Why do we celebrate christmas in December when Jesus was born in march?

Question

All the historical evidence points to the birth of christ as being in or around march (after you translate the hebrew dates into the christian dating system of Before Christ and Anno Dominus). Is this just another ritual made up by all the human beings who ruin religions?

P.S. I came up with march from shows on the History Channel, Discovery and TLC.

Answer 1

Jeremiah 10:2
Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the people [are] vain: for [one] cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

CHRISTMAS AND PAGANISM
The Winter Solstice Why did the catholic church choose December 25 for the birth date of Christ? It was chosen in order to compete with the pagan winter solstice festivals. It was not chosen because it is the correct historical date for the birth of Jesus. When was Jesus born? No one knows. There seems to have been too many calendar errors for anyone to be exact. The traditional date of the year 1 A.D. for his birth stands greatly in need of correction. Before the mode of reckoning time "by the year of our Lord," or A.D., which was introduced by Dionysius Exiguus, a Roman, time was computed from the founding of the city of Rome, usually designated by A.U.C. Dionysius made his New Era to begin on the first day of January in the 753rd year from the building of Rome; because in that year he supposed Christ to have been born. St. Matthew says Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King. According to the best authorities this monarch died a short time before the Jewish Passover 750 U.U.C. Someplace the birth of Jesus between the years 748 and 747 A.U.C., this is, 5 and 6 B.C. Others go as far back as 8 B.C.

But the Season in which he was born definitely was not winter. The Gospels tell us that at this time Caesar Augustus had decreed that all the world should be taxed. We may be assured that Rome would not order a census to be taken at the worst possible period for travel; but Luke's account that the shepherds were abiding in the field keeping watch over their flocks by night lets us know that Jesus was born in summer or early fall. Since December is cold and rainy in Judea, it is likely the shepherds would have sought shelter for their flocks at night. So December 25 is no more the correct historical date for the birth of Jesus Christ than any other date.

December 25th was sacred, not only to the pagan Romans, but to the religion from Persia, Mithraism, whose followers worshipped the sun and celebrated its return to strength on that day. Mithras had attained such popularity and favor in the eyes of the emperors that Aurelian proclaimed the cult of Sol Invictus the Roman Empire's official state religion. December 25 fell between the week long feast of the Saturnalia and the Kalends of January, and it coincided more or less closely with all those mid-winter festivals at which the primitive peoples of Europe and Asia had celebrated, from time immemorial, the sun's rebirth at the Winter Solstice.

To the pagans, the Saturnalia were fun. To the "Christians" the Saturnalia were an abomination in homage to a disreputable god who had no existence anyway. The "Christians" were now dedicated to the slow task of converting the pagan Romans. There were many immigrants into the ranks of the Church by this time, but the Church Fathers discovered that they were facing an invasion of pagan customs. Christianity and Paganism began contending, and for a while Mithraism was Christianity's greatest contender. But how did the catholic church convert the pagans with their December 25th sun-worship festival? It became the policy of the church to "transform" pagan festivals wherever possible instead of trying to abolish them and give the ancient practices a "christian" significance. It definitely was a clever trick.

The Church, in choosing December 25th to celebrate the birthday of Christ, would persuade the followers of Mithras to forsake him and turn to Christ as a the true "light of the World." The Catholic Church chose this date to celebrate the rising of the sun of Righteousness that she should thus strive to draw away to His worship the adorers of the god whose symbol and representative was the earthly sun!. The Church Fathers sought to point the pagan festival in worship of the sun toward the "Christian" Sun of Righteousness, and if these could be done then the festival in its turn must of necessity grow worthy of him it celebrated. The Church finally succeeded in taking the merriment, the greenery, the lights, and the gifts from saturn and given them to the babe of Bethlehem.

By choosing December 25th, the indications are, that the Catholic Church grasped the opportunity to turn the people away from a purely pagan observance of the winter solstice to a day of adoration of Christ the Lord. She simply made the old heathen festival of the sun analogous to the birth of the "sun of Righteousness" The birth of Christ as the "Light of the World" was linked to the rebirth of the sun. The Church by making the pagan festival also the Feast of the Nativity, "sanctified" it, and thus as Christianity gained ground slowly but surely changed its ancient worship of the material sun into that of the true Light of the World.

That the new festival should not be lacking in splendor and appeal the days between December 25 and January 6 (the days between the Saturnalia and the Kalends of January) were caught up into one "holy" season, with the birth of the divine Child at the beginning and the coming of the Magi (the three Wise Men) at the end. The days between Christmas and Epiphany became known as the Twelve Nights of Christmas.

