Christmas 2024: Why Is Christmas Celebrated On December 25

Christmas 2024: Christmas, a globally cherished holiday, boasts a rich history spanning centuries, rooted in diverse cultural and religious traditions. Celebrated on December 25 as the birth of Jesus Christ, this date was not universally recognized in early Christianity. Various Christian communities initially observed Christmas on different dates, such as January 6 and March 25, as the Bible does not specify the exact day or time of year when Mary is said to have given birth to Jesus in Bethlehem.

According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, the holiday's origins and its December 25 date trace back to the Greco-Roman world, with celebrations likely beginning in the second century. The church in Rome officially adopted December 25 as the date for Christmas in 336 CE, during the reign of Emperor Constantine.

One prevailing theory for this choice suggests that December 25 was selected to coincide with Saturnalia, a Roman festival honouring Saturn, the god of agriculture. This alignment facilitated the transition from pagan traditions to the Christian celebration of Jesus's birth. Saturnalia, characterized by feasting, gift-giving, and merrymaking, laid the foundation for many modern Christmas customs.