Why do Catholics believe Jesus was born on December 25?

Thus it appears that the Christian Church chose to celebrate the birthday of its Founder on the twenty-fifth of December in order to transfer the devotion of the heathen from the Sun to him who was called the Sun of Righteousness….

What year do Catholics say Jesus was born?

The date of birth of Jesus is not stated in the gospels or in any historical reference, but most biblical scholars assume a year of birth between 6 and 4 BC.

Why do Christians believe Jesus was born in December?

The Virgin Mary, pregnant with the son of God, would hence have given birth to Jesus nine months later on the winter solstice. From Rome, the Christ's Nativity celebration spread to other Christian churches to the west and east, and soon most Christians were celebrating Christ's birth on December 25.

Where in the Bible does it say that Jesus was born on Dec 25?

Dec. 25 is not the date mentioned in the Bible as the day of Jesus's birth; the Bible is actually silent on the day or the time of year when Mary was said to have given birth to him in Bethlehem. The earliest Christians did not celebrate his birth.

Is December 25 a pagan holiday?

Though December 25 is the day Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the date itself and several of the customs we've come to associate with Christmas actually evolved from pagan traditions celebrating the winter solstice.

Yes, Jesus was born on Dec 25! Dr Marshall proves Dec 25 birth of Christ

Why do we say Jesus was born on Christmas?

But was Jesus really born on December 25? The short answer is no. It is not believed Jesus was born on the day Christmas is globally celebrated. Instead, Christmas was chosen as a convenient celebratory day on the same day of a pagan holiday that celebrated the winter solstice, according to The History Channel.

Why did the church decide to celebrate Christmas in December?

The church in Rome began formally celebrating Christmas on December 25 in 336, during the reign of the emperor Constantine. Constantine had made Christianity the effective religion of the empire. Some have speculated that choosing this date had the political motive of weakening the established pagan celebration.

Which pope chose December 25th as the Christmas Day?

Pope Julius I was the bishop of Rome from 6 February 337 to his death on 12 April 352. He is notable for asserting the authority of the pope over the Arian Eastern bishops, as well as a dubious claim that he set 25 December as the official birthdate of Jesus.

Who decided Dec 25 was Jesus birthday?

Answer: St Julius 1

In the late 330s AD, Pope Julius 1 declared: “December 25th, Christ born in Bethlehem, Judea.”

Who decided that Jesus was born on Dec 25th?

The Roman Christian historian Sextus Julius Africanus dated Jesus' conception to March 25 (the same date upon which he held that the world was created), which, after nine months in his mother's womb, would result in a December 25 birth.

What the Bible Says About Christmas?

Christmas Is Not Supported By Scripture

One of the first things you will notice when studying Scripture is that the word “Christmas” is not mentioned in any verse, chapter, or book of the Bible. None of Jesus' disciples, nor any of His apostles attempted to celebrate the miraculous birth of our Lord and Savior.

When did the Catholic Church start celebrating Christmas?

The church in Rome began celebrating Christmas on December 25 in the 4th century during the reign of Constantine, the first Christian emperor, possibly to weaken pagan traditions.

Why do Roman Catholic celebrate Christmas?

Christmas is literally “the mass for Christ”, the day on which Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. The western date for Jesus' birth is quite arbitrary. It was chosen by Pope Leo I, bishop of Rome (440-461), to coincide with the Festival of the Saturnalia, when Romans worshipped Saturn, the sun god.

Is Christmas a pagan?

Now, as Christmas applies to the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, Christmas is decidedly not pagan. However, there are some differences of opinion when it comes to the selection of day of celebration. On the Roman calendar, December 25 was the date of the winter solstice (December 21 on the modern calendar).

What date is Jesus birthday?

Why is Jesus' birthday celebrated on December 25? Researchers have speculated that the Roman Catholic Church chose Dec. 25 because it ties in with the winter solstice and Saturnalia, a festival dedicated to the Roman deity Saturn.

What is the real Christmas Day?

Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature.

Do Catholics celebrate the birth of Jesus?

Catholics, as well as some Protestant denominations, celebrate mass at midnight. The ceremony, held in churches throughout the world, celebrates the birth of Christ, widely believed to have occurred at night.

Does the Catholic Church believe in Christmas?

Christmas is a very special time for the Catholic church, as it signifies the birth of the savior, Jesus Christ. While some Catholic celebrations vary from country to country, many customs around the world are similar.

What is the difference between Catholic and Christianity?

Broadly, Roman Catholicism differs from other Christian churches and denominations in its beliefs about the sacraments, the roles of the Bible and tradition, the importance of the Virgin Mary and the saints, and the papacy.

Which Bible verses talk about the birth of Jesus?

Matthew 2:1-12

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea when Herod was king. After Jesus' birth, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the one who was born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star rising and have come to worship him.”

Where is Christmas mentioned in the Bible?

The New Testament contains two Christmas stories, not one. They appear in Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2. They have some points in common.

Is a Christmas tree a sin?

Christians can have Christmas trees if they don't make it or other parts of Christmas an idol over Jesus. The Bible never tells Christians if they should have Christmas trees or not, but the Bible does tell Christians to reject any idols in their lives and worship Him alone.

Who fixed the date of Christmas?

But in the 4th century AD, Pope Julius I set 25 December as Christmas. It is said that it was an attempt to Christianise the Pagan celebrations, according to the BBC. In the year 529 AD, Christmas became a civil holiday.

What was Christmas originally called?

Christmas owes its roots to the ancient Roman holiday of Saturnalia, which was a pagan festival which was celebrated from December 17-25 each year. This custom was altered and absorbed into Christmas, and this allowed early Christians to gradually erase these old pagan holidays.

What is Jesus real name?

Jesus' name in Hebrew was “Yeshua” which translates to English as Joshua.