Prompt Cast
The Uncertain Historical Basis for the Date of Christmas
TLDR The historical basis for the date of Christmas is unclear, but it is believed to have been chosen as December 25th due to its coincidence with the Roman pagan festival of Sol Invictus. However, some early Christians also believed it was nine months after Jesus' conception on March 25th.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Christmas is celebrated on December 25th, but the historical basis for this date is unclear.
01:23
The historical basis for the date of Christmas is unclear, as there is no documentation in the Bible or other ancient sources indicating a specific date for the birth of Jesus, but December 25th was chosen for the celebration in the early Christian church.
02:39
December 25th was chosen for the celebration of Christmas because it coincided with the festival of Sol Invictus, which was celebrated as the winter solstice on the Roman calendar.
03:50
Christmas falls on December 25th because it coincided with the Roman pagan festival of Sol Invictus, which was celebrated as the winter solstice.
05:00
The early Christians chose December 25th as the date for Christmas because it was nine months after their believed date of Jesus' conception on March 25th, which was also the day of the world's creation and Jesus' death.
06:12
The date of December 25th for Christmas was chosen because it was nine months after the Feast of the Annunciation on March 25th, not because of the Roman holiday of Sol Invictus, and it is not universally celebrated by Christians.
07:21
Christmas and December 25th are now firmly set on modern calendars, and listeners can support the show and leave a 5-star review to have their review read on the show.
