Why is Christmas Day on the 25th December?

The majority of Christians celebrate Christmas, the holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, on December 25 of the Gregorian calendar. Early Christians, on the other hand, did not commemorate Jesus’ birth, and no one knows when he was born (some scholars believe that the actual date was in the early spring, placing it closer to Easter, the holiday commemorating his Resurrection).

 The holiday’s roots and December date may be traced back to the ancient Greco-Roman civilization, with commemorations beginning in the second century. The month of December has at least three probable origins. Sextus Julius Africanus, a Roman Christian historian, dated Jesus’ conception to March 25 (the same day he believed the world was founded), resulting in a December 25 birth after nine months in his mother’s womb.

 Why is the 25th of December designated as Christmas Day?

 Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe is God’s Son.

 The word “Christmas” is derived from Christ’s Mass. (or Jesus). A Mass (also known as Communion or Eucharist) is a religious ritual in which Christians commemorate Jesus’ death for humanity and his resurrection. People had it at Midnight since the ‘Christ-Mass’ ceremony was the only one that could take place after sunset (and before daybreak the next day). As a result, Christ-Mass, which has been reduced to Christmas, has been coined.

 A brief recap about the past of  the Christmas Day celebration

 The Roman Empire, which had not yet converted to Christianity, commemorated the rebirth of the Untrodden Sun (Sol Invictus) on December 25th in the third century. This event not only commemorated the arrival of longer days following the winter solstice, but it also coincided with the Saturnalia, a prominent Roman celebration (during which people feasted and exchanged gifts). It was also the birthday of Mithra, an Indo-European god of light and fidelity whose worship was gaining in popularity among Roman troops at the period.

 During the reign of Emperor Constantine, the church in Rome began publicly commemorating Christmas on December 25, 336. Given Constantine’s success in making Christianity the empire’s official religion, some have hypothesized that the date was chosen with the political goal of undermining pagan rituals. For another half-century, the date was not widely recognized in the Eastern Empire, where January 6 was preferred, and Christmas did not become a prominent Christian feast until the 9th century.

 Conclusion

 People all around the world, whether Christians or not, today celebrate Christmas. It’s a time when family and friends gather together to celebrate their blessings. People, especially youngsters, like Christmas because it is a time when they may give and receive gifts!