When did the church start celebrating Christmas on December 25?

Answer 1

Journalist Juan Arias points out: "Those who, within Christianity, criticize the way Christmas has become 'paganized' and more devoted to jollity and consumerism than to religion, are generally unaware that even in its origin the Nativity . . . already incorporated many of the features of the Roman pagan festival [of the sun]."-El País, December 24, 2001. Regarding the date for Christmas celebrations, the Enciclopedia de la Religión Católica frankly states: "The reason that the Roman Church decided to assign this date to the festival seems to be its tendency to replace pagan festivals with Christian ones. . . . We know that in Rome at that time, the pagans consecrated December 25 as the celebration of natalis invicti, the birth of the 'invincible sun.'" The Enciclopedia Hispánicalikewise notes: "The date of December 25 for the celebration of Christmas is not the result of a strict chronological anniversary but, rather, of the Christianization of the festivals of the winter solstice that were celebrated in Rome." How did the Romans celebrate the rise of the sun in the winter sky? By feasting, revelry, and the exchanging of presents. Since church authorities were loath to abolish such a popular festival, they "Christianized" it by calling it the birth of Jesus instead of the birth of the sun. It came from what people say the day "Santa Claus" got married.

Answer 2

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH HAD NO FESTIVALTO DRAW ITS MEMBERS ATTENTION AWAY

FROM OTHER JOYOUS, COLORFUL OCCASIONS CELEBRATED IN THE MID- FOURTH

CENTURY ON DEC 25TH, THAT THE BISHOPS OF ROME BEGAN CELEBRATING THE BIRTH

OF CHRIST ON DEC 25TH. BEFORE THIS CHRISTIANS DID NOT CELEBRATE THE BIRTH

OF CHRIST

REF: EXPLORING THE New Testament WORLD

BY: ALBERT A . BELL, JR

Answer 3

Western Christians first celebrated Christmas on December 25 in the early 4th century. But was not widely accepted or celebrated till Emperor Theodosius I established Christianity as the official state religion of the Roman Empire.

Answer 4

Reference to the date of the nativity asDecember25th is found in an illuminated manuscript compiled in Rome in 354, prior (and post) to this the dates skip about. The religious calenders of that time (and even today) work differently to the Gregorian.

Answer 5

Officially it is the day Jesus was born but the actual date of that is now thought to be some time in January. Instead it is on a date that was previously a pagan midwinter festival, as early Christians realised it would be wise not to compete with the pagan festival.

Answer 6

Christmas begin in dec 25

Answer 7

it was first celebrated by your mom

Answer 8

1st of December

Answer 9

1700's.