If Christ was born on one day (December the 25th) then why does he die on a different day every year.?

Question

is it to do with pagan festivals or different calendars

Answer 1

Christ wasn't born on Dec 25. It's thought he was born more so around the summer months although I don't think anyone has an exact date.

The birth of Christ and therefore Christmas is celebrated on Dec 25th because it was previously a Pagan festival and in order to more easily introduce Christianity to a predominantly Pagan society, it was decided that symbolic festivals such as the birth and death of Christ be celebrated to coincide with existing Pagan holidays.

Easter was a pre-existing festival to celebrate spring and new life/new beginnings. This was adopted by Christians to mark their celebration of Jesus being risen again because of the links with birth and therefore rebirth and new life.

Interestingly there are a lot of similarities between Christian and Pagan symbols. Again this is thought to have been a way to make Christianity more acceptable to Pagans by merging with the existing framework and symbols.

Here's an interesting piece on Wikipedia which refers to the adoption of Christianity adopting Pagan festivals in order to convert the Pagans by allowing them to retain their holidays. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule#Connection_to_modern_Christmas

With regards to why Easter moves each year I believe Mae is correct in that it refers to the lunar calender rather than the Western solar one. It always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon that falls after 20th March! See more info here http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/easter/index.html.

In terms of questioning whether Jesus existed, there is not really any doubt in historians minds that indeed he did. There is in fact more written evidence to prove he existed than there is to confirm William Shakespeare was a real person. The debate is more so as to whether he was the Messiah - as Christianity believes, or whether he was a wise and well respected prophet - as Jews and Muslims believe.

Answer 2

Jesus (Yeshua) was never born on December 25th.

After the triumph of Constanstine, the church at Rome assigned December 25th as the date for the celebration of the feast, possibly about A.D. 320 or 353. By the end of the fourth century the whole Christian world was celebrating Christmas on that day, with the exception of the Eastern churches, where it was celebrated on January 6. The choice of December 25 was probably influenced by the fact that on this day the Romans celebrated the Mithraic feast of the Sun-god (natalis solis invincti), and that the Saturnalia also came at this time. December 25th was also regarded as the birth date of the Iranian mystery god Mithra, the Sun of Righteousness.

What can definately be said about the celebration of Christmas?

1. There is no Biblical authority for the celebration of Christmas.

2. There is no secular or "church" records which indicate that December 25th was celebrated as a "Christian" observance before the late 3rd or early 4th century.

3. There is overwhelming documentation that the celebration of December 25the was a pagan festival based on sun worship. (The birth of the sun god)

4. There is overwhelming evidence that the celebration of December 25th was adopted as a "Christian" festival by sun worshippers calling themselves "Christians".

So, why does the "organized church" insist on holding onto the celebration of the pagan sun god's birthday?

The answer is, Tradition.

Sun worship is based on the worship of the created more than the Creator and the transgression of God's laws. God's chosen people were warned against it over and over again.

"Why do you also transgress the commandments of God by your tradition?" Quoted by Jesus (Yeshua)

Many believe that Yeshua was actually born in the Fall, on the Fall Feasts, not in the winter.

Answer 3

It has to do with the passover. The crucifiction was held on the friday before passover. That Jewish holiday is on the fifteenth day of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar, and falls on a different day every year because we use the Julian calendar. It is the day that the lamb sacrifices were made in the temple prior to the passover seder, and the day that Moses had the lambs slaughtered in Egypt to put the blood on the doorposts. That is the reason that He is called the "Lamb of God" He was the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Hope that helps.

Those before me are correct about the pagan sun holiday. During the persecution of the church, during the time of the Roman empire, the new church leaders incorporated the "Birth of the Son" with the "birth of the sun" so they could celebrate Christ's birth without bringing unwanted attention to their celebrations. It is truly unknown when Jesus' actual birthdate is.

Answer 4

All the 'Holy' days celebrated by Christians (and other religions) are entirely arbitrary, and yes, Christmas day WAS originally a pagan festival' As for Easter (death and resurrection of Christ) it is moveable within a certain period between march and April , though what criteria is used I do not know. No doubt someone will explain shortly. Being an ex-catholic born-again atheist, I suppose I should know, but surprisingly, or not, no one ever told me!

Answer 5

He wasn't born on Christmas Day and he didn't die on Good Friday.

Both the Christmas and Easter holidays are pagan festivals, although Christ was crucified during Passover in 32AD.

Answer 6

Dec 25, is celebrated as the birthday of the sun. For centuries then came the Christians and Jesus being the son of god.
Well, you get the connection. Jesus was not born on that date and it is celebrated with pagan customs which I am sure he doesn't approve of.
The Jewish calendar is by moons not by solar calendar. Which we are. So to hit on the day he died we have to consult the jewish calendar. Which by using moons is not as accurate.
The passover conensides with the spring festival so they just joined the two and brought in the EAster bunny and colored eggs.

Answer 7

Yipe all pagan same as christmas.
Gregorian calendar.
Jesus born around March/April,check the Hebrew calendar(no sheep out ,around December or Shephards.
All shepharding in Israel done around Feb/March,etc.

Answer 8

The Church calls for that a e book of the Bible be in team spirit with custom because the Gospel had already been preached before a note of the hot testomony became ever written. by technique of custom we advise that body of doctrine which has been exceeded right down to us, alongside the doctrine obviously taught contained in the Bible. The Church, through her practise place of work (also stated as "Magisterium"), has exceeded down custom. we've the assure of Christ in His truth that the Church does no longer err in practise. it truly is by technique of custom that all of us understand what the Bible includes. even as the Bible is the manager source, it truly is neither the in reality nor the unique source of our understand-how of Revelation. We could evaluate it to a professor's textbooks and his lectures; as a professor's lectures contained in the lecture room, and his textbooks make clean one yet another, so does the Bible make clean custom and is clarified by technique of it in turn. custom has preserved the Bible and has helped the Church to sift the genuine from the pretend, and has kept us from pretend interpretation.

Answer 9

he was not Born on 25/12/

Answer 10

In spite of all the rational answers I must add my tuppence:
I think it is alll a matter of codswallop to keep us all confused.
And also to tie these things nicely to pagan celebrations, thus adding more confusion.

--That Cheeky Lad