Why do we celebrate Jesus’ birth on December 25?

Full Question

A friend tells me that Jesus was probably born in the summer. How do I explain to her the reason the Church celebrates Christmas on December 25?


As we do not know the exact date of Christ’s birth, the date of December 25 for Christmas may have been arbitrary. The Church could have chosen another date on which to celebrate the birth of Christ. One reason December 25 may have been deemed suitable is its proximity to the winter solstice. After that date the days start to become longer, and thus it is at the beginning of a season of light entering the world (cf. John 1:5). The summer solstice—after which the days start to get shorter—falls near June 24, on which the Church celebrates the birth of John the Baptist, who declared of Christ, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).


  1. Deila Diffoot Reply

    I asked the same question to my priest. He explained that the Liturgical/Jewish year begins in September. When Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, Elizabeth was already six months pregnant with John the Baptist. So if you were to count six months from September it will be March, and nine months after that is December.

    1. Brittany Davis Reply

      … That would mean that Mary was pregnant for a year and three months….

    2. Marianna Reply

      Zachariah went to offer in the temple, they can work out when his turn was… Angel told him his wife will have a baby (add 9months) and John the Baptist was born. Jesus was born 6months later – brings us to September/October – Feast of the Tabernacle.
      If you read the Bible you can work it out.

      Dec 25 was a pagan feast for the birth of the sun. Many pagan religion celebrated it. So, to make it easier to convert pagans to Catholicism, they just adapted the pagan feast for the Saviour.
      I’m sure you won’t mind if you partner substituted your birthdate for a previous lover’s birthdate? It’s not SO important – is it?

      Choose who you wish to server God, or man’s tradition.

      1. Da Living Saint Reply

        I think most of my research regarding this question,, I came to same conclusion in line with what you have just said…………….. the date was adopted in order to makes people turn from their evil practice which they celebrate that day (25th Dec)

        1. Lea Leger Reply

          Thats what heretics say, they twisted the word of God. Read more the Bible and understand very well. The Bible says when Mary visited her cousin, (Elizabeth) was 6 months pregnant (Jewish calendar starts September – go ask the Jews what month is their new year (Rosha shana -new year inJewish langauage) count from September to 6 months- March. So when Mary visited her cousin that was March and Mary was also pregnant at that time -Angel Gabriel announced that she is with child and her cousin was 6 months pregnant (March). Mary was pregnant March, Count March to 9 months – December. Think what u think, Jesus knows who we celebrate on Christmas day. You should be rejoice and celebrate our Savior’s birth. The fact is He was born and dwell on us. Christians were already celebrating the birth of Christ by the 2nd century – so it has nothing to with the pagan feast of sol invictus with Emperor Aurelian instituted as a major pagan rites.

          1. Louie

            Regardless of what date or month we celebrate the birth of our Lord, the meaning will still be the same. If anyone among us born in February 29, whether we celebrate in Feb or in March the celebration will still be birthday and that is what count most.

        2. Lea Leger Reply

          Let say u were born January 15 and that date was also the feast of Hindu God. So u dont celebrate your birthday because your birthday date same with Hindu feast. This is only an example, that u heretics wants to attack the Church. if that the case as u accused we dont mind if its from pagan tradition, but we know who we celebrate and we know that Jesus was born. Satan is very powerful to deceive people, he doesnt want God’s children to celebrate his enemy’s birthday. According to Matthew’s Gospel. and many false prophets shall rise and deceive many.

  2. Van Reply

    I believe God!!

  3. Van Reply

    I love God!!!!

  4. Abong Reply


    The idea, particularly popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, that the date of 25 December for Christmas was selected in order to correspond with the Roman festival of Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, or “Birthday of the Unconquered Sun”, is challenged today.[7]

  5. nila placiego Reply

    I believe of god the father almighty. .heaven and earth creat..

  6. madhukumar Reply

    My life god love god thank you Jesus you giving this my birth bless me

  7. Leolaydz Reply

    Praise God and glorify His Name !

  8. Racheal Reply

    Jesus is my saviour!

  9. Thomas R Reply

    It seems I read an alternate theory was that “great people” were conceived on the day they died. As Easter occurs around March or April that would put Christ’s birth around December or January.

