 On December 25 We Celebrate Christmas!
Even before the Christian era, many popular festivities took place during the month of December :
On the day of the winter solstice, the day of birth of Mithra (the defeated god of the sun) was also celebrated. This date was accidentally set on the 25 of December by Julius Caesar’s calendar. - In Rome, Saturnalia began on December 17 and ended on December 24 to honor Saturn the god of sowing and fertility.
- Traces of similar festivities were found among the Teutones, Celts and Scandinavians.
- The birth of Jesus was first celebrated on January 6 in the first western churches.
- In 330, the Emperor Constantine officially replaced the celebration of the god of the sun with the celebration of the birth of Christ. In 381, the Emperor Theodosius made December 25 a day of celebration in the West while keeping the 6 of January as the day of commemoration of the Magi.
Image: Constantin
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