The precise origin of assigning December 25 as the birth date of Jesus is unclear.

The New Testament

provides no clues in this regard. December 25 was first identified as the date of Jesus’ birth by Sextus
Julius Africanus in 221 and later became the universally accepted date. One widespread explanation of
the origin of this date is that December 25 was the Christianizing of the dies solis invicti nati (“day of the
birth of the unconquered sun”), a popular holiday in the Roman Empire that celebrated the winter
solstice as a symbol of the resurgence of the sun, the casting away of winter and the heralding of the
rebirth of spring and summer. Indeed, after December 25 had become widely accepted as the date of
Jesus’ birth, Christian writers frequently made the connection between the rebirth of the sun and the
birth of the Son. One of the difficulties with this view is that it suggests a nonchalant willingness on the
part of the Christian church to appropriate a pagan festival when the early church was so intent on
distinguishing itself categorically from pagan beliefs and practices.

second view suggests that December 25 became the date of Jesus’ birth by a priori reasoning that
identified the spring equinox as the date of the creation of the world and the fourth day of creation,
when the light was created, as the day of Jesus’ conception (i.e., March 25). December 25, nine months
later, then became the date of Jesus’ birth. For a long time the celebration of Jesus’ birth was observed
in conjunction with his baptism, celebrated January 6.

Christmas began to be widely celebrated with a specific liturgy in the 9th century but did not attain the
liturgical importance of either Good Friday or Easter, the other two major Christian holidays. Roman
Catholic churches celebrate the first Christmas mass at midnight, and Protestant churches have
increasingly held Christmas candlelight services late on the evening of December 24. A special service of
“lessons and carols” intertwines Christmas carols with Scripture readings narrating salvation history
from the Fall in the Garden of Eden to the coming of Christ. The service, inaugurated by E.W. Benson
and adopted at the University of Cambridge, has become widely popular.

None of the contemporary Christmas customs have their origin in theological or liturgical affirmations,
and most are of fairly recent date. The Renaissance humanist Sebastian Brant recorded, in Das
Narrenschiff (1494; The Ship of Fools), the custom of placing branches of fir trees in houses. Even though
there is some uncertainty about the precise date and origin of the tradition of the Christmas tree, it
appears that fir trees decorated with apples were first known in Strasbourg in 1605. The first use of
candles on such trees is recorded by a Silesian duchess in 1611. The Advent wreath—made of fir
branches, with four candles denoting the four Sundays of the Advent season—is of even more recent
origin, especially in North America. The custom, which began in the 19th century but had roots in the
16th, originally involved a fir wreath with 24 candles (the 24 days before Christmas, starting December
1), but the awkwardness of having so many candles on the wreath reduced the number to four.

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Christmas

holiday

Also known as: Natale, Navidad, Noël

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Last Updated: Dec 24, 2024 • Article History

Giotto: The Nativity

Giotto: The Nativity The Nativity, fresco by Giotto, c. 1305–06, depicting the birth of Jesus; in the
Scrovegni Chapel, Padua, Italy.

Top Questions

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Christmas, Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus. The English term Christmas (“mass on Christ’s
day”) is of fairly recent origin. The earlier term Yule may have derived from the Germanic jōl or the
Anglo-Saxon geōl, which referred to the feast of the winter solstice. The corresponding terms in other
languages—Navidad in Spanish, Natale in Italian, Noël in French—all probably denote nativity. The
German word Weihnachten denotes “hallowed night.” Since the early 20th century, Christmas has also
been a secular family holiday, observed by Christians and non-Christians alike, devoid of Christian
elements, and marked by an increasingly elaborate exchange of gifts. In this secular Christmas
celebration, a mythical figure named Santa Claus plays the pivotal role.

Origin and development

What's the difference between Yule and Christmas?

What's the difference between Yule and Christmas?Yule is one of the oldest winter solstice festivals in
the world.

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The early Christian community distinguished between the identification of the date of Jesus’ birth and
the liturgical celebration of that event. The actual observance of the day of Jesus’ birth was long in
coming. In particular, during the first two centuries of Christianity there was strong opposition to
recognizing birthdays of martyrs or, for that matter, of Jesus. Numerous Church Fathers offered sarcastic
comments about the pagan custom of celebrating birthdays when, in fact, saints and martyrs should be
honoured on the days of their martyrdom—their true “birthdays,” from the church’s perspective.

Related Topics: Jesus church year Yule Feast of the Seven Fishes Twelve Days of Christmas

Why is Christmas on December 25?1 of 2

Why is Christmas on December 25?Does anyone really know when Jesus was born?

