The Origins of Christmas: Myths, Truths, and Traditions | Dr. Tim Larsen

Christian scholar Dr. Tim Larsen joins the show to explain the real origins of the Christmas traditions we hold dear today—from Santa Claus and reindeer to ornaments and the December 25th date itself. He debunks the persistent myth that Christmas is a pagan holiday, explores how centuries of tradition shaped modern celebrations, and helps separate historical fact from popular fiction.

And yes—we settle the age-old question: Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?

Dr. Timothy Larsen is a Professor of History at Wheaton College in Illinois and the president of the American Society of Church History. His scholarly expertise is the Victorian era, the period that has done so much to shape our Christmas celebrations today, and he is an expert on Christmas. He is the author or editor of over twenty books, including Twelve Classic Christmas Stories: A Feast of Yuletide Tales and The Oxford Handbook of Christmas.