Why Christmas traditions lose meaning without Jesus at the center
Christmas traditions and Western culture have deep roots in Christianity, shaped over more than 2,000 years. Yet, each year, many find their attempts to capture the Christmas spirit fall short, leaving customs feeling hollow. Tobias Riemenschneider, a lawyer and pastor near Frankfurt am Main, argues that without a return to the core of Christian belief, these traditions risk fading into empty rituals.
At the heart of Christianity stands Jesus, called Christ the Lord—the Anointed One and King. His teachings, including the two great commandments of love—loving God and loving one’s neighbour—have formed the bedrock of Western values. These principles helped build societies where security, justice, freedom, and peace could flourish.
The Christian message centres on Jesus as Saviour, who died on the cross to take upon Himself the sins of the world. His sacrifice offers forgiveness and eternal life to those who believe. His birth, celebrated at Christmas, is seen as the moment salvation and blessing entered the world for all people. Riemenschneider warns that without this foundation, traditions and values lose their meaning. He stresses that preserving Christian values requires returning to the essence of the faith: the message of Jesus as both Saviour and Lord.
The call to revive Christian values hinges on reconnecting with the original message of Christmas. Without this anchor, traditions may continue to weaken over time. The future of these cultural and spiritual practices depends on whether society chooses to uphold their roots.