    Or that a day soon after the “darkest day” was chosen to symbolize the coming of light with Christ being the light.

  10. Dan Reply

    Under the Julian calendar, Mar. 25 began the new year. When the actual date of an event was not known for sure, it was common practice to date it from the beginning of the new year, i.e., Mar. 25. That date became the date of the Annunciation and exactly 9 months later is Dec. 25. There may have been other reasons, but I think this was one reason.

    1. Douglas Reply

      Excellent answer

  11. Abraham Yeshuratnam Reply

    December 25 is the correct date. This was the oral tradition from the days of ancient church. Only in the 19th century, heretics and atheists started spreading fantastic stories. Their argument was that shepherds won’t take the sheep in winter.Another argument was that it coincided with the pagan festival of Rome. But shepherd of the Middle East take the sheep on all seasons, for there was no place to keep the sheep in homes. So even in winter shepherds erect tents when they take the sheep for grazing.

  12. Mr.Macwan Reply

    Nice things come to know ……..great

  13. Joy Williams Reply

    The bible is very clear on the real date, and describes the star positions in exact detail. If you believe in and understand the science of astronomy, celestial mechanics, and the position of the stars in the sky you will have no doubt when you read: http://www.bethlehemstar.net/setting-the-stage/the-nine-points-of-christs-star/ There is even a video for those who don’t read.

  14. marwin Reply

    Thanks god for all

  15. Terry Bear Reply

    LOL everyone here has retard opinion… it’s just a matter of using COMMON SENSE in order to know that Christ wasnt really born on Winter of December…

    #1: Jesus’ parents came to Bethlehem to register in a Roman census (Luke:2:1-4)

    #2: We know that shepherds were in the fields watching their flocks at the time of Jesus’ birth

    Luc 2:8 “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night”

    Shepherds were not in the fields during December, obviously you cant stay with your sheeps outside for too long in such freezing condition… so whats the purpose of shepperd staying up late at night in the field? to feed the sheeps on grass? lols … remember the’re in the field not in the tents….


    Roman Church have invented so many wrong teachings and laws againts the Bible and most of the time not even written in the Bible

    1: Worshipping Graven Images = AGAINTS the Bible
    2: Purgatory = NOT WRITTEN in the Bible
    3: Rossary = NOT WRITTEN in the Bible
    4: Ash Day = NOT WRITTEN in the Bible
    5: Baptizing Infant = NOT WRITTEN in the Bible
    6: Limbo = NOT WRITTEN in the Bible
    7: the prayer that starts with “Our Father who art in heaven” = GOD let himself called just FATHER, but this retard clergy men they even addressed themselves… Holy Father, Reverend Father, Holy Reverend Father, Most Holy Reverened Father… which is AGAINTS and considered as ABOMINATION in the Bible


    DEFINITELY Christ would DISS this tradition since it came from PAGAN it’s AGAINTS his Doctrines

    1. Tim Rediinger Reply

      Purgatory is in the Bible. Second Maccabees 12: 38-46.

      1. Marianna Reply

        Maccabees is not in most Bibles.
        But please tell me, if you can live your life as you please -and you don’t give a hoot about Jesus or God., then once you die, some loved one can offer some sacrifice for your sins so you may go to Heaven – PLEASE let me WHY did God have His ONLY Begotten Son suffer death on a cross? Was that in vain? If we through our own sacrifices can have other’s sins forgiven and allow them into Heaven?

        When Christ died on the cross – He paid the FULL price – for those that BELIEVED in HIM (and followed Him) will receive the Grace and Salvation.

        By just mentioning purgatory and confessing to priests etc just insults what Jesus did for you. I think it must sadden’s God to see how a church can be deceived to nullified His gift to you.

        Cause purgatory reject’s what Christ did on the cross.

    2. jody della barba Reply

      The word retard is more insulting than any word especially to use it when you are trying to quote the Bible!!!! After you use a word that is so insulting to so many disabled people you have no credibility to quote anything.

