2006-12-11 04:42:55 · 4 answers · asked by Bobbi 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Other - Holidays
Depends on the location...in Europe I think it was somewhere in the 4th century when the Roman Catholic Church designated the Roman celebration of Saturnalia a Christian celebration of the birth of Christ.
2006-12-11 04:50:51 · answer #1 · answered by ameeba97 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
“The first mention of the celebration of Christmas occurred in A.D. 336 in an early Roman calendar.”
The World Book Encyclopedia.
“The observance of Christmas is not of divine appointment, nor is it of N.T. origin. The day of Christ’s birth cannot be ascertained from the N. T., or, indeed, from any other source. The fathers of the first three centuries do not speak of any special observance of the nativity.”
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, by McClintock and Strong.
“Inexplicable though it seems, the date of Christ’s birth is not known. The Gospels indicate neither the day nor the month.”
New Catholic Encyclopedia.
2006-12-11 12:56:49 · answer #2 · answered by Uncle Thesis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When they needed an excuse the assimilate the pagan holiday of Yule.
2006-12-11 12:45:30 · answer #3 · answered by returnofbuckwheat 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
approximately 400AD
2006-12-11 12:45:53 · answer #4 · answered by bilko_ca 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