For centuries Christian celebrate the
birth of Jesus Christ on the 25th of December. We believe that it is quite
improbable that Jesus was born on that date. Luke 2:1-3, tells us about a
census that was the reason that Joseph and Mary travelled. A census would have
never been made in the heart of the winter since the weather conditions would
make the transportation of the people to the city of their family1 very difficult. In fact, even in our
modern age of fast speed means of transportation, the censuses are always done
in periods where the weather will not be an obstacle. Therefore, a supposed
Jesus’ birth on the 25th of December and a census at this date are not things
that can go together. Also, the fact that verse 8 speaks about shepherds that
were with their flock in the field is one more indication that Jesus wasn't
born on the 25th of December, since because of the weather, the flock is never
in the field at that time. As Adam Clark characteristically says:
"As
these shepherds had not yet brought home their flocks, it is a presumptive
argument that October had not yet commenced, and that, consequently, our Lord
was not born on the 25th of December, when no flocks were out in the
fields.....On this very ground the nativity in December should be given
up" (The quotation is taken from R. E. Woodrow: "Babylon Mystery
Religion", Ralph Woodrow Evangelistic Association Inc., 1966, this
printing 1992 p.141)
From the above facts, it is clear that it is very
improbable that Jesus was born on the 25th of December. Why then is his birth
celebrated at this date? The reason is no other than pagan costumes that
converted pagans introduced to Christianity. As J. Frazer says:
"The
largest pagan religious cult which fostered the celebration of December 25 as a
holiday throughout the Roman and Greek worlds was the pagan sun
worship-Mithraism....This winter festival was called "the Nativity" -
the "Nativity of the of the sun" (See J. Frazer: "The Golden
Bough", New York, Macmillan Co., 1935 p.471.)
Even such a conservative source as "The Catholic
Encyclopedia" admits that it was this heathen festival the reason for
celebrating Jesus’ birth on the 25th of December:
"The
well-known solar feast of Natalis Invicti [the Nativity of the Unconquered Sun]
celebrated on 25 December, has a strong claim on the responsibility for our
December date" (See: "The Catholic Encyclopedia", New York,
Robert Appleton Co., 1911, p.725. This quotation was taken from R. Woodrow, op.
cit. p.143)
From all the above, it is clear that the 25th of December is
not the day that Jesus was born but the day that pagans celebrated the nativity
of the sun. When these pagans were converted to Christianity, they brought with
them their heathen practices. The church instead of taking a bold standing and
fight those practices, it preferred to "christianize" them. So
"the nativity of the sun-god" was changed to "the nativity of
the Son of God". Unfortunately, that's just one of the many heathen
practices and traditions that are still followed by a considerable number of
Christians.
All this of course does not mean that we should take action against the celebration of the birth of Jesus on the 25th of December or start fighting with our families about this. The date that Jesus was born is not that important. What is important is the fact that HE WAS BORN!!! However, we should keep in mind these things and not be carried away by believing various man-made traditions.