During the first 13 centuries after the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, no one thought of setting up a creche to celebrate Christmas. The pre-eminent Christian holiday was Easter, not Christmas.

In this quote, Nancy Pearcey highlights an historical perspective on the way early Christians viewed Christmas and Easter. She points out that for the first 13 centuries after the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the focus of Christian celebration was not on Christmas, but on Easter, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus. The absence of creches (nativity scenes) during this time reflects how Christmas was not initially the central holiday it is today, with Easter being the pre-eminent Christian holiday due to its focus on the core Christian belief in salvation and eternal life.

Pearcey’s words underscore the fact that Christmas as we know it today, with all of its festive traditions, including the creche, is a relatively modern development in Christian history. Early Christians were more focused on celebrating the resurrection of Jesus because it represented victory over death and was seen as the most significant event in Christian theology. The idea of celebrating Jesus' birth became more prominent only later, as traditions and religious practices evolved.

The quote also highlights the way in which religious celebrations and priorities can change over time. While Easter remained the dominant holiday for many centuries, the commemoration of Jesus’ birth eventually gained importance, especially with the development of Christmas traditions in the Middle Ages. Pearcey’s reflection encourages us to consider how historical context and theological shifts have shaped the way we observe holidays like Christmas today.

The origin of this quote comes from Nancy Pearcey’s insights into the development of Christian thought and practices over the centuries. As an author and speaker on Christian philosophy and culture, Pearcey often explores how religious practices evolve and how historical events influence modern traditions. This quote is part of her broader discussion on the development of Christian holidays and the theological significance of both Christmas and Easter.