Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

FSogol

(45,488 posts)
Tue Dec 19, 2017, 09:05 AM Dec 2017

FSogol's Advent Calendar Day 19: Why is Christmas Day on the 25th December?

No date is given in the Bible (for the birth of Jesus), so why do we celebrate it on the 25th December? The early Christians certainly had many arguments as to when it should be celebrated. Also, the birth of Jesus probably didn't happen in the year 1 but slightly earlier, somewhere between 2 BCE/BC and 7 BCE/BC, possibly in 4 BCE/BC (there isn't a 0 - the years go from 1 BC/BCE to 1).

The first recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th was in 336, during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine (he was the first Christian Roman Emperor). A few years later, Pope Julius I officially declared that the birth of Jesus would be celebrated on the 25th December.

A very early Christian tradition said that the day when Mary was told that she would have a very special baby, Jesus (called the Annunciation) was on March 25th - and it's still celebrated today on the 25th March. Nine months after the 25th March is the 25th December! March 25th was also the day some early Christians thought the world had been made, and also the day that Jesus died on when he was an adult. The date of March 25th was chosen because people had calculated that was the day on which Jesus died as an adult (the 14th of Nisan in the Jewish calendar) and they thought that Jesus was born and had died on the same day of the year.


December 25 was the Winter Solstice (as the Romans believed) and the ancient pagan Roman midwinter festivals called 'Saturnalia' and 'Dies Natalis Solis Invicti'. Early Christians matched all of their holidays to other more ancient holidays.

The Solstice is known as Yule in Scandinavia and Northern Europe. It is called Koleda in Eastern Europe.

Saturnalia took place from Dec 17 to Dec 23. It honored Saturn. Dies Natalis Solis Invicti means 'birthday of the unconquered sun' and honored Mithra, a pagan sun god, and the origin of the word Sunday.

The Jewish festival of Lights, Hannukkah also starts on the 25th of Kislev.

Iran also has a festival on the solstice called Yaldā Night.

https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/25th.shtml
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yald%C4%81_Night
Latest Discussions»The DU Lounge»FSogol's Advent Calendar ...