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The video thumbnail image includes a 17th century artwork showing men fighting at a gambling table,
surrounded by a Christmas garland and overlaid on a photograph of a snowy forest.2 of 2

When Christmas became illegalWhat if celebrating Christmas could get you thrown in jail?

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The precise origin of assigning December 25 as the birth date of Jesus is unclear. The New Testament
provides no clues in this regard. December 25 was first identified as the date of Jesus’ birth by Sextus
Julius Africanus in 221 and later became the universally accepted date. One widespread explanation of
the origin of this date is that December 25 was the Christianizing of the dies solis invicti nati (“day of the
birth of the unconquered sun”), a popular holiday in the Roman Empire that celebrated the winter
solstice as a symbol of the resurgence of the sun, the casting away of winter and the heralding of the
rebirth of spring and summer. Indeed, after December 25 had become widely accepted as the date of
Jesus’ birth, Christian writers frequently made the connection between the rebirth of the sun and the
birth of the Son. One of the difficulties with this view is that it suggests a nonchalant willingness on the
part of the Christian church to appropriate a pagan festival when the early church was so intent on
distinguishing itself categorically from pagan beliefs and practices.
Christ as Ruler, with the Apostles and Evangelists (represented by the beasts). The female figures are
believed to be either Santa Pudenziana and Santa Praxedes or symbols of the Jewish and Gentile
churches. Mosaic in the apse of Santa Pudenziana, Rome,A

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A second view suggests that December 25 became the date of Jesus’ birth by a priori reasoning that
identified the spring equinox as the date of the creation of the world and the fourth day of creation,
when the light was created, as the day of Jesus’ conception (i.e., March 25). December 25, nine months
later, then became the date of Jesus’ birth. For a long time the celebration of Jesus’ birth was observed
in conjunction with his baptism, celebrated January 6.

Christmas began to be widely celebrated with a specific liturgy in the 9th century but did not attain the
liturgical importance of either Good Friday or Easter, the other two major Christian holidays. Roman
Catholic churches celebrate the first Christmas mass at midnight, and Protestant churches have
increasingly held Christmas candlelight services late on the evening of December 24. A special service of
“lessons and carols” intertwines Christmas carols with Scripture readings narrating salvation history
from the Fall in the Garden of Eden to the coming of Christ. The service, inaugurated by E.W. Benson
and adopted at the University of Cambridge, has become widely popular.

Contemporary customs in the West

U.S. National Christmas Tree, Washington, D.C.

1 of 3

U.S. National Christmas Tree, Washington, D.C.Lighting of the U.S. National Christmas Tree, Washington,
D.C., 2008.

The video thumbnail image shows a collage of Queen Elizabeth I holding up a gingerbread man,
surrounded by ginger cake, a gingerbread pig, gingerbread house, and heart-shaped gingerbread
cookies.2 of 3

How gingerbread became a Christmas treatIt all goes back to Queen Elizabeth I. And witches.
See all videos for this article

History of Advent calendars3 of 3

History of Advent calendarsLearn about the Christmas traditions of Advent calendars and wreaths.

See all videos for this article

None of the contemporary Christmas customs have their origin in theological or liturgical affirmations,
and most are of fairly recent date. The Renaissance humanist Sebastian Brant recorded, in Das
Narrenschiff (1494; The Ship of Fools), the custom of placing branches of fir trees in houses. Even though
there is some uncertainty about the precise date and origin of the tradition of the Christmas tree, it
appears that fir trees decorated with apples were first known in Strasbourg in 1605. The first use of
candles on such trees is recorded by a Silesian duchess in 1611. The Advent wreath—made of fir
branches, with four candles denoting the four Sundays of the Advent season—is of even more recent
origin, especially in North America. The custom, which began in the 19th century but had roots in the
16th, originally involved a fir wreath with 24 candles (the 24 days before Christmas, starting December
1), but the awkwardness of having so many candles on the wreath reduced the number to four.

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An analogous custom is the Advent calendar, which provides 24 openings, one to be opened each day
beginning December 1. According to tradition, the calendar was created in the 19th century by a Munich
housewife who tired of having to answer endlessly when Christmas would come. The first commercial
calendars were printed in Germany in 1851. The intense preparation for Christmas that is part of the
commercialization of the holiday has blurred the traditional liturgical distinction between Advent and
the Christmas season, as can be seen by the placement of Christmas trees in sanctuaries well before
December 25.