Ellen White on Christmas vs. Easter: A Balanced View

You are seeking a clear understanding of Ellen White's perspective on Christmas, especially in contrast to Easter, and I am happy to clarify this for you.

Ellen White's writings demonstrate a clear and strong opposition to the celebration of Easter because of its pagan origins and its integration into Christian worship, which represented a compromise with worldly practicesHF 32.2+2. She considered it one of "the old trick[s] of Satan" to introduce worldliness into the churchGC88 386.3.

Regarding Christmas, her stance was not one of outright opposition to the day itself, but rather a strong disapproval of the common, worldly, and often self-indulgent ways in which it was celebrated21MR 223.2+2. She emphasized that the focus should not be on selfish gratification, costly gifts exchanged among those who don't need them, or neglecting the poorPaM 261.2+2. She also acknowledged that the exact date of Christ's birth is unknown and cautioned against worshipping the day itself21MR 223.2.

However, she saw potential for Christmas to be transformed into a great blessing and an occasion for spiritual growth and benevolenceRH December 9, 1884, par. 8+1. She encouraged celebrating it by remembering God, expressing gratitude for the gift of His Son, and making offerings to His cause, particularly for missions and to help the needyEGWSROCHG 6.4+3. She even approved of Christmas trees in churches if they were used as a means to collect offerings for benevolent purposes, clarifying that the "sin lies in the motive which prompts to action, and the use which is made of the gifts placed upon the tree"RH December 11, 1879, par. 15.

In summary, while she opposed Easter due to its pagan roots, she advocated for a spiritualized, benevolent, and Christ-centered observance of Christmas, free from worldly extravagance and selfishness.

Here are some specific insights from the references:

...mdash;The bishops of Rome began, very early, to demand obedience from all the churches. Of this the dispute between the Eastern and the Western churches respecting Easter is a striking illustration. This dispute arose in the second century. Says Mosheim: “the Christians of this century celebrated anniversary festivals in commemoration of the death and resurrection of Christ.... The day which was observed as the anniversary of Christ's death was called the Paschal day, or Passover.” Like the Jews, Christians celebrated “a sacred feast, at which they distributed a paschal lamb in memory of the holy supper.” The Christians of Asia Minor kept this feast on the fourteenth day of the first Jewish month, when the Jews celebrated their Passover, and when Christ is said to have eaten the paschal lamb with his disciples. Three days thereafter, a festival was observed in honor of the resurrection. The Western churches, on the other hand, celebrated the resurrection of Christ on the Sunday following the Jewish Passover, and observed the paschal feast on the night preceding Sunday, thus connecting the commemoration of Christ's death with that of his resurrection. “Toward the conclusion of this [the second] century, Victor, Bishop of Rome, endeavored to force the Asiatic Christians, by the pretended authority of his laws and decrees, to follow the rule which was observed by the Western churches in this point. Accordingly ... He wrote an imperious letter to the Asiatic prelates, commanding them to imitate the example of the Western Christians with respect to the time of celebrating the festival of Easter. The Asiatics answered this lordly requisition ... With great spirit and resolution, that they would by no means depart, in this manner, from the custom handed down to them by their ancestors. Upon this the thunder of excommunication began to roar. Victor, exasperated by this resolute answer of the Asiatic bishops, broke communion with them, pronounced them unworthy of the name of his brethren, and excluded them from all fellowship with the church of Rome.” [Mosheim, Eccl. Hist., cent. 2, part 2, chap. 4., para. 9, 11.] This, says Bower, was “the first essay of papal usurpation.” For a time, however, Victor's efforts availed little. No regard was paid to his letter...— GC88 685.4 (1888)

...f the church; and as a satisfaction for all this worldliness, Christians are making a great deal of Lent and Easter and church ornamentation. It is the old trick of Satan. The Jewish church struck on that rock; the Romish church was wrecked on the same; and the Protestant is fast reaching the same doom.&rdquo— GC88 386.3 (1888)

Our birthday anniversaries, and Christmas and Thanksgiving festivals, are too often devoted to selfish gratification, when the mind should be directed to the mercy and loving-kindness of God. God is displeased that...— CSW 143.2 (1938)

...ist was born on the 25th day of December, and for that reason it is celebrated as His birthday. But it is impossible for us to know upon what day He was born. You can know no more about that than the children of Israel could know where Moses was buried. The reason God has not revealed that fact is because you would have worshiped that day, as they would have worshiped the grave of Moses had they found it, and this is just what they have...— 21MR 223.2 (1993)

How stinted are the offerings that on this day go into the Lord's treasury! how large the sums that are spent in presents to one another! Yearly those who have means, have put God from their remembrance, and bestowed their gifts upon those who have no need of them, and who could repay them again. How many of you have thus needlessly expended time and money, while close under the shadow of your own homes the poor and needy have been neglected, and while the message of truth has been restricted in its work. The means that was devoted to grat...— RH December 9, 1890, Art. A, par. 5 (1851)

On Christmas, so soon to come, let not the parents take the position that an evergreen placed in the church for the amusement of the Sabbath-school scholars is a sin; for it may be made a great blessing. Keep before their minds benevolent objects. In no case should mere amusement be the object of these gatherings. While there may be some who will turn these occasions into seasons of careless levity, and whose minds will not receive the divine impress, to other minds and characters these seasons will be highly beneficial. I am fully satisfied that innocent substitutes can be devised for many gatherings that demoralize. Every tree in Satan's garden hangs laden with the fruits of vanity, pride, self-importance, evil desire, extravagance,—all poisoned fruit, but very gratifying to the carnal heart. Let the several churches present to God Christmas trees in every church; and then let them hang thereon the fruits of beneficence and gratitude,—offerings coming from willing hearts and hands, fruits that God will accept as an expression...— RH December 9, 1884, par. 8 (1851)

...h he has only intrusted to us till he shall call for it. God would be well pleased if on Christmas, each church would have a Christmas tree on which shall be hung offerings, great and small, for these houses of worship. Letters of inquiry have come to us asking, Shall we have a Christmas tree? will it not be like the world? We answer, You can make it like the world if you have a disposition to do so, or you can make it as unlike the world as possible. There is no particular sin in selecting a fragrant evergreen, and placing it in our churches; but the sin lies in the motive which prompts to action, and the use which is made of the gifts placed upon the tree— RH December 11, 1879, par. 15 (1851)

...rents place it in all its wonderful significance before their children and friends, and say: “This year we will not expend money in presents upon ourselves, but we will honor and glorify God. We will testify of our gratitude to Him who gave His Son to die as our sacrifice, that we might have the gift of eternal life.” Let us show that we appreciate this gift, and respond as far as it is in our power with thank offerings. Let us celebrate Christmas by remembering God instead of remembering our friends and relatives with gifts which they do not need— EGWSROCHG 6.4 (1962)

The year 1905 has nearly expired, and the remnant of time will soon pass away. Will every soul before the old year closes put off the old man with his deeds and put on the new man Christ Jesus? Let there be no great ambitious stress to buy presents for Christmas and New Year. Little presents for the childr...— 20LtMs, Ms 116, 1905, par. 2