Tracy from Illinois asked a great question!

Was Jesus actually born on December 25th? 🗓️

Quick Takeaways:

Early Church Priorities: Christmas wasn’t even a liturgical thing in the first couple of centuries! Easter had all the spotlight back then. ✝️

Why December 25th? It goes back to March 25th, the Feast of the Annunciation (when the angel Gabriel visited Mary 🕊️). Add nine months and you’re on December 25th.

Church Fathers Said So: Heavy hitters like St. Hippolytus and St. John Chrysostom held to the belief that Jesus was born on December 25th. They locked in that date centuries before it was widely accepted. 🕰️

Pagans Didn’t Start It: The popular myth that Christians co-opted the pagan “Sol Invictus” holiday is backwards. Emperor Aurelius didn’t declare that festival until 274 AD, over a century after Christians were already claiming December 25th as Jesus’ birthday. The pagans were actually the copycats here.

So, Was Jesus Born on December 25th?

The Church has historical reasons to hold to this date, even if there’s no birth certificate. What’s important is that it’s deeply rooted in tradition and theology and a great day to celebrate the light of Christ shining into the darkness! 🌟

We’re celebrating Jesus as the reason for the season, whether the pagans liked it or not. 😉

 

 

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