Christmas has roots in pagan festivals such as Saturnalia and Yule, which celebrated the midpoint of the harsh northern hemisphere winter. Later, it was co-opted by Christianity to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. Over the years, Christmas became commercialized, focusing less on the values of Christianity and more on gifts under the Christmas tree.
It’s time to rethink Christmas. For many of us, traditional religious doctrines no longer resonate. Yet, Christmas remains a time when much of the Western world takes a break, reconnects with family and friends, and exchanges gifts.
Let’s explore how Christmas values have evolved, particularly over the past couple of centuries.
Traditional Christmas Values
1. Faith
Traditionally, Christmas was a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, rooted in Christian teachings. Attending church services, setting up nativity scenes, and singing carols reflected a deep spiritual connection and reverence for the season’s religious significance.
2. Family Unity
The holiday was a time to gather with family and loved ones, share meals, and enjoy togetherness. Customs like decorating the tree, exchanging stories, and participating in family rituals emphasized harmony and connection across generations.
3. Generosity
Giving to others—whether through thoughtful gifts, charitable donations, or acts of kindness—embodied the spirit of goodwill and compassion. This value reflected the example of Saint Nicholas and the story of the Three Wise Men bringing gifts to baby Jesus.
Modern Christmas Values
1. Novelty
Modern Christmas is often driven by the excitement of giving and receiving gifts—especially the latest gadgets, toys, and trends. The thrill of unwrapping something new and the joy of novelty have become central to the holiday experience.
2. Eating
The Christmas feast has taken on a life of its own, with indulgent spreads, decadent desserts, and often a post-meal food coma. Gathering around a table piled high with festive dishes is now a hallmark of the season, sometimes overshadowing other traditions.
3. Time Off Work
For many, Christmas offers a much-needed break from work and daily stress. It’s a time to pause, rest, and recharge—whether that means relaxing at home, binge-watching holiday movies, or catching up on sleep. The emphasis is often on taking a breather from the hustle of modern life.
Intentional Christmas Values for the Modern Era
So, if we were to rethink Christmas, what could be the guiding values?
Connection: The Heart of Christmas
First and foremost, family. For those who aren’t with their families or don’t have one, this can extend to friends or community. At its core, Christmas is about connection. It’s about making time for people in the real world rather than staying glued to virtual realities on social media.
Christmas offers the perfect opportunity to put down our phones and devices and rediscover what it means to be fully human. We are incredible “talking monkeys” who have mastered tools, symbols, and technology in ways our ancestors could never have imagined. But underneath it all, we are still tribal creatures who need love and connection.
Peace: A Moment to Breathe
The second core value of Christmas is peace. We live in a time of fragmented attention and polarization. What if, just for Christmas, we called a truce and chose to be peaceful?
What we practice, we get good at. So why not practice being calm and present? Let bygones be bygones. Prioritize rest and recovery. This is the missing ingredient for so many of us burned out by the relentless pace of modern life.
Use the Christmas break to downregulate your nervous system. Be mindful of your information consumption—if not your consumption of food! We’re here on this planet for the blink of an eye, and still many people feel like time is speeding up.
Remember how slowly time passed when you were bored as a child? Creating space for boredom—doing nothing—can slow down that feeling of life slipping away. Every moment in the present holds eternity. Sink into it, and allow that eternity to unfold.
That is peace.
Gratitude: The Gift That Keeps Giving
The final core value is gratitude. Spend a little time reflecting on what you’re thankful for—alone and with those you care about. Gratitude helps offset our negativity bias and is a powerful tool for well-being.
The Christmas break offers a chance to introduce new habits that can support you all year. Why not start a gratitude practice? Research shows that keeping a gratitude journal—writing down three things that went well each day—can even improve sleep quality.
There’s nowhere you need to be, nothing you need to do. Yes, family obligations may come with their own triggers, but simply being grateful that we’re still here is powerful. Be thankful for your team at work, the planet that sustains us, and the life force that connects us all.
Whether you believe in a higher power or just in the beauty of life itself, gratitude is grounding. Realize that you are part of a long chain of life stretching back to the very first living organism. The gratitude you practice today may echo forward—through stories, through epigenetics, or simply through the lives you touch.
A Thoughtful Christmas
It’s time to rethink some of our traditions and modernize them. We don’t need to throw everything out, but we can find new significance in what we celebrate. Consumerism has its place; we enjoy giving gifts. But maybe this year, we can aim for less trash and more treasure, especially if sustainability matters to us.
At the heart of it all are the values of Connection, Peace, and Gratitude. These principles can help us reclaim the deeper meaning of Christmas and make the holiday truly nourishing—for ourselves and for the world.
