Why do we celebrate Jesus' birth on December 25?
The short answer
We do not know the exact date, so December 25 may have been chosen somewhat arbitrarily. It may have suited because it falls near the winter solstice, when days begin to lengthen: the start of a season of light coming into the world.
Since Christ's exact birth date is unknown, December 25 may have been an arbitrary choice; the Church could have picked another day.
One reason it may have seemed fitting is its nearness to the winter solstice. After it the days grow longer, so it marks the beginning of a season of light entering the world (cf. John 1:5). The summer solstice, after which days shorten, falls near June 24, when the Church celebrates the birth of John the Baptist, who said of Christ, "He must increase; I must decrease" (John 3:30).
Continue exploring
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- Christmas: The Solemnity of the Nativity of Our LordTract
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- Did Jesus really rise from the dead?Q&A
- Did people understand John the Baptist when he said "repent and be baptized"?Q&A
- Easter SundayTract