Why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25?

The reasons are complicated.

December has a long history of winter festivities. The Roman Empire celebrated Sol Invictus, the rebirth of the Unconquered Sun in December.

The Romans also celebrated the festival of Saturnalia in honor of their god Saturn, from the middle of December to January. They held his birthday as December 25.

When Emperor Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the empire, Christmas was first celebrated December 25, 336 AD.

Some have speculated that Constantine proclaimed December 25 for the birth of Jesus as a political move to weaken pagan religions and unify the empire by sanctifying a date formerly marked by pagan festivals.

We don’t know the real motive for his decision.

So when was Jesus really born?

The Gospels give no date but provide a few hints.

According to biblicalculture.wordpress.com , shepherds worked shifts during the sheep birthing season to ensure the newborn lambs survived.

Lambing season is traditionally from mid-March to April. But the Awassi sheep found only in the Middle East and Israel gives birth in autumn.

Clement of Alexandria wrote in 200 AD that Egyptian theologians assigned May 20 as Christ’s birth date.

We really don’t know if they were right.