I bet you think you know alot about Christmas. Well, I beg to differ. “Christmas is on December 25th because Jesus was born on the 25th of December and that's how it's always been”. Ok, but that's not really true. The first time Christmas was ever celebrated on the 25th of December was in 336 A.D. This creates over 300 years in which the date of Jesus' birth could have changed. 300 years ago we weren’t even a country! That comparison gives you an idea of just how different things could have been. However, we have been at it for a long time, 1681 years in fact, if you were trying to do the math. Once again, that is untrue. Christmas on the 25th was only made a national holiday in 1870. That's only 147 years. But still, Christmas on the 25th has not always been a thing, nor was that the most likely date of Jesus birth. The truth is, no one is sure on the date of Jesus birth. Some astrologers have tracked the star which Jesus was born under to be in 5 B.C. And other scholars tracked the reign of Herod and saw he made his decree in 4 B.C. Most people however believe Jesus to be born in A.D. 1. If scholars, historians, and astrologers can’t even agree on a year for Jesus birth how can we say that he was born on the 25th day in the month of December in A.D. 1. In all actuality it doesn’t matter when Jesus was born, all that matters is that He was born and that He saved us from our sin, so that we may live with Him for eternity in paradise. So, when you leave for Christmas break, remember that fact, and try not to get caught up in the trappings of the holidays. Merry Christmas!
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