Every December 25th, we all enjoy the Christmas holiday, undoubtedly one of the most important of the year, where we usually gather with our loved ones. This date was chosen to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, so it is a religious holiday.
Although this time of year is usually associated with gifts, celebrations and family gatherings, the truth is that its origin responds to other historical factors involving the Roman Empire.
When did Christmas start to be celebrated?
It is not clear when it began to be celebrated, but several ancient documents suggest that the Church in Rome began to celebrate this feast formally on December 25, 336, during the reign of Emperor Constantine.
This king promulgated Christianity throughout the empire and chose this date in order to weaken the pagan celebrations that took place at that time. At that time, the celebrations were dedicated to Sol Invictus, the sun god, and also coincided with another festival that took place in mid-December over several days, the so-called Saturnalia.
An anthropologist named James George Frazer pointed out in his work ‘The Golden Bough’ that December 25 was counted as the winter solstice and was considered the Nativity of the Sun because from this day onwards, the days begin to be longer and the power of the sun began to increase from that turning point.
There are many theories regarding this date, which despite being a Christian tradition, has gradually spread to the majority of the population, who celebrate this holiday despite their different thoughts and beliefs.