Christmas 2023: Why is Christmas celebrated on December 25? Traditions, History, Significance and all you need to know

Christmas is celebrated to observe the birth of Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe is the Son of God.
However, several reports have a different views on this. "Dec. 25 is not the date mentioned in the Bible as the day of Jesus’s birth; the Bible is actually silent on the day or the time of year when Mary was said to have given birth to him in Bethlehem.The earliest Christians did not celebrate his birth," a Washington Post report says.

This shifts our attention to the several records that describe how and why December 25 is celebrated as Jesus' birthday.
In The Golden Bough, anthropologist James George Frazer has talked about why Christmas is celebrated on December 25. However there are a number of theories that nullify the theory presented by Frazer.
Just as the celebration around Christmas, several theories also talk about the date of birth of Jesus. It is believed that Jesus was born between 6 and 4 BC.
History of Christmas
Christmas is an annual event which holds immense religious and cultural significance. The name Christmas is derived from the words 'Mass of Christ'.
As per record, the first recorded date of celebration of Christmas was in 336; it was during this time of Roman Emperor Constantine, who happens to be the first Christian Roman Emperor.

The most common story around Christmas observation was when Mary, the mother of Jesus, was told that she will be having a special child from the Lord. It is said that Mother Mary got this prediction on March 25 and nine months later on December 25 Jesus was born. This might be one of the theories where December 25 was arrived at as the birth of Jesus and hence is celebrated.
Post this prediction, Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem. Gregorian calendar, based on which Christmas is celebrated today, did not exist during that time hence there is no proof that he was born on December 25.
One of the theories talk about Europeans. This theory states that several centuries ago, early Europeans marked both light and birth in the darkest days of winters. As they looked forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight they celebrated the winter solstice.

Significance of Christmas
Christmas is a day of religious significance for those who have faith in Christianity. On this day these people remember Jesus Christ, recall his sacrifices and do a mass service.
In the mass service, Christians remember how Jesus died and how he comes back to life later.
Many believe this day to be the truth of spiritual life. They believe that before the birth of Jesus the world was full of hatred, greed, and hypocrisy; however the birth of Jesus eradicated all the evil things and prevailed happiness in the world.
Christians celebrate this change of world which had happened after the birth of Jesus.

They believe that since he came to salvage the entire humanity of all the suffering his ultimate sacrifice during crucifixion needs to be commemorated.
No discussion around Christmas is complete without a mention about Santa Claus. The mythical creature Santa Claus is closely associated with Christmas and kids are seen waiting for the Santa to arrive on a sleigh and leave them gifts. This tradition has been kept alive to this date and at several places people engage in playing the game of Secret Santa.
Tradition of Christmas
There are several traditions associated with Christmas. The common one among them are where people engage in holiday parade, baking cookies, decorating Christmas tree, and enjoy in merry making.
The Christmas traditions change from region to region.
For example, in Phillipines Giant Lantern festival is observed during this time. Also known as Ligligan Parul this light features parols or lantern which symbolizes the star of Bethlehem. Because of this tradition, San Fernando is called the Christmas capital of the Phillippines.

Another significant aspect of Christmas is the use of red, gold and green color. These colors signify the colors of the festival. While red suggests the blood of the Christ, gold is the one of the gifts from the Three Kings and green is the color of everlasting life.
Carol singing is also a part of Christmas. Though carols are sung throughout the year, there are several of these which are specifically sung during this period.
Be it movies or literature, we have always seen Christmas being celebrated with a beautifully decorated tree. This tree is usually a fir tree and the use of the tree dates back to early times when Romans used the tree to decorate their temples at the festival of Saturnalia.

Queen Victoria made Christmas tree popular in the UK when her husband Prince Albert brought a tree from Germany and placed it on the Windsor Castle.
Christmas Wreath is also another important part of Christmas celebration. Christmas wreaths are used as a symbol of honor and victory. It was used to represent the beginning of Christmas.
Another most important part of Christmas celebration is evergreen foliage. The use of foliage dates back to pagan and Roman festivals. Some believe it to be the victory of life over darkness.
Christmas stockings are those beautiful socks which have been popularised by movies and cinemas. There is a beautiful story behind the use of stocking. It says, once St Nicholas threw gold coins down the chimney of a poor family in order to help them. The coins fell inside the stockings which were hanging near the fire place to dry. From here the concept of stockings came into existence.
A beautiful part of Christmas celebration is the mistletoe. Druids revere this plant for its ability to survive even without roots. Mistletoe plant has immense medical values and harvests itself during the winter solstice.
Among other traditions of Christmas are bursting of crackers, advent of Christmas calendar, and exchange of Christmas card.
Christmas is a festival of enjoyment, merry making, exploring unknown aspects of history and remembering what humanity has survived through in so many years.
Few common questions associated with Christmas are: