Lutheranism

Abstract

Christmas for Lutherans is a celebration of light and the birth of Jesus, the son of Mary. A mixture of medieval practices, pre-Christian customs, and ethnic preferences, the Lutheran Christmas includes festivals of lights, Christmas trees and hymns, ethnic foods, and liturgical services that rhythm the twelve days of the season. Christmas proclamation addresses the revelation of the good news for humanity found in the infant Jesus in the arms of his mother, Mary. The miracle of God’s Incarnation is interpreted in light of the cross and humanity’s needs for redemption and divine compassion. The humility of Christ’s birth is understood as an invitation to Christian life oriented with that compassion. The tradition of exchanging gifts at Christmas has a theological foundation in the gift of life given to humanity in Christ, and the invitation it extends to follow a Christian way of life with concern for the well-being of one’s neighbour. The sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther shaped many of the traditions that characterize Lutheran Christmases around the world theologically and liturgically. They also have some cultural customs with roots in Northern European climates. Musically, Luther also left a strong legacy in Christmas hymns, and Johann Sebastian Bach brought the Lutheran Christmas theology to church and homes beyond denominational and cultural borders.