2007-09-28 04:06:54 · 6 answers · asked by Lucas K 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Because the fact that God became Incarnate (in Jesus) is worth celebrating.
Nobody recorded the actual day because people didn't do that at that point in history. But it doesn't matter what the actual DAY was. It only matters what the actual EVENT was.
We U.S. citizens celebrate Independence Day on July 4, but the process of becoming an independent nation didn't actually happen on THAT day.
The vote to secede from Britain was actually passed on July 2. In fact, John Adams thought July 2 would be the day that we would celebrate.
July 4 was the day the Declaration of Independence was approved, but the U.S. didn't automatically become an independent nation on that actual day. In fact, John Hancock & Charles Thomson were the only ones who actually signed that document. The rest of the Continental Congress didn't sign it until August 2. The name "United States of America" wasn't agreed upon until November 15, 1777.
Even then, it wasn't really a done deal, because the revolutionary war raged on until August 1782, and Great Britain didn't recognize our independence until 1783. Oh, and the Constitution wasn't adopted until Sept. 1787.
Historic dates are often chose to represent the spirit of the event, because the event took some time. In the case of Jesus' birth, of which the actual date was not recorded, stationing it in the calendar at the time of year when the season of coldness and death is waning, the days are growing longer and springtime is near makes theological sense.
2007-09-28 04:55:32 · answer #1 · answered by sparki777 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was a pagan holiday. When converting pagans to Christianity, the Church found that many pagans accepted Christ, but also continued to enjoy many of the pagan festivals. In an attempt to give them something else to celebrate on those days they declared December 25th to be the celebration of Christ's birthday.
It's really not big deal as far as I'm concerned. The important thing is that December 25th is the day set aside to celebrate the birth of Christ. The fact that it's not his actual birthday is a rather insignificant issue.
2007-09-28 11:17:09 · answer #2 · answered by Misty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because there are no actual facts about the Jesus of the bible. They have no documentation of his birth or death (unlike, say, Confucious) so they stuck with the common dates for the other "Saviors" that the Romans believed in. Google December 25th & god, see what you come up with.
See this movie for more info:
http://www.thegodmovie.com/pagan/?gclid=CL_H-9665o4CFSBMGgodNF16Dg
2007-09-28 11:13:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Dec. 25th was originally a pagan holiday. But it, like many elements of pagan culture, was swallowed up by Christianity hundreds of years ago in an effort to make it more appealing to pagans.
2007-09-28 11:09:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 2⤋
Because it is a day to celebrate the birth of Christ, not a scientific reference to the actual day of his birth.
What day do YOU think we should celebrate Christmas?
(..and by the way, "Xmas" is very disrespectful)
I suggest people read this Encyclopedia entry:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03724b.htm
2007-09-28 11:10:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
because christians enjoy celebrating our pagan yule. we don't mind : )
2007-09-28 11:11:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