If we didn’t sing any Christmas carols, would it even feel like Christmas? Singing at Christmas time is a great tradition. Music has a way of causing our minds to remember and our hearts to swell.

But still I think it's important that we understand the difference between fact and fiction. I think it's good to compare our traditions with the Bible. It's a reminder of the Bible's authority. Nevertheless, I try not to be a fuddy-duddy either. I think we can be over-legalistic and judgemental if we're not careful. (For example, I used to be the guy who would say, "There are no girl angels in the Bible" to some sweet little ole lady who was decorating the church sanctuary for Christmas.) I still say, "We don't know how many wise men there were" AND "The Bible doesn't actually say that Mary rode a donkey to Bethlehem even though your Children's Bible Story book says that."

Here are some gentle corrections of Christmas Carol traditions.

“Away in a Manger” says, “The little lord Jesus no crying he makes.” Newborn babies do sleep a lot. But when they are awake, there’s a lot of crying. There’s no reason to think that Jesus, as a fully human baby, didn’t cry! Between a mother giving birth, a newborn baby, and animals being disturbed, the night was probably not all that silent! On the other hand, newborn babies do sleep a lot, so I guess it might have been silent right before the shepherds showed up and woke up the baby! :)

“The First Noel” – The word “Noel” means Christmas-time. The song says, “And a cold winter’s night that was so deep.” We don’t know what time of year Jesus was born. December 25th is just the day we celebrate his birth. Some Bible scholars speculate that Jesus probably came in a time of year that was warm enough for shepherds to be out with their sheep.

“We Three Kings of Orient Are” –The Bible doesn’t say how many wise men there were. Traditionally the songs and stories only say there were three because there were three gifts. Wise Men, or Magi, were not kings. They were advisers and magicians for kings. As for the Orient, they were from the middle-east, not the far-east.


“O Little Town of Bethlehem” –Bethlehem means “house of Bread” maybe because that’s the product it was known for. I sort of imagine the annual Bread festival complete with parade and "Bread Queen". OK now I'm reaching, nevermind... :)


“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” – “Hark” means listen. The Angels didn’t actually sing though. The Bible says that one angel appeared to the shepherds and “said to them,

‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Then a crowd of angels appears and said,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:10-14).

This great song by Charles Wesley calls our attention to some important Biblical truths though. It says: “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail the incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.” Emmanuel means “God with us.” He was and he is. Because of Jesus we can know God. The Son of God became a son of man and came to live where we are, so that we sons of man can become sons of God.

May God fill you with wonder and awe this Christmas and may you glorify him in all you do.