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flippythemaster t1_iz7etc4 wrote

Reply to comment by bangdazap in How did new emerging religions succeed despite established pre-existing religions during ancient and/or pre-historic times? by matthewlee0165

This is a very good post and I agree with what you’re saying but I’m very pedantic and feel the need to point out that Saturnalia is unlikely to be the source of Christmas (at least, directly) because it was celebrated from the 17th to the 23rd. It seems more likely that it comes from the date of the winter solstice since that’s celebrated on the 25th of December on the Julian calendar. Interestingly enough, on the modern calendar the solstice falls on the 21st so we’ve been celebrating it wrong since the adoption of this newer calendar system. Open your presents early, kiddos! That said, I’m sure you’re right inasmuch as the celebration of Saturnalia at around the same time period (if not THE EXACT period) probably led to the easy adoption of Christmas by the public, since you can call it whatever you want as long as we get our gosh darned presents. Maybe it’s splitting hairs, but this is Reddit so that’s what we do

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PDV87 t1_iz8em5z wrote

As you say, the traditional celebration of the solstice was probably the main reason why December 25th was chosen as the date on which Christ's birth was celebrated. Some people argue that another contributing factor was the holiday of Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, which celebrated the birth of Sol Invictus on December 25th; however, the Emperor Aurelian instituted this holiday in 274 AD, and many others argue that he did so because Christians were already celebrating Christmas on that date.

Regarding the choice of December 25th as the Nativity, Saint Augustine said: "Hence it is that He was born on the day which is the shortest in our earthly reckoning and from which subsequent days begin to increase in length. He, therefore, who bent low and lifted us up chose the shortest day, yet the one whence light begins to increase."

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FenrisGreyhame t1_iz8yql9 wrote

Interesting. So it would seem that Christmas, from the very beginning, was never a purely Christian thing. Or am I misunderstanding?

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