Discovering the Truth Behind Common Misconceptions About Christmas Celebration Dates
Christmas, or the Nativity of Jesus Christ, commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, Judea, Israel. It is estimated that this event occurred around 7 BC to 2 AD. Essentially, Christmas and the term Noel refer to the same occasion. The term Noel originates from the Latin word “natalis,” meaning birth.
Jesus Christ is truly the main character of Christmas.
However, the Gospel of Matthew mentions that the name Noel derives from the title Emmanuel, which in Hebrew means “God is with us.” In English, this holiday is commonly referred to as Christmas. This term can be broken down into two parts: “Christ” and “Mas.” “Christ” signifies “The Anointed One,” a title for Jesus, while “Mas” means mass or feast.
Typically, Christmas is celebrated from the evening of December 24 until the end of December 25. Why is this event observed over two days? This is because Jews believe that a new day begins at sunset, which is why celebrations start early on the night of the 24th (known as the Vigil Mass) before the official celebration on the 25th (called the Feast Day).
1. December 24 – The “Vigil” of Christmas
As mentioned earlier, according to Roman Catholic tradition, the night of December 24 is when the “Vigil” is celebrated to attract more participants. On this night, all places of worship and households decorate nativity scenes with a manger, featuring statues of the Holy Child and the Virgin Mary, surrounded by figures such as donkeys, the Three Wise Men, angels, and Saint Joseph.
Image of an English monk – Saint Boniface.
Moreover, the image of December 24 is also associated with the origin of the Christmas tree. Historically, around 2000 to 1200 BC, there were mentions of a type of spruce tree decorated with flowers, fruits, and grains linked to December 24, the day of the sun’s rebirth.
It is said that in the 7th century, an English monk, Saint Boniface (born in 680), encountered a group of pagans worshiping around a large oak tree and using a child for a sacrifice during his pilgrimage.
Image of December 24 is linked to the origin of the Christmas tree.
To stop the sacrifice and save the child, Boniface struck down the oak tree with a single blow. From that spot, a small fir tree grew. The saint told the pagans that the small fir represented the tree of life and symbolized the eternal life of the Savior. Since then, the custom of planting fir trees for Christmas began, symbolizing hope and new life.
2. December 25 – The Main Feast of Christmas
Many believe that December 25 is the actual birth date of Jesus Christ, making it the true Christmas. However, this is not entirely accurate.
To date, no documentation confirms that Jesus was born on that specific day. All that is known is that Jesus was born one dark night in a manger, and some shepherds, informed by angels, came to worship Him.
Jesus was born in a manger.
Following this event, Christmas began to be celebrated by Christian followers. Initially, due to the prohibitions and persecutions from the Roman authorities, they secretly chose December 25 for their celebrations, coinciding with the “Feast of the Unconquered Sun” (Feast of The Sol Invictus) of the Romans.
For a long time, the Roman authorities were unable to detect Christians joyfully celebrating the birth of Jesus because they organized their festivities on the same day as the national holiday of ancient Rome.
About 300 years later, in 312 AD, Roman Emperor Constantine I converted from paganism to Christianity. He abolished the Feast of the Sun. From then on, December 25 became the official celebration of Jesus Christ’s birthday.
Emperor Constantine – the one who converted the Roman Empire.
However, it was not until 354 AD when Pope Liberius declared December 25 as the official date for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. As Christianity spread around the 4th century, Christmas began to be celebrated regularly and consistently.
Thus, December 25 is merely a convention worldwide to commemorate a true historical event, the incarnation of the Son of God, who came to fulfill the mission of saving humanity.