    3. Abraham Yeshuratnam Reply

      Census dates were fixed by Romans not on the basis of weather condition. Winter in Bethlehem will not be as severe as in Europe or Russia. Normal life will never be affected during winter season in the Middle East.
      Shepherds had to collect sheep from various houses in those days and graze them. Since winter will not be severe, sheep were kept outside by the shepherds and they also stayed with them, probably in temporary sheds. We learn from the Bible, how Jacob’s sons took the sheep away from home and stayed with them. Joseph was sent to them with food and clothing. It was only in the 18th century, especially after the French Revolution, atheists advanced such weird theories about weather condition in winter and about an imaginary pagan festival. Summer solstice, Roman festival of Sun and such weird stories were invented by atheists and Marxists to weaken the faith of Christians. What is more, these atheists and Marxists cannot produce any documentary evidence to support their phony claim that December 25 coincided with pagan festival.
      Jerusalem Church knew the birth date of Jesus. Mother Mary and relatives like John knew the date but there was no celebration of birthdays in ancient church. Probably there would be a prayer session to thank god and to bless the birth day boy or girl.So the date December 25 which was in the minds of the members of Jerusalem church was passed on to other churches in Asia Minor and the Middle east and later it was accepted in the global church organized by Constantine.

  16. Dan Reply

    The shepherds were in the fields with their flocks… That usually only happened during lambing time, which in the early spring–March & April. So, it is likely Jesus was born then.

  17. José Reply

    December is not winter season in bethlehem. ……

  18. José Reply


  19. Lea Leger Reply

    i dont care if not December 25, It is good we celebrate every year the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Church is the pillar and foundation of Truth and its pillars and foundations are the apostles. The Church wont mislead or misled you because its source is holiness. The Church is Apostlolic Tradition.

  20. Michael Reply

    You need to watch The Star of Bethlehem it is a documentary on the Star and the constellations and proves Christ birth on Dec 25th

  21. yhen Reply

    Roman Catholic church was founded by Jesus Christ true his one apostle St Peter is (Mat. 16, 13-20 ” and I tell you that you are Peter on this rock i will build my Church and the gates Hades will not overcome it. I will give the keys of the Kingdom of heaven and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loose in heaven ,,who is our 1st Pope and Pass through now Pope Benidict 267 list in the Pope since in the beginning 32 AD after the death of Jesus Christ..I believe all the teaching and doctrines of the church..unlike other religion founded by other person only..Roman Catholic Church Christ himself who give the authority to St Peter ..Amen Praise God

    1. Marianna Reply

      Petro means rock, Petrous (Peter) means pebble. So I think that verse has been twisted a bit.
      The first pope was only around 500AD, I think Peter was long gone by then. So Peter WAS NOT the first pope If he were, the bible would have called him pope!
      Then, Go read the first testament – Yes- Read the BIBLE ! Galatians & Corinthians.. Paul talks about the different Apostles baptising and teaching… Peter was never mentioned. And the Church then was VERY VERY different to the church today – Especially the catholic church.
      In the end… you need to decide if you want to follow God’s Word or man’s doctrine. The choice is your – You have access to both… What would you choose?

      1. eltrion Reply

        You has theological and factual fallacy Marianna.
        #1. You believe in Bible as the true source and you said the Bible is God’s Words. It’s ok, and I agree with that. And in the Bible I found a verse like this: 2 Thessalonians 2:15 (WEB) So then, brothers, stand firm, and hold the traditions which you were taught by us, whether by word, or by letter.
        And what “traditions” St. Paul means? And he said “wether by words, or by letter”.
        So your argument has theological fallacy when you said that you only follow the scripture and denying the oral traditions not mentioned in the bible.
        #2. Doctrine. Doctrines are official statements by Church based on the fundamental teaching on matters found in the bible and the Holy Traditions. Thus, you cannot separate Church doctrines from it source which are Bible, the Word of God in Letter, and Holy Traditions.
        #3. Nowhere in the Bible Jesus said to celebrate His birthday, I agree. And also nowhere in the Bible Jesus teach His Apostles to write down His teaching and make it a holy scripture. And nowhere in the Bible mention the canonized scripture as we have today. So, how come you know the Bible you believe to be the Words of God, if not taught by your church? And who taught that to your church?

