Everything You Need to Know About an Adventist Church Potluck
Every so often, usually on a schedule ranging from once a week to once a month to once a quarter, an Adventist church will have “fellowship dinners,” often casually referred to as potlucks.
Didn’t find your answer? Ask us!
We understand your concern of having questions but not knowing who to ask—we’ve felt it ourselves. When you’re ready to learn more about Adventists, send us a question! We know a thing or two about Adventists.