December 23, 2006
FROM THE ARCHIVES: BECAUSE THE 24TH IS CHRISTMAS EVE?:
Why is Dec. 25 the date to celebrate Christmas? (The Associated Press, 12/22/04)
There's a small disagreement about why Christians chose Dec. 25 for Christmas. Two main theories compete.One notes that in A.D. 274, the Roman Emperor Aurelian inaugurated Dec. 25 as the pagan "Birth of the Unconquered Sun" celebration, at the calendar point when daylight began to lengthen. Supposedly, Christians then borrowed the date and devised Christmas. [...]
Hippolytus said Jesus' birth "took place eight days before the kalends of January," that is, Dec. 25.
The New Testament Gospels say the Crucifixion happened at the Jewish Passover season. The "integral age" concept, taught by ancient Judaism though not in the Bible, held that Israel's great prophets died the same day as their birth or conception.
Quite early on, Tighe said, Christians applied this idea to Jesus and set the Passover period's March 25 for the Feast of the Annunciation, marking the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary that she would give birth. Add nine months to the conception date and we get Dec. 25.
[originally posted: 2004-12-23]
Posted by Orrin Judd at December 23, 2006 11:34 PMAhh, I've been waiting for a post that has at least some tenuous end-of-the-year connection, so that I can shamelessly plug the poll I've set up to get some answers to an important question:
What are we going to name this decade?
Here we are, five years in, and still the '00s remain nameless. This cannot stand. Please help put some meat on this poll's bones, whether you favor "the oh's," the "aughts" or some other name for this currently invisible decade.
And Merry Christmas, no matter why they picked the 25th.
Hmm. Link didn't render right.
Take two: Poll is here.
Posted by: Semolina Pilchard at December 23, 2004 5:08 PMTough to argue with your logic.
Posted by: Rick T. at December 23, 2004 5:50 PMI voted for the Noughts, but only because the poll didn't include my favorite option, the Noughties.
Posted by: Guy T. at December 23, 2004 8:40 PMI voted for "aughts", in part because "naughts" sound so negative and because when people say "naughts", more often than not, folks will hear it as "aughts".
Posted by: Dave W. at December 24, 2004 4:44 PMAn idea just poppeed into my mind, why not the "twomills"? Folks would say, "yah, I remember way back in twomill-4, ..."
Posted by: Dave W. at December 24, 2004 4:49 PMWell, so far, "the aughts" have a solid lead in the poll. (Though voting is a little slow, it being Christmas Eve and all, and despite a big fat Daily Pundit link last night.)
"The aughts" ... I dunno. I think the Brits have gotten hold of my site.