99: Disrupting 10 Christmas myths Compass Podcast: Finding the spirituality in the day-to-day

Happy Advent! Let’s prepare for the UPCOMING Christmas season by looking at the history and practices of the holiday.

Why is the date of Jesus’ birth celebrated on December 25? Why do we sometimes call Santa Claus “Saint Nicholas”? Was the Grinch based on a real person? We’re doing a short but deep dive into Christmas traditions and practices.

In this episode:

(00:00) Rethinking Christmas traditions

(00:59) Myth 1: Christmas is the most important Christian holiday

(04:06) Myth 2: Christmas is just an adaptation of a pagan festival

(06:06) Myth 3: Jesus was born on December 25

(07:52) Myth 4: There’s a new modern war on Christmas

(10:33) Myth 5: Writing “Xmas” is disrespectful or sacrilegious

(12:11) Myth 6: Santa Claus is Saint Nicholas

(15:33) Myth 7: Mary rode a donkey to Bethlehem

(17:02) Myth 8: A star shone directly above the birth scene

(18:05) Myth 9: Three kings were present at Jesus’ birth

(18:37) Myth 10: December is the Christmas season