Recollecting his father's teachings on Christmas symbols and uncertainty about the date of Christ's birth, Llewelyn R. McKay wrote the following:
Christmas
Symbols
Some
people have claimed that Church members should not use the Christmas tree, the
holly wreath and evergreen as decorations at Christmas time because these
things are heathen in origin. Father is not in accord with this attitude.
The
fact that the evergreen tree antedates Christianity as a symbol of fertility
and also of everlasting life does not lessen its appropriateness to be used by
Christians. The giving of gifts on a particular day likewise goes back to early
historic time, for instance, a day was set apart in Rome during which time
honey was given to one another by the people that life might be sweeter. Father
thinks the giving of gifts probably dates back to the Wise Men. The legend of
St. Nicholas is also highly appropriate for Christmas for it symbolizes the
spirit of giving.
“Actually
we do not know when Christ’s birthday occurred. It has been celebrated in
January, in April, in May, and in December. The important thing is that we
realize that Christmas, the day which has been generally set to celebrate Christ’s
birth, is recognized as a day that should ‘change all grief into love.’ (Home
Memories of President David O. McKay, comp. Llewelyn R. McKay [Salt Lake
City: Deseret Book Company, 1956], 200)