Why Christmas Is Celebrated In December 25
In fact for the first three centuries of christianity s existence.
Why christmas is celebrated in december 25. But it was not an official festival of the roman state at this time. The history behind how christmas came to be celebrated at the end of december may have little to do with the actual date of jesus s birth. Jesus was born before 0ad but then it was only in 336 ad when constantine the roman emperor celebrated christmas. One of the prevalent theories on why christmas is celebrated on dec.
25 was spelled out in the golden bough a highly influential 19th century comparative study of religion and mythology. However there are many different traditions and theories about why christmas is celebrated on december 25. The first recorded christmas date that was celebrated on december 25 was in 336 during the time of the roman emperor constantine he was the first christian roman emperor. The earliest celebration of christmas or the feast of the nativity on december 25 was held in the year ad 336 in rome.
The term christmas comes from the old english cristes maesse which means christ s mass. In the west the birth of christ was celebrated on december 25 and in the east on january 6. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of jesus christ. This reason however leaves unexplained the choice of the 6th of january ibid p.
Why some christians celebrate christmas on january 7. It was then the first recorded date of the exact day christmas was celebrated. There are reasons why christmas was held on december 25. 27 2019 the history behind how christmas came to be celebrated at the end of december may have little to do with the actual date of jesus s birth.
Because of that recorded date pope julius i proclaimed december 25 as the birth of jesus. Christmas the holiday commemorating the birth of jesus christ is celebrated by a majority of christians on december 25 in the gregorian calendar but early christians did not celebrate his birth and no one knows on which date jesus was actually born some scholars believe that the actual date was in the early spring placing it closer to easter the holiday. A few years later pope julius i officially declared that the birth of jesus would be celebrated on the 25th. Most christians today probably can t imagine christmas on any other day than december 25 but it wasn t always that way.