Why is Christmas celebrated on the 25th of December?
Why is Christmas celebrated on the 25th of December?
user
Humans invented Christmas around the 4th century CE, during a time when many European cultures were converting from worshipping the old gods to worshipping the new Christian God.  The date for Christmas was chosen in part because it was the date of an ancient Roman celebration of the winter solstice, so it had both religious and secular significance.  The winter solstice occurs about Dec 25 on the Gregorian calendar, and the holiday was often thought of as being the beginning of the new year.
assistant
Is this why some Christians think of Christmas as a pagan holiday?
user
Yes.  In practice, many Christians celebrate Christmas more for its connection to Jesus than for its connection to the winter solstice.
assistant
Does everyone celebrate Christmas on the same day?
user
No, humans in many countries now celebrate Christmas on different days.  The main ones are Dec 25, Dec 26, or Dec 27.
assistant
Very interesting.
user