Even though it didn't become an official holiday until the 4th century, some Christians were celebrating the nativity on December 25th in the 200s - which is before the Roman holiday of Sol Invictus existed.
They came to the conclusion that he was crucified on March 25 (This is from Tertullian of Carthage, about AD 200). And they believed in a sort of serendipity where great men were thought to be conceived and die on the same day. March 25 is the Annunciation - the day of Jesus' conception. And it is older than Christmas, and nine months before.
Some other church fathers liked to equate John the Baptist's statement, "He [Jesus] must increase and I must decrease," with the light beginning to increase at Jesus' birth and beginning to decrease with John's (which is 6 months before, June 24th).
As for now, few people believe that Jesus was born on December 25. But the natural symbolism of the world's light beginning to increase while "The light shineth in the darkness" and "the true tight was coming into the world"(John chapter 1) is as powerful as ever.
I think the reason that Christmas is such a huge holiday (bigger than Easter) is because of the natural, powerful emotional response people have to this time of year.
Even though it didn't become an official holiday until the 4th century, some Christians were celebrating the nativity on December 25th in the 200s - which is before the Roman holiday of Sol Invictus existed.
They came to the conclusion that he was crucified on March 25 (This is from Tertullian of Carthage, about AD 200). And they believed in a sort of serendipity where great men were thought to be conceived and die on the same day. March 25 is the Annunciation - the day of Jesus' conception. And it is older than Christmas, and nine months before.
Some other church fathers liked to equate John the Baptist's statement, "He [Jesus] must increase and I must decrease," with the light beginning to increase at Jesus' birth and beginning to decrease with John's (which is 6 months before, June 24th).
As for now, few people believe that Jesus was born on December 25. But the natural symbolism of the world's light beginning to increase while "The light shineth in the darkness" and "the true tight was coming into the world"(John chapter 1) is as powerful as ever.
I think the reason that Christmas is such a huge holiday (bigger than Easter) is because of the natural, powerful emotional response people have to this time of year.