Every year on December 25, people around the world gather with friends and family to celebrate Christmas, the holy day marking the birth of Jesus Christ.
But was Christ really born that day?
In short: No.
The birth of Jesus Christ was not celebrated in the early years of Christianity until the fourth century, when Church authorities decided that it should be a public holiday. But there is no mention of the date of birth of Christ in the Bible.
The most important holiday of the first three centuries of Christianity was Epiphany, which commemorates the arrival of the wise men – the three kings or three wise men – visiting Christ as a baby.
Epiphany – also known as “Old Christmas” and recognized as the 12th day of Christmas – is still celebrated and will fall on January 6, 2024. On January 7, in the meantime, Orthodox Christians – like those in Greece, from Egypt and Egypt. Russia – celebrate Christmas according to its date on the Julian calendar.
The date December 25, which takes the form of a date to celebrate the birth of Christ, did not appear until the beginning of the Roman calendar, in 336 AD.
According to the History channelPope Julius I chose December 25, probably for convenience, to celebrate the same day as the pagan festival of Saturnalia, which marks the winter solstice.
Having Christmas at the same time as the festival increased the chances that Christmas would be “popularly welcomed”, even though Church leaders were unable to decide how it would be celebrated.
THE Biblical Archeology Society floats another theory: the actual date could be in spring and derive more from Judaism than paganism – and the rabbinic notion that great things could return at the same time of year.
But these are just theories: there is no concrete evidence to prove an exact date.
