Was Jesus Born on December 25th?

Did you ever wonder if December 25^th is the day of Christ’s birth? I often answered that this date commemorated the birth of Jesus, but not necessarily the actual date of His birth, and that early Christians chose the date as a rival celebration to pagan festivities, namely the Roman Saturnalia and the feast of Sol Invictus. But I recently came a cross an article that challenged my presumptions.

Kurt M. Simmons in “The Origins of Christmas and The Date of Christ’s Birth” contends:

The origins of Christmas and the date of Christ’s birth are separate but related questions. However, Christmas is usually assumed to have no connection with the actual date of Christ’s birth. Discussions regarding the origins of Christmas typically omit reference to the birth of Christ, unless it is to affirm it is unlikely he was born December 25th. This is unfortunate because it has skewed discussion and taken it in directions which tend to impugn the legitimacy of Christmas itself. However, chronological evidence strongly favors December 25th being the actual date of the nativity, such that the assumption that Christmas is unconnected with the date of Christ’s birth is no longer academically defensible or sound.

Simmons’ piece is technical and involved but a worthy read for consideration and reassessment on the significance of December 25^th.

What if Christmas on December 25^th was never simply a borrowing from paganism? Did early Christians intend to setup a sanctified alternative to pagan festivities? Are we wiser to hold off on quickly dismissing early Christian testimonial of December 25^th being the day of the Nativity?

Merry Christmas.

— WGN