NationStates Jolt Archive

Why is Christmas still celebrated on December 25th? Christ wasn't really born on 12/25 (he was most likely born in April and definitely in the spring), so shouldn't the day be moved to a day in April? It wouldn't be that hard, as Christmas has become very secularized anyway, so there could still be a secular Christmas for all people to celebrate on 12/25, and a day in April where Christ's birth is observed.

Why is Christmas still celebrated on December 25th? Christ wasn't really born on 12/25 (he was most likely born in April and definitely in the spring), so shouldn't the day be moved to a day in April? It wouldn't be that hard, as Christmas has become very secularized anyway, so there could still be a secular Christmas for all people to celebrate on 12/25, and a day in April where Christ's birth is observed.


Because, the Church doesn't want to admit they plagarized Mithra's Birthday/Yule celebration for Christmas.

Links please

Links please

From me?

I don't need links. Christmas was moved to December by the Christians in the Roman times, who were seeking to convert people and compete with the Roman religion. Christmas was moved to December 25th in order to compete with the Roman holiday of Saturnalia (December 16th). Well, now that no one celebrates Saturnalia anymore and Christianity is dominant, why not move it back to spring? I here in Canada they did.

Oh, you mean you dont have any links.

1. Christmas has been celebrated on Dec 25th for an incredibly long time. It's worked well. No reason to change this.

2. Christmas is not a secular holliday. Sorry, it just isn't, no matter how hard various corporations try to make it such.

Oh, you mean you dont have any links.

Look it up yourself then; it's the truth. I just want some opinions.

Look it up yourself then; it's the truth. I just want some opinions.


Oh, ive briefly HEARD of something like this. I dont particuarly know if theres any truth. I was kinda hoping that, since you actually started the topic to bring attention to this, that you could actually try and convince people of your personal view.

So far you havent done much except say "i dont need links".

Because without Christmas, I don't have anything to look forward to in winter. I hate the cold.

christmas is there and is great and I don't care when it is celebrated.

Most holiday times are twisted so the holidays are generally the same time.


no one really cares when he was actually born, its simply symbolism.



besides, wtf would we do in the winter without holidays

Christmas is still celebrated on Dec. 25 (today) because there is no reason to change this date for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Some of us celebrate the life of Jesus every day.

Well, try as you might, Christmas has been secularized, so creating a new holiday in April or whenever would be a great idea - that way it would be purely Christian, and would have no commericalization attached.



http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/holidays/christmas/real.html

Because without Christmas, I don't have anything to look forward to in winter. I hate the cold.


Well, yeah. Not that much to look forward to other than Christmas and the Super Bowl...

Oh, ive briefly HEARD of something like this. I dont particuarly know if theres any truth. I was kinda hoping that, since you actually started the topic to bring attention to this, that you could actually try and convince people of your personal view.

So far you havent done much except say "i dont need links".

Do a search for "Christmas Saturnalia." Or go to wikipedia; I'm sure they'll have something.

It's not my problem that you're too lazy to look for something. I guess if I built up the chutzpah to assert that cows go moo, you'd demand a link. Done.


I just am curious to see some opinions. If it works for Canada, shouldn't it work for us?

Do a search for "Christmas Saturnalia." Or go to wikipedia; I'm sure they'll have something.

It's not my problem that you're too lazy to look for something. I guess if I built up the chutzpah to assert that cows go moo, you'd demand a link. Done.


I just am curious to see some opinions. If it works for Canada, shouldn't it work for us?

What do you mean it works for Canada?

Well, try as you might, Christmas has been secularized, so creating a new holiday in April or whenever would be a great idea - that way it would be purely Christian, and would have no commericalization attached.



http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/holidays/christmas/real.html

The attachment of commercialization is a personal choice. God gave us free will. If some person gets a kick out of putting up lights, buying gifts for friends and the like, that's all well and good. For Christians, I think it's most important to celebrate this day as the day of the birth of Jesus. As for me, I have only been on earth for 48 years. During that time, Dec. 25 was the day traditionally used for celebrating this joyous occasion. So, I will continue to use this day for that purpose until I die.

As for Canadians having a different day to celebrate Christmas, that is a new urban legend for me. All of my Canadian friends celebrate it on Dec. 25, as do my South American friends, and my German friends, and my English friends. Hmmm. I don't know of any Christians who use a different day. My Jehovah Witness friend does not celebrate Christmas at all, but he is a Christian.

As for Canadians having a different day to celebrate Christmas, that is a new urban legend for me. All of my Canadian friends celebrate it on Dec. 25, as do my South American friends, and my German friends, and my English friends. Hmmm. I don't know of any Christians who use a different day. My Jehovah Witness friend does not celebrate Christmas at all, but he is a Christian.

Well given that there is no church of canada - the closest thing I guess is the Anglicans, and they are sticking with the 25th - that's what I thought too.

Yeah, there is no church of America either. There are many different Christian churches here. Protestants, Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses... December 25 is the day that is recognized as Christmas around the globe, too. Why do we "still" celebrate the birth of Jesus on this day? There is no reason to change the date for that tradition.

So, the answer is there. I am off to another thread. Merry Christmas everyone! Peace.

Sorry, a Canadian told me they changed it to March. Either he lied, it's a new custom, or very few people do that.

Sorry, a Canadian told me they changed it to March. Either he lied, it's a new custom, or very few people do that.

I think he lied.

these are exerpts from http://144000.net/birth.htm#MRK6

Nowadays, most serious Bible students and scholars agree in that Jesus was not born on December 25th. Why? It is simple. Because the shepherds had their flocks in open field, which implies a date prior to October. And having in mind that the reason why Joseph and his pregnant wife, Mary, traveled to Jerusalem in order to be taxated. No competent Roman administrator would require registration involving travel during the season when Judea was impassable.

<snip>

Elizabeth hid herself for 5 months and then the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary both Elizabeth's condition and that Mary would also bear a son who would be called Jesus. Mary went "with haste" to visit Elizabeth, who was then in the first week of her 6th month, or the 4th week of December, 3 B.C. If Jesus was born 280 days later it would place his birth on September 29, 2 B.C.

<snip>

Eusebius (264-340 A.D.), the "Father of Church History," ascribes it to the 42nd year of the reign of Augustus and the 28th from the subjection of Egypt on the death of Anthony and Cleopatra. [8] The 42nd year of Augustus ran from the autumn of 2 B.C. to the autumn of 1 B.C. The subjugation of Egypt into the Roman Empire occurred in the autumn of 30 B.C. The 28th year extended from the autumn of 3 B.C. to the autumn of 2 B.C. the only date that would meet both of these constraints would be the autumn of 2 B.C.


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hope this explains his birthdate a little more clearly.

as to why not to move it, a better question is why move it? "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" is what we say around here (and if it is broke, get the duct tape, but thats another story)

changing the date would be pointless, because then the whole idea of giving gifts and such would just be moved to a later date. it would only change the fact that there aren't other holidays celebrated around it, which would do nothing really. when it came around, people would still say happy holidays (tp be politcally correct, since not everyone would be celebrating it) and people would still get in trouble for saying merry christmas.

overall, the cons far outweigh the pros of the situation.

Jesus was not even born anywhere near christmas its just a coverup

the christians pretended it was on december 25 so the romans would think they were just celebrating the roman holiday to escape persicution


afterthought my family celebrates christmas on the 30th to take advantage of the sales