Are Christmas and other Christian holidays truly rooted in heathen traditions, or has history’s hand reshaped them for God’s glory?
Let’s dive into the hidden story of how rulers throughout history manipulated calendars and belief systems to control time, renaming months, days, and festivals—and discover how this power still influences modern Christianity today.
The calendar we follow today isn’t just about tracking days. It is the product of historical change, political power, and religious negotiation—shaped by emperors, councils, saints, and scholars. From renaming months and days to adopting new holidays, powerful figures sought to control time, leaving their legacies behind. But what does this mean for us as modern Christians? How can we understand time in the light of history, while staying rooted in faith and truth? Let's explore how time was reshaped by human power and how it relates to our worship of God today.
Time Is A Tool: The Human Hand Behind the Calendar
Have you ever asked why September literally means "seven" yet is the ninth month? Or why October (from octo, meaning “eight”) sits in the tenth slot? The answer is not an ancient mistake. It is the result of power, tradition, and human reshaping of time.
The calendar we use today—the Julian then Gregorian—was not God’s original timetable. It was invented, reworked, renamed, realigned, and eventually globalized through empire, church councils, and political necessity. And through it, rulers and institutions left their mark on every year.
The Original Calendar: 10 Months, and Their Original Names
Before the reform of the calendar by Julius Caesar, the Romans used a 10-month year system, with months beginning in March and ending in December. The original names of these months, in Latin, were:
• Martius (March) – Named after Mars, the Roman god of war.
• Aprilis (April) – Likely derived from aperire (Latin for "to open"), symbolizing the opening of flowers.
• Maius (May) – Named after Maia, the Roman goddess of spring.
• Junius (June) – Named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and the queen of the gods.
• Quintilis (July) – Named simply for its position as the fifth month.
• Sextilis (August) – The sixth month of the year.
• September (September) – From septem, meaning "seven."
• October (October) – From octo, meaning "eight."
• November (November) – From novem, meaning "nine."
• December (December) – From decem, meaning "ten."
This 10-month calendar had no winter months, and its structure left room for seasonal adjustments. However, as the Roman empire grew, the system became inadequate for keeping time consistent with the solar year, leading to reforms.
Renaming the Months: Power Moves in History
After Julius Caesar's reform in 45 BC, the calendar expanded to 12 months, adding January and February to the beginning of the year. This realignment threw off the original numbering of the months, but their names stayed the same, creating a mismatch between the names and the months themselves.
The Fifth Month Quintilis Becomes July: Julius Caesar’s Legacy
Julius Caesar, seeking to immortalize his name, renamed the fifth month Quintilis to July after himself. This was a clear political move: to ensure his name would be remembered every year. The original name Quintilis reflected its position as the fifth month, but after the reform, it became the seventh month, a renaming driven by Caesar’s desire for a lasting legacy.
The Sixth Month Sextilis Becomes August: Augustus Takes His Place
After Julius Caesar’s death, his successor, Emperor Augustus, wanted to ensure his name lived on as well. So, in 8 BC, Augustus renamed the sixth month Sextilis to August. Not only did Augustus rename the month after himself, but he also had an extra day added to August—to ensure his month was as long as Julius Caesar’s, July. So, even though these months were no longer in their original positions, the names stuck, cementing the legacy of the emperors in the calendar.
The Roman Calendar's Extended Months and Their Modern Equivalents
Let’s break down how the months were renamed after the Julian reform:
• Martius (March) → March
• Aprilis (April) → April
• Maius (May) → May
• Junius (June) → June
• Quintilis (July) → July (renamed by Julius Caesar)
• Sextilis (August) → August (renamed by Augustus)
• September (September) → September
• October (October) → October
• November (November) → November
• December (December) → December
• Januarius (January) → January (added in the Julian reform)
• Februarius (February) → February (added in the Julian reform)
This naming and renaming were not just practical; they were a political act meant to honor those who reshaped the empire, ensuring their names would forever be attached to the measurement of time. But, this manipulation of time was not neutral—it was about control.