      2. eltrion Reply

        Pope is actually the Bishop of Rome.
        In the Bible, Jesus has more than 12 disciples, for it’s written like this: Acts 1:21-22 (WEB) “Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
        So why are the 12 Apostles important?
        The twelve apostles are called “Primus Inter Pares” the First among Equals.
        And we can read in the Bible verses not just Petro, or Petrous, I believe Jesus said His name in Jewish language “Kepha”. So your argument on Simon’s new name given by Jesus is not a strong poin.
        In John 21:15-19, John the Apostles witnessed the appointment of Simon as the head of the Twelve. As God in the Old Testament appoint Judah Tribe to be the Leader.
        The Holy Traditions teach that Peter went to Rome, until his martyrdom. And he is the bishop of the Church of God in Rome. Buried in the Vatican Hill.
        The seat of Peter as the Bishop of Rome which the Church acknowledge holds the Jesus’ Command to Guard His flock.
        And Peter’s office has been transferred unbroken until today as Papal Office.

        These are the questions we should think:
        If Jesus acknowledged His disciples were equals, why He commanded Peter like that?
        If Jesus didn’t want a chain of successive leaders or head of the office, why He established it Himself?
        If Jesus didn’t mean it, why all the Apostles, including John who wrote his Gospel of John, testified Peter’s Leadership?
        Since when people started to doubt the leadership of bishop of Rome, or the seat of Peter, or the Successive Papacy?

  22. jimmy Reply

    @ terry bear you are an ignorant,all those things you mentiopned are in the bible do your research well. For example pugatory means place of
    purification 1Cor 3:13-15

  23. Noel David Reply

    In earlier days (centuries ago) neither governments or families kept a record of dates when people were born…. Most of us won’t even know when our great, great grandfather or grandmother was born….. So it is ridiculous for anyone to believe that we can have the exact date of brith of all those who came into this world centuries ago…. Since we did not (and do not know) have the exact of all these people who were born centuries ago…. We (the Church or family or governments/society) may a guess or just pick a date from the calendar (which also came centuries after came into existence) and consider that to be the day the leader/hero was born…. I don’t think we should make a big issue about the exactness of the dates….. When as I said, NONE of us from any part of the world – can go back to our ancestors and pinpoint the exact dates they were born…..

  24. B. R. Solomon Reply

    Why do we celebrate Jesus’ birth on December 25?

    The answer in this mentioned link does not explain well why Jesus’ birth is celebrated on December 25. First of all, the celebration of Jesus’ birth is extremely necessary to acknowledge that “Jesus Christ came into the world in the flesh” (1 Jn. 4:2-3, 2 Jn. 7), that “God was manifest in the flesh” (1 Tim. 3:16 KJV) and that the Word who was God became flesh as Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:1-14). And yet, all the fullness of God dwells in Christ’s body (Col. 2:9). This is why, God is one of us! But the problem was that the date of Jesus’ birth was not recorded and that nobody was sure when it was. Other people thinks that it should be in the summer for the northern hemisphere residents, just because the shepherds were outside the field tending the sheep during Jesus’ birth, but they could not give exactly when it should be.

    However, people sometimes celebrates one’s birthday not on the exact date, that when visitors came, they still acknowledged that it was still the celebrant’s birthday though everyone in the party knows that the date was just adjusted. In the same way to Jesus’ birth, when the early Church was to decide when the adjusted Jesus’ birth date should be, the Church preferred the date selected by their scientists-clergies at their time. Those scientists-clergies had observed that even Nature was telling us something about the Gospel, that is, astronomically speaking from the point of view of people watching on earth, they saw that the sun was moving from the north to the south then back to the north continuing endlessly annually, everyday giving different angles of its rays, which people noticed in the shadows. But, every December 22, the sun begins to stop moving for three days. Then, on December 25, the sun begins moving again to its journey to the north. Thereby, the sun seems to be dead for three days, and becomes alive again on the third day.

    For this reason, the Church adopted the suggestion of its scientists-clergies to declare December 25 to be the celebration of Jesus’ birth as the adjusted birth date, just as Nature also manifests in itself the Gospel of the death for three days of the God-made-man, Jesus Christ, and resurrected on the third day. Historically, a day was counted not on 24-hours basis but on the daylight-time basis, even on a fraction. You can research this answer in several encyclopedia and history books, which I have already learned when I was still young in the high school days.

