The question of why Christmas is celebrated on December 25 has resurfaced after poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar spoke about the origins of festivals during a public debate in New Delhi. His comments, linking Christmas to ancient pagan celebrations, have since gone viral on social media, especially ahead of Christmas Eve.
Akhtar was speaking at the “Does God Exist” debate at the Constitution Club last week when he argued that festivals were not always religious in origin. To explain his point, he referred to Christmas, claiming that the birth of Jesus Christ was originally marked in spring but was later shifted to December 25 to align with a popular pagan festival during the time of Roman emperor Constantine.
---Advertisement---
So how much of this claim is historically accurate? And why does December 25 hold such importance? Historians say the truth is more layered than viral posts suggest.
---Advertisement---
What the Bible Says And Does Not Say About Jesus’ Birth
One key fact that most historians and theologians agree on is that the Bible does not mention the exact date of Jesus Christ’s birth.
The Gospels of Matthew and Luke describe the Nativity story in detail, including the birth in Bethlehem, the visit of the shepherds, and the arrival of the wise men. However, they do not specify a calendar date. Early Christians were far more focused on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, which form the basis of Easter, rather than celebrating his birthday.
Some biblical details even suggest that Jesus may not have been born in winter. The Gospel of Luke mentions shepherds tending their flocks outdoors at night, which many scholars believe would have been unlikely during the cold Judean winter. This has led some historians to suggest spring or early autumn as more plausible periods, though no date can be stated with certainty.
Because of this lack of clarity, early Christians did not celebrate Christmas at all. According to the Biblical Archaeology Review, the Nativity only became a major focus centuries later.
Pagan Festivals in Ancient Rome Before Christianity
Javed Akhtar’s argument draws heavily from Roman history, where December was already a festive season long before Christianity spread.
One of the most popular celebrations was Saturnalia, held from December 17 onwards. It involved feasting, gift-giving, public celebrations, and even a temporary reversal of social roles. Another major observance was Dies Natalis Solis Invicti the birthday of the Unconquered Sun celebrated on December 25. This festival gained prominence in the third century, particularly under Emperor Aurelian.
December also coincided with the winter solstice, when days begin to lengthen again after the darkest period of the year. Many ancient cultures marked this return of light with celebrations. Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has explained that societies dependent on the sun saw this moment as a sign of hope and renewal, making December 25 symbolically important even before Christianity.
Did Emperor Constantine Move Christmas to December 25?
This is where popular narratives often oversimplify history. Constantine did convert to Christianity in the early fourth century and played a crucial role in legitimising the faith across the Roman Empire. However, there is no direct historical evidence showing that Constantine personally ordered the shift of Jesus’ birthday to December 25 to preserve pagan festivals.
The earliest recorded reference to December 25 as Christmas appears in a Roman calendar from 336 AD, during Constantine’s reign. While this shows that the date was formalised around that time, it does not prove imperial interference.
Historians therefore describe the pagan-festival theory as plausible, but not definitive.
A Theological Explanation Behind December 25
Interestingly, there is another explanation that has nothing to do with pagan traditions.
Some early Christian theologians believed that Jesus was conceived on the same date that he later died. Based on calculations that placed the crucifixion around March 25, they reasoned that the conception also occurred on March 25. Adding nine months leads directly to December 25.
According to Biblical Archaeology Review, this symbolic logic was influential among early Christian scholars and may have played a major role in the acceptance of December 25 as Christmas.
The Church’s View on Pagan Influence
Not all Christian institutions accept the idea that Christmas was copied from pagan festivals. The Christian Fellowship Church of Bangalore, for example, argues that while cultural overlap was inevitable, Christmas developed primarily from Christian theology rather than compromise.
The church notes that pagan festivals like Saturnalia and Sol Invictus had entirely different beliefs and rituals. In this view, December 25 was not about preserving paganism but about reinterpreting time through Christian meaning.
So, Was Christmas “Moved” From Spring to December?
The short answer is no single explanation tells the full story. The Bible does not specify Jesus’ birthdate. Early Christians did not celebrate Christmas. Over time, multiple dates were proposed, including January 6, which is still observed by the Armenian Church. December 25 eventually became widely accepted due to a mix of theology, symbolism, and historical circumstance.
Pagan festivals likely influenced how easily Christmas fit into Roman society, but the idea that Constantine simply shifted the date to keep people happy is an oversimplification.
As historians point out, religions often grow by adapting to cultural contexts. Christmas on December 25 reflects that complex process shaped by belief, history, and human tradition rather than a single decision.
In that sense, Javed Akhtar’s broader point about festivals evolving over time holds weight. But history, like faith, is rarely that simple.