who made december 25 a christmas day and why he choose this month and date?

Answer 1

It was the day Jesus was born. Christmas came along because on this day 3 kings offered jesus presents and that is where the notion of giving gifts on christmas game along.

Answer 2

"Christ's birthday was not celebrated until more than 300 years gone by, years in which accurate birth records (if there were any) had been lost. The early church remembered and celebrated Christ's Resurrection from the dead, which was more important. But the church was slow in adding Christmas to its list of dates worthy of recognition.

Luke pinpoints the era of Christ's birth by naming Augustus as Rome's imperial ruler. Roman history shows that Caesar Augustus was born 691 years after founding of the City of Rome. Luke 2 further tells that Cyrenius was Syria's governor; again, thanks to Rome's exhaustive record of names and events, historians have determined what is believed to be the particular census that Luke described.

But the month? the day? Winter was wet and chilly in Judea. It is unlikely that shepherds would have spent a December night in an open field subject to rain and wind. Christ's birth was more likely during the spring lambing season, when nights would have been balmy and shepherds would have needed to be awake, tending the ewes.

A pagan festival called Natalis Invicti, was a Roman affair celebrated on December 25, when the sun was in its winter solstice. Worshipers of the Roman sun god pulled their Christian friends into the partying. By A.D. 386, church leaders set up the celebration of "Christ Mass" ("Christ's Coming"), so that Christians could join the festival activities without bending to paganism.

After the Roman Empire dissolved, Christians continued the December 25 birthday custom. By that time, December 25 seemed more fitting than any other date."

By the way, Satan did not put that star in the sky for the Wise Men to follow. Why would he do that in the first place? Satan would try to keep them away from there, not lead them there. It was God who put that star in the sky.

Webboffin, I think you need to reread that text. It says nothing about Herod sending any of his people to Bethlehem.

There were no astrologers sent anyplace. It was three religious leaders or wise men and it was God that warned these wise men in a dream not to go back to Herod and to go home another way.

I don't know how you got this impression from these texts. I read the Bible too. And Jesus was a baby. Herod ordered ALL baby boys two years old and YOUNGER..

Answer 3

I believe Rome chose. But whoever did it, did so because they had a pagan religion with a holiday on December 25, and they wanted to assimilate those people into Christianity. The figured they wouldn't have to try as hard if the people didn't have to change as much. So those people just continued celebrating on December 25, and over time they started celebrating only Christmas.

Answer 4

Some religious leaders back centuries ago set the date. It was originally the celebration of the Red Bull, a pagan holiday that the christian leaders opposed. Otherwise, no real significance. Certainly if there was a Jesus born, based on the bible data it would not have been during the month of December, more likely in early to mid spring.

Answer 5

It was not the day that Jesus was born, actually. Christmas was decided to be put on Dec. 25th because that date is around the winter solstice. The winter solstice signifies the return of the sun, meaning that days get longer again. I don't know who exactly chose the date, but I do know it was chosen to appeal to the masses. In a way like hey! The light's back! Let's celebrate it - but let's put a religious twist on it!

Answer 6

Pagan worship of Saturnalia then was hijacked to an invented scriptural occasion. and the wise men story of being good men is false. Saturnalia, which began on December 17 and ended with the ‘birthday of the unconquered sun’ (Natalis solis invicti) on December 25

The Catholic Encyclopedia makes the following admission: “Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church. Irenaeus and Tertullian omit it from their list of feasts.” When apostate Christians began to fall away to pagan practices, Tertullian complained: “By us, who are strangers to Sabbaths, and new moons and festivals, once acceptable to God, the Saturnalia [and other pagan feasts] are now frequented, gifts are carried to and fro, . . . and sports and banquets are celebrated with uproar.”



amor1954 answer is inaccurate.

King Herod sent his astrologers to find out the whereabouts of Jesus (didn't say how many) so Herod could kill him. Satan made a star shine about Jesus' location as a guide for them. God in their dreams threatened the astrologers not to tell of Jesus's whereabouts and they fled instead.
It was likely Jesus was a toddler not a baby as King Herod had ascertained that Jesus was at least 2 years and under and ordered the killing of boys that age.
The Nativity plays are not even accurate to the Bible and neither is Christmas.

read Matthew 2:7-16

Answer 7

I'm not REAL clear on this - but I believe it had to do with the Pagan holidays. It's right near the Winter Solstice. The Christian church didn't want to piss off the Pagans - so they kind of put the Christian holidays in line with the Pagan holidays so everybody would get along. Actually it was a very peaceful thing to do (have you noticed how many wars there are over religion?) - so I think it's great!

Answer 8

Christmas: A Brief History of the Holiday
Derived from Roman and other European festivals that marked the end of the harvest, and the winter solsticeHistory of Christmas, The
Covers holidays and sun-worship, divinity and virgin birth, and the star of Bethlehem and the wise men and moves on to Christmas in ancient Rome, Santa Claus, and moreORIGIN OF THE WORD
The word for Christmas in late Old English is Cristes Maesse, the Mass of Christ, first found in 1038, and Cristes-messe, in 1131. In Dutch it is Kerst-misse, in Latin Dies Natalis, whence comes the French Noël, and Italian Il natale; in German Weihnachtsfest, from the preceeding sacred vigil. The term Yule is of disputed origin. It is unconnected with any word meaning "wheel". The name in Anglo-Saxon was geol, feast: geola, the name of a month (cf. Icelandic iol a feast in December
An Ancient Holiday
The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight.


In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule from December 21, the winter solstice, through January. In recognition of the return of the sun, fathers and sons would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. The people would feast until the log burned out, which could take as many as 12 days. The Norse believed that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born during the coming year.

The end of December was a perfect time for celebration in most areas of Europe. At that time of year, most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter. For many, it was the only time of year when they had a supply of fresh meat. In addition, most wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking.


In Germany, people honored the pagan god Oden during the mid-winter holiday. Germans were terrified of Oden, as they believed he made nocturnal flights through the sky to observe his people, and then decide who would prosper or perish. Because of his presence, many people chose to stay inside.

Answer 9

Factually.....it started with Nimrod(who built the tower of Babel). He married his own mother. When he died, she saw his spirit come alive in a dead evergreen tree. She cut it down, brought it in the hosue, made ornaments with his likeness...and hung them on that tree. HIS birthday is Dec.25th.
Also...look up this scripture- Jeremiah 10:2-6. Christ actually tells us NOT to worship Him the way the pagans worship their gods.

Answer 10

Jesus wasn't born on Dec 25, he was born sometime in the spring.