The word, "Christmas," came into use through the medieval custom of celebrating MASS at midnight on Christmas Eve, the only time in the year when this was permitted. BECAUSE OF THE OPPOSITION TO THE TRACES OF PAGANISM SURVIVING IN THE CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS, THE CHURCH CREATED SPECIAL MASSES TO BE PERFORMED AT MIDNIGHT, DAYBREAK, AND MORNING. Hence, the word, Christmas.


Christmas Candles The Yule candle was burned as a companion to the Yule log. The modern candles set in windows have their origin in the Yule candle.

The tradition was brought to this country by the Irish. In Ireland, during the years of religious suppression, candles were put in the windows to attract fugitive priests who would know it was safe to enter the houses and to say mass.

Modern candles used for decoration, though electric and not waxen, incorporate the same principle the catholic church set forth as Christ the Light of the World.

Evergreens, houses and public places were decorated with evergreens during the Saturnalia and Kalends of January. They were never sought merely for their decorative capabilities. The evergreens were used as defense against demons and witches they thought were especially prevalent during this time of year. They thought the winter demons were afraid of the greens because they stayed green all year. Green belongs in the realm of summer and life; winter kills most of summer's vegetation, but the evergreens remain steadfast. They were symbols of everlasting life to the heathen.

At first the Church frowned upon this intrusion of paganism into the sacred season on account of the superstitious sentiments which were bound up with them. But it was too deeply rooted for prohibitions to have permanent effect, and in due course they were annulled or forgotten. Instead of banning them she more often permitted their continuance, directing her efforts toward investing them with a new "sanctity" and meaning. While they were often made to represent higher and "holier" things, the older notions were not always discarded; hence, the mixture of ideas, pagan and "christian" which became entwisted with the greenery of the season. The plants, which more than any others, entwined themselves about the festival are holly, ivy, mistletoe, and rosemary.

Answer 2

Because Christmas is really a pagan holiday and it evolved out of old traditions when people celebrated the winter solstice in northern Europe and Asia. Early Christians didn't want to give up their old pagan celebrations so what they did was somehow morph Jesus' birth with the winter solstice so they didn't have to give up traditions. But I think the question we should really ask is: Why do we celebrate his birth on December 25th? Shouldn't it be January 1st since our calendar is based on him?!

Answer 3

I just read about christmas and one point is that in the olden days people used to slaughter thier animals in winter so they would not have to feed them and could use their money on other necessitys, also because in december we are ending an old year and looking forward to a new one and what better way than to remember the birth of our savior. Those are two reasons why they say (whoever THEY are) we celebrate in december

Answer 4

No one date for Christ's birth has been authenticated. The reason we celebrate the blessed event in December is due to the Christians of the time pursuing the conversion of pagans to Christianity. Many people of that time worshiped gods and goddesses such as Zeus and Athena. Christian priests realized changing such deep seated customs would be a daunting task, so they chose the winter solstice as the birth of Christ. This was a holiday already celebrated by pagans.They offered gifts of sacrifice to their gods in hopes of inspiring a good harvest come spring. This arrangement satisfied both pagan and christian until later years when Christian priests decided pagan practice was unacceptable.

Answer 5

Because it coincides with the Pagan traditions of Winter solstice.

Jesus died on Nisan 14 (March 31 in modern calendar), the Passover of the Jews, he started his ministry at age 30 and did it for 3 1/2 years. with those facts, we will know Jesus died on March 31 at the age of 33 1/2, therefore, he would have been 34 years old, six months later, perhaps at the end of September of first week of October.

Answer 6

There has been much evidence that also points to September. Even the 29th has been mentioned. The truth is, no one knows, so December 25th was chosen to celebrate his birth because of the Pagan celebration of winter solstice. (Even back then, Christians were trying to convert Pagans.)

Answer 7

Theologians say that he was most likely born in October, but the holiday is in December becuz the pope at that time did not want Christmas to be next to a pagan holiday. where'd you get march?

Answer 8

In most of the world December 25th is the day chosen to celebrate his birth and so that's when we do it.

It's never going to change so either celebrate it in March alone or get with the program.

Answer 9

Early Christians moved the holliday to December to discourage the Celebration of Zeus.

Answer 10

Decmeber 25th is a pagan holiday called Yule. The Church decided to put their holiday on the same day to seem more welcoming to those people. They also did this with October 31st, which is a holiday called Samhain.

Answer 11

I m surprised to find out that Jesus Christ was born in March!! i dnt think ths s true!! cld the author providence regarding this?? Merry Xmas to all ! and a happy new year..