Christmas is the annual celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, and it has grown into one of the most festive and joyous holidays over the years. In Western Christianity, this holiday is usually observed on December 25, but how did this date become Jesus’ official birthday and when was he really born?
Contrary to popular belief, Jesus wasn’t born on December 25, and it’s impossible to pinpoint his real birthday. Most historians estimate that he was born between 6 and 4 B.C. because the Biblical story of King Herod the Great’s reign coincides with the birth of Christ. Astronomers have another theory, suggesting he was either born in the fall of 7 B.C. or the summer of 2 B.C.
This brings us back to December 25 and how this date became Jesus’ birthday in the eyes of many Christians around the world. The first documentary sign of the Christmas celebration on December 25 took place in Rome in 336, under the rule of Constantine the Great, who converted to Christianity in 312.
December 25 was fixed as the date for Christmas during the early fourth century, which was the date of the winter solstice ancient Roman calendar. Some historians believe that Constantine wanted to celebrate Jesus’s birth near significant dates for pagan traditions, such as Saturnalia and Sol Invictus, in an attempt to weaken their significance.
Many centuries later, December 25 is celebrated as the birth of Christ by the majority of Western Christians, but not in the entire world. The majority of Eastern Christian Churches commemorate Christmas on January 7, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar.