Do Mormons Celebrate Christmas?

Growing up as a Mormon, Christmas was always a magical time filled with sugary treats, family, and traditions. Mormons do celebrate Christmas, but, as with many things in Mormonism, the unique lifestyle and beliefs mean that Christmas might be celebrated slightly differently.

Christmas in My Mormon Home

From the outside, a Mormon Christmas looks like any other Christian’s Christmas. We had lights adorning our house and stockings hung by the fireplace. On Christmas Eve, it was hard to sleep knowing Santa would come by and leave presents for everyone beneath the ornament-covered tree.

But amidst the typical holiday festivities, there was always a strong emphasis on the religious aspect. Mormons do believe in Jesus Christ and emphasize that the focus should be on him during Christmas.

We spent time reading passages from the Book of Mormon and the Bible or singing hymns like Silent Night. It felt like the excitement of gift giving and gingerbread constantly needed to be tempered with a reminder to be reverent towards the true meaning of Christmas–the birth of Jesus Christ.

How Mormons Celebrate Christmas

Church Activities

The church played a significant role in our Christmas celebrations:

Ward Christmas Parties

These were big community events. We’d gather at the church building for potluck dinners, nativity reenactments, and lots of singing. It was a time to connect with our church community.

Special Services

The Sunday before Christmas often featured a program with the choir performing hymns and members sharing testimonies about Jesus Christ. The church also broadcasts a Christmas program where the top leaders share messages about the gospel and Christmas hymns are sung by the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.

Service Projects

Acts of service are heavily emphasized. The church youth would frequently participate in activities like delivering care packages to those in need or caroling at retirement homes.

Family Traditions

Most Mormon families celebrate Christmas like any other Christians–trees adorned in ornaments, stockings, presents, Santa Claus, (non-alcoholic) eggnog, gingerbread houses, and more. That being said, there are a few things that might make it a little bit different than you’re used to. 

Differences in Mormon Christmas Celebrations

Word of Wisdom Restrictions

One noticeable difference is the adherence to the Word of Wisdom, the church’s health code prohibiting alcohol, coffee, and tea. Our holiday gatherings were always alcohol-free. Instead, there was an abundance of hot chocolate, eggnog (the non-alcoholic kind), and lots of soda.

Church Commitments During the Holidays

Missionary Work

Missionaries don’t take holidays off. Looking back at my time as a missionary, we were taught to take advantage of Christmas as a special time to share our message with others. That meant we worked on Christmas like any other day of the year.

Members are also encouraged to share church materials with their friends during the holidays and the church often releases marketing campaigns specifically for Christmas.

Church Callings

Even if Christmas falls on a Sunday, members are expected to attend and fulfill their volunteer responsibilities within their local community. Whether you’ve been assigned as a Sunday school teacher or a financial clerk, there’s no break during the holidays. If you grew up with a parent in local church leadership, this might mean you saw a lot less of them during Christmas.

Focus on Obedience

There’s an underlying pressure to maintain strict adherence to church standards. Even during festive events, the dress code remained modest. No sleeveless dresses or short skirts at the Christmas parties.

Some families also skip popular Christmas movies if they don’t align with church values. Whether or not Die Hard qualifies as a Christmas movie, most Mormon families won’t watch it because it’s rated R.

Reflecting on Christmas After Leaving Mormonism

Leaving the church allowed me to reassess what Christmas meant to me. Although I no longer believe in God or Jesus Christ, I still enjoy many of the festivities such as gift giving, decorations, and holiday treats. Christmas already is a huge amalgamation of pagan winter solstice traditions mixed with capitalistic commercialism and unique family customs. Even by taking out the Christian aspects, there’s still a lot to celebrate.

Light the World and Giving Machines

One thing that doesn’t sit well with me is the church’s “Light the World” Giving Machines. Over the past few holiday seasons, they have set up vending machines where you can “buy” a goat for a family in need or meals for the hungry. On the surface, it’s a nice idea. But knowing the church has over $100 billion in assets makes me question why they’re asking others to donate instead of utilizing their own vast resources. It’s another instance of the church portraying a “Christ-like image” while doing as little as possible themselves.

These Giving Machines are also an example of a trend I have seen within the church. Service is often used as a way to make yourself appear more righteous. Members will casually mention in church meetings how they donated toys to a local foster home or made meals for the homeless shelter and emphasize how that was the highlight of their Christmas season. This can create a weird competitive atmosphere of everyone trying to one-up each other. It doesn’t help that the church itself seems to constantly brag about how much good it does.

Finding My Own Meaning in Christmas

Without the constraints of church expectations, I’ve found a deeper joy in the holiday season. I’m no longer trying to fit my celebrations into a prescribed mold. I can create traditions that feel genuine and meaningful to me. The holidays are now about connecting—really connecting—with the people I love, without any underlying agendas or obligations. I still take time to reflect on themes like love, generosity, and hope. These concepts transcend any one religion and are universally uplifting.

In Conclusion

Yes, Mormons do celebrate Christmas, blending typical holiday festivities with their religious beliefs. There are unique aspects due to lifestyle restrictions and church doctrines, like no alcohol at parties and an emphasis on church activities.

For me, stepping away from Mormonism opened up a new world of possibilities in how I celebrate. I’ve kept the traditions that resonate with me and happily embraced new ones. Christmas has become a more personal, joyous, and authentic time.

Whether you’re Mormon, another faith, or not religious at all, I think the essence of Christmas is about connection, kindness, and finding joy. However you choose to celebrate, I hope your holiday season is filled with warmth and happiness.