Jesus' Birthday - 25 December?

No one really knows for sure when Jesus was born - the most likely date is somewhere around the 20th to the 29th of September. However, in 336 A.D., in an attempt to popularise Christian beliefs and to challenge pagan ones, Christian leaders sought to attract followers by setting the date to 25th December to coincide with the popular pagan holiday of Saturnalia which marked the winter solstice.

Initially, Christmas celebrations amounted to little more than a simple mass, but over the years it has absorbed and replaced numerous other religious and national holidays around the world, absorbing many and varying traditions into the celebration over time

1. Stardust

2. Elf

3. Blackadder's A Christmas Carol

4. It's A Wonderful Life

5. White Christmas

Hits Offer ¦ Xmas Mystery ¦ Perfect Gift

Christmas Home - A History

* Advent

* Band Aid 1984 -

    Do They Know It's Christmas?

* Band Aid 2004 -

    Do They Know It's Christmas?

* Band Aid -

    Michael Buerk's Original Report

* Brandy Butter Recipe

* Christmas

* Christmas Cake Recipe

* Christmas Cards

* Christmas Cards - the First Card

* Christmas Crackers

* Christmas Dinner

* Christmas Eve

* Christmas Evergreens

* Christmas Games

* ChristMAS or ChristMASS?

* Christmas Presents

* Christmas Pudding History

* Christmas Pudding Recipe

* Christmas Stockings

* Christmas Stockings - fable

* Christmas Trees

* Christmas Wreaths

* Cranberry Sauce Recipe

* Jesus' Birthday

* Lord of Misrule

* Mince Pies

* Mince Pies - Recipe

* Mistletoe

* Pantomimes

* Poinsettias

* Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

* Santa Claus - His Story

* Saturnalia

* The Nativity

* The Ten Ages of Christmas

* The Three Wise Men

* What are The Twelve Days of Christmas?

* What is Christmas?

* Why is Christmas spelt Xmas?

* Winter Solstice - 21 or 25 December?

* Yule Log

Books and Films

Carols Poems and Songs

Events

Links

New Year - Hogmanay