Comment on Where do British Christmas traditions really come from?

• Flax_vert@feddit.uk ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  According to some scholars, the emperor Aurelian instituted in AD 274 the festival Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (‘birthday of the Invincible Sun’) on 25 December

  christianhistoryinstitute.org/…/ff-christmas

  Sextus Julius Africanus (160–240), an early third-century Christian historian, is among the first to refer to Jesus’s conception on March 25 and thus, by simple math, his birth nine months later on December 25.

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  • piccolo@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Totally pure conciendence he choose march 25th as the day of conception. (Spring equinox) which meant jesus would be born around winter solstice. Despite the evidence in the bible would strongly disagree with a winter birth. There may not be direct influence, but previous traditions most certainly influenced Christian traditions.

    source

    • Flax_vert@feddit.uk ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      The Early Christians weren’t keen to imitate the idolatrous romans who were persecuting them at the time. It really is a long stretch.

      Despite the evidence in the bible would strongly disagree with a winter birth.

      The only reason is that the shepherds were out tending a flock at night. It turns out the temperature in Palestine was actually suitable enough to do this in December, and it was early lambing season. So it’s still a possibility, although emphasis on “possibility”.

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      • piccolo@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        The Early Christians weren’t keen to imitate the idolatrous romans who were persecuting them at the time. It really is a long stretch.

        They also didnt celebrate jesus birth at that time, instead of focusing on death (and rising). It wasnt until around Constantine when Christians started celebrating his birth.

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