The Days of the Week: Tied to Gods and Leaders
The seven-day week we use now also carries names tied to gods and celestial bodies:
1. Sunday – Sun’s Day
2. Monday – Moon’s Day
3. Tuesday – Tiw’s Day, named after the Norse god of war
4. Wednesday – Woden’s Day, after Woden, the chief Norse god
5. Thursday – Thor’s Day, after the Norse god of thunder
6. Friday – Frigg’s Day, after Frigg, the Norse goddess of love
7. Saturday – Saturn’s Day, named after the Roman god of agriculture
For centuries, the days of the week were tied to celestial bodies and deities. However, as Christianity spread, the meaning of these days began to shift, though their names remained intact. The early church chose to sanctify the first day of the week (Sunday) in commemoration of Christ’s resurrection. It wasn’t about abandoning the names but taking dominion over them to point to Christ.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). Time, like everything else, belongs to God. It’s not the names that matter but the purpose behind them.
Christian Festivals: Old Traditions Meet New Beliefs
The shaping of Christian festivals like Christmas and Easter is where history meets theology and reveals something deeper.
Christmas: Timing the Birth of Christ
The Bible does not provide a specific date for the birth of Jesus, but the early church chose December 25th as the day to celebrate it. This day aligned with the Roman festival of Sol Invictus—the celebration of the "unconquered sun," symbolizing the return of light after the winter solstice. By adopting this date, the church didn’t compromise with paganism; rather, it reclaimed the date, focusing the celebration on the true Light of the world—Jesus Christ.
“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world” (John 1:9). Christians redeemed a pagan holiday by filling it with the glory of Christ.
Easter: Christ’s Victory Amid Seasonal Traditions
Easter celebrates Christ’s resurrection but coincides with ancient spring festivals marking rebirth. The name Easter comes from Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring. However, Christians didn’t adopt pagan worship; instead, they transformed these traditions to honor Christ’s victory over death.
“Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Easter is now a Christian festival, a celebration of new life in Christ.
Calendar Reform: Church Meets Power
By the 4th century, Christians sought a consistent calculation for Easter. The Council of Nicaea (325 AD) fixed Easter's observance based on the spring equinox. Later, in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII issued the Gregorian reforms to realign the calendar with the astronomical year. These reforms ensured that the time of Easter was fixed correctly.
These adjustments were about aligning the seasons with Scripture—ensuring that key festivals were celebrated at the proper times according to God’s design.
What This Means for Modern Christianity
1. Time Reflects Power, But God Is Sovereign Over Time
Human institutions have shaped how we count days and months. But God is above all human systems. Scripture declares:
“He has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
“For with God, a thousand years is like a day” (2 Peter 3:8).
Time belongs to the Creator, not the created.
2. Christian Worship Is Not Defined by Names of Days
Some in the postmodern church resist Sunday worship or Christian festivals because of pagan origins. But Christianity never worships a day—it worships the God who dwells beyond time:
“True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth” (John 4:23–24).
Whether it is Monday, Sunday, Christmas, or any month, the significance lies in who we worship, not what we call the day.
3. The Church Is Called to Redeem Time, Not Reject It
Instead of abandoning days or festivals, Christians are called to sanctify all time for God’s glory:
“Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Modern Christians can take authority over time by proclaiming Christ’s lordship over every hour, every season, and every tradition shaped by human history.
Reclaiming Time for God’s Glory
When you next look at a calendar—whether a date, a festival, or a day of the week—remember:
Time has been shaped by human power;
The calendar bears marks of history, politics, and religion;
But Christ is Lord of time, not Caesar or tradition;
And Christians are called to redeem and sanctify time for the glory of God.
Time doesn’t bind God. We bind time to God’s purposes when we worship in Spirit and truth.
“Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always” (Psalm 105:4).
Christianity’s power does not lie in renaming days, but in proclaiming His name above all names.
Redeeming Time for God's Glory
Throughout history, time and its measurement have been shaped by human power and political agendas. From the renaming of months by emperors like Julius Caesar and Augustus to the establishment of Christian holidays that redefined pagan festivals, rulers and institutions have used time as a tool to control and influence society. However, as Christians, we must recognize that time itself belongs to God—the Creator of all things.
In the same way Aaron’s rod swallowed the rods of the Egyptian magicians (Exodus 7:12), God has the power to reclaim all things, including time, names, and human traditions, for His glory. Our calling is to take dominion over time, not reject it. We are to redeem time by sanctifying every hour, day, and season, using them for God's kingdom purposes.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). No matter the origins or the names associated with our days, months, or festivals, we are called to worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24) and to declare His sovereignty over all. By redeeming the time and taking authority over every tradition, we proclaim the glory of Christ above all human systems.
Let us stand firm in our faith, reclaim time for God’s purposes, and make His glory known in every moment. Time is a gift from God—let us use it to bring His kingdom to earth.
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