Why we celebrate Christmas

PhredPhantom

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The Birth of Jesus Christ


Luk 2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.


Luk 2:2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.


Luk 2:3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.


Luk 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,


Luk 2:5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.


Luk 2:6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.


Luk 2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.


The Shepherds and the Angels


Luk 2:8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.


Luk 2:9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.


Luk 2:10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.


Luk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.


Luk 2:12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”


Luk 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,


Luk 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”


Luk 2:15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”


Luk 2:16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.


Luk 2:17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.


Luk 2:18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.


Luk 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.


Luk 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.


Luk 2:21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

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Merry Christmas to y’all.
 

TTKADawg

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Merry Christmas GIF

Merry Christmas Pack! Everyone be safe!
 
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PhredPhantom

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Constantine is the reason for the season, not hay-soos

Constantine was an early Roman emperor who converted to Christianity but that would have never happened if Christ had not been born. The birth of Christ is the reason we celebrate; not because Constantine said so.

From Grok:

(For a short summary, skip to the last paragraph.)
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Emperor Constantine (r. 306–337 AD), the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, is often linked to Christmas because the earliest recorded celebration of Jesus’ birth on December 25 occurred in Rome in 336 AD, during his reign.


The Bible does not specify the date of Jesus’ birth, and early Christians did not celebrate it as a major holiday — they focused more on Easter and his resurrection. The choice of December 25 likely stemmed from early Christian theological calculations (e.g., Jesus conceived on March 25, the date of creation or the spring equinox, leading to a December birth nine months later) rather than direct imperial decree.


A popular theory claims Constantine chose December 25 to “Christianize” the Roman festival of Sol Invictus (the “Unconquered Sun”), celebrated on that date around the winter solstice, or to overlap with Saturnalia (a December festival of feasting and gift-giving). This would supposedly make Christianity more appealing to pagans by replacing or reinterpreting existing holidays.


However, modern scholarship largely rejects the idea that Constantine personally established or mandated the date for this purpose. Evidence shows Christmas on December 25 was observed by some Christian communities (possibly in North Africa or elsewhere) as early as the late 2nd or 3rd century — before Constantine’s conversion in 312 AD and well before his reign. The 336 AD record is simply the first documented instance in Rome, not proof he invented it.


Constantine’s broader role was in legalizing Christianity (via the Edict of Milan in 313 AD) and promoting it as the empire’s favored religion, which helped spread and formalize Christian practices, including the growing observance of Christmas. Over time, as Christianity became dominant, December 25 became the standard date in the Western Church.


In short: Constantine didn’t “invent” Christmas or pick the date, but his era marks when it became officially recognized in Rome, amid a shift from pagan to Christian dominance.
 
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