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Jesus Christ's birthday was really on December 25! by kathysmith at 12/22/2013 10:02:56 PM Christmas, I know we all know the holiday is on Dec. 25 because early Christians co-opted pagan holidays to gain legitimacy. At least that is what we are always told. It is either Saturnalia or, more common in the 20th and 21st centuries, the Festival of the Unconquered Sun. Turns out the larger preponderance of history shows Christians arrived at the period of Dec. 25 to Jan. 6, the 12 days of Christmas, all on their own and for entirely Christian reasons. During this early period, the church discouraged the celebrations of birth and consciously chose to separate itself from pagan traditions. By A.D. 200, Tertullian noted it as common knowledge that Christ had been crucified on the 14th of Nisan, which corresponded to March 25. The early church also believed that prophets and church martyrs died on the anniversaries of their conception. In other words, by A.D. 200, the early church believed Christ had died on March 25 and believed he had been conceived on the same day. Fast forward nine months to get the date on which Christmas should be set. Some Christians in Egypt, within 100 years of Christ’s crucifixion, had begun commemorating Christ’s birth in the spring time, but by A.D. 200. Christians were shifting toward December and January. This was before Emperor Aurelian had even created the Festival of the Unconquered Son. By A.D. 300, before Constantine had converted and ordered the Roman Empire to convert with him, much of Christendom had settled on the period of Dec. 25 to Jan. 6 as the Christmas season. Separately, some early Christians based their calculation on when Zacharias would have been in the Temple according to Luke 1. They calculated he would have been in the temple in late September or early October, again putting Gabriel’s appearance to Mary in March. Though far more speculative, this method was based on the literal words of the Bible. Interestingly, well before a month and day were set, early Church tradition consistently held Christ was born on a Wednesday. In the 12th century scholars began trying to tie Christmas to Saturnalia. The connection really did not become a matter of academic discussion until the field of comparative religions took off in the 19th century. Regardless of when Christ was born, we now celebrate his birth this week. He came into this world to provide light for the lost. The importance of Christmas is not to find your way in life, but to let him find you. Merry Christmas!

Comments
lost_lamb	12/23/2013 2:56:20 AM May your Christmas be filled with love joy happiness family & friends
vermont34	12/23/2013 10:25:17 AM The bible says Jesus was born when the figs were ripe . We all know figs don't grow in the winter. And when they put him in the tomb he was not dead. Jesus said as Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the whale the son of man was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the earth. Meaning he did not die. Remember Thomas who was famous in history for being a doubting Thomas? They said Jesus has risen Thomas said I shall not believe. So they get to the upper room and Jesus says Thomas it is I feel my hands and feet because I a sprite has no flesh and bones as you see me have. Than they ate honeycomb and broiled fish to prove what? That he was alive.
k_4real	12/24/2013 7:33:50 AM Sorry, but Jesus was Not born on December 25th. Their time was not as our time is today. Jesus was more likely to have been born sometime between mid July or early August. I could go into more detail, but will leave it at that right now. Have a blessed Christmas, filled with the joy of Jesus!