  25. Michele Reply

    I thought Joseph and Mary were going to pay their taxes, and Jesus was born. So when were the taxes due???

    1. kmp8779 Reply

      Census not taxes…geez

  26. Louie Reply

    Regardless of the date we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, be it in December 25 or any date, as long as we are joyful of his birth, his love and the reason he was born are put it into our everyday life, there is nothing wrong with that as I believe. What if I born in February 29, does it mean I don’t have the right to celebrate it in February 28 or March 1 or any other date we want with my family, and then have to wait for another 4 years to make it exact? Commenting negatively on the exact date of the birth of our Lord to celebrate will just be considered hypocrisy.

  27. mel Reply

    OK so then what about January 6, day of the three wise men arrival to Jesus with his presents, does that give a clue as to when Jesus may have been born, in Mexico and Latin America it’s equivalent to the gift giving of Christmas in the USA if not more because of the presents offered to the new born Jesus Christ. So what I’m trying to get at if the three wise men found the new king on the six of January he must of not been born any earlier or later then December, remember King Herodes killed every new born because wise men told him the new king was born, does that make any sense hmm let me know

  28. Abraham Yeshuratnam Reply

    Exact date was December 25. It was only in the 18th century, atheist and secular writers invented the tale of a pagan festival in Rome on that date and later that date was fixed by Constantins. That is not correct. Early Church in Jerusalem had marked December 25 as Jesus; birthday, although they didn’t celebrate it. Early apostles and Jesus’ mother knew that date. Another argument put forward by atheists was that in winter shepherds wont keep their sheep in tents outside. But in Palestine, sheep are not kept in houses during winter. They are grazed and looked after by the shepherds in tents outside even in winter, .December 25 is the correct date for the birthday of Jesus.. .

  29. Glad P Edokpayi Reply

    Its was the exact day good overcomes evil .

  30. mel Reply

    why do you have to celebrate the birth of Christ at the same date with the pagan feast?

  31. mel Reply

    Also Jesus Christ is the only redeemer and can answer to the father for our sins, how come people pray for their dead love ones from the purgatory(as what they say) to be lifted up to heaven, and when are they going to stop praying and how do they know that the dead is already in heaven. I think these are all lies, those religion who adhere to these belief lie to the people under their care, they are false prophets.

  32. mel Reply

    2 Maccabees 12:38-46Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

    43 And making a gathering, he sent twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be OFFERED for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection,
    Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
    Public Doman (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)

    NO WORD PURGATORY…… as what Tim Rediinger said

  33. mel Reply

    1 Corinthians 3:13-15

    1 Corinthians 3:13-15Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

    14 If any man’s work abide, which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a REWARD.
    15 If any man’s work burn, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be SAVED, yet so as by fire.
    Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
    Public Doman (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)

    NO WORD PURGATORY ………as jimmy said

  34. Ernest M Saenz Reply

    December 25th was the day that Romans and Greeks celebrated a popular deity’s birthday – Dionysus aka Bacchus the god of wine. The early church wanted to guide believers away from Pagan rituals so they declared Jesus’ birthday to be December 25th. Many of the traditions we engage in when we celebrate Christmas are remnants of the Bacchanalia. Indeed, Santa Claus bares a strong resemblance to Bacchus!

  35. Allan gomes Reply

    The Bible says that Angel Gabriel announced the conception of St. John the Baptist to Zechariah when his priestly division of Abijah (LK: 1:5) officiates in the temple, which is in the eight rotation ( Chron 24:5) Immediately his wife was conceived. This took place at the feast of “Yom Kippur” (Day of atonement) which falls between Sept 22-30 in the modern calendar NOTE: Day of atonement = St. John’s mission to give Lord’s people the knowledge of salvation through forgiveness of sin (LK 1:77). Now the Annunciation of Mary, which instituted the conception of Mary through the Holy Spirit, took place six months after conception of John the Baptist ( LK 1:26) now March 25th is when Church celebrates the Solemnity of Assumption March 25 + 9 months (Normal gestation period) = December 25th (Christmas day)

Leave a Reply to Ernest M Saenz Cancel reply