Was Jesus really born on December 25?

At Mass this morning, our Parish Priest said that while billions celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25, the truth is, historians and theologians have debated this for centuries and still do today. The division has been so intense that the true meaning of the day was often lost and forgotten.

Our Priest pointed out that most who question the date look at the Gospel of Luke, which mentions shepherds watching their flocks at night when Jesus was born. This scenario seems unlikely during the cold winter months in Judea. Some scholars use this detail to suggest that Christ may have been born during the spring or autumn, or during the lambing season when shepherds would typically be in the fields. 

The Roman census mentioned in Luke would have been more practical during milder seasons, further supporting this theory. Meanwhile, various studies cite historical records that show that the census referenced in the Gospel did not happen until 6 BCE or two years after Herod's death in 4 BCE.

Some sectors contend that the choice of December 25 may have been influenced by cultural and religious factors rather than historical accuracy. December 25 coincided with the celebration of Roman pagan festivals such as Saturnalia and the winter solstice, honoring the "Unconquered Sun." Early Christians may have adopted this date to provide a Christian alternative to these popular festivities, symbolizing Jesus as the "Light of the World."

To further complicate matters, in the Eastern Christian traditions, many Orthodox communities following the Julian calendar celebrate Christmas on January 7 under the Gregorian calendar, while some select January 6 or the Epiphany as the feast of Christ’s birth. These differences reflect calendar reforms and liturgical emphases rather than certainty about a historical date, reinforcing that the early church did not think of a universally fixed birthday.

The reverend concluded that Christians should focus on the true meaning of Christ’s birth. The Nativity is about God with us, the Incarnation. It’s a story of humility: the eternal Word born in a manger, identifying with the poor and marginalized who are mostly unseen even during His time. It is about one word: love.

As for me, whether Jesus was born in December, spring, or autumn, the heart of Christmas is God with us. It’s about light overcoming darkness, hope breaking into a world of fear and inequality. The Nativity invites shepherds and scholars alike into a message of peace, love, and redemption.