who decided that december 25th is jesus birthday?

December 21 (by our calender) was the original date for Saturnalia as it is the shortest day of the year and the beginning of the rise of the invincible sun god, but on the Julian calender that day was December 25th. The Roman Church to gain influence with the pagan Roman populace renamed Saturnalia as Christmas or Christ's Mass. They kept all the traditions (caroling, present giving, yule log etc...) as well as the date. The people could more relate to the date rather than the scientific event so they kept the date. Early Christians did not celebrate birthdays much less Jesus' but Pagans sure loved the birthday celebration and it was a great way to get the pagans under control of the new Roman government.

Some old guy in a suit, with a Cuban cigar stuck in the corner of his mouth. I believe it was the founder of Macy's Department Store. He thought it would be good for business.... Jesus' birthday, I must say I have to 1/2 agree with the JW's here in being entirely irrelevant as to exact day. It's the spirit of the Savior that matters. Not all cultures celebrate 12/25 as His birthdate either. USA pagans love to point to that date as a hijacked pagan holiday. Too bad its not always the date they enjoy smirking over. What it has become nowadays, perhaps the pagans have hijacked it back?

The birth of the Savior for mankind: his life, ministry, death, and resurrection were all foretold with precise accuracy, as well as the continued spread of Christianity from the giving of the Great Commission to His people. His return ETA... not so clear. Who will He catch sleeping?

Christmas is nothing to do with either Christianity or Islam but it does have it's origins in the midwinter festival and many other basically pagan rites but since much of it is a celebration of nature rather than religion everyone should be able to enjoy it and be happy together despite religion!

The ancient European pagans celebrated the midwinter festival and a number of other festivals long before Christianity ever existed!

Babylonians celebrated the feast of the Son of Isis with gluttonous eating and drinking, and gift giving and the goddess of fertility, love, and war.

The Romans held a festival on 25 December called “Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, celebrating their own god Sol Invictas – PAGAN!

The Persian god Mithras, the Syrian sun god Elah Gabal, the German Sol, the Greek Helios and the Mesopotamian Shamash. But also Saturnalia, honouring Saturn, the God of Agriculture. The law courts and schools were closed. No public business could be transacted an this is where the holidays originated - ALL PAGAN!

Wax tapers were given by the more humble to their superiors. The origin of the Christmas candle - PAGAN!

In Rome groups of costumed went from house to house entertaining their people. And this was where the carolling Christmas tradition originated PAGAN!

Statues of the Mother and lover or Mother and son were paraded through the streets not only in Italy but also in Africa, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany and Bulgaria. Thus, the symbolism of the Heavenly Virgin and the infant child paraded on a yearly basis are not of Christian origin. They stem from the Mother-goddess religion, which is very ancient ENTIRELY PAGAN!

Scandinavian countries celebrated Yule honouring Thor – PAGAN!

In Germania (not Germany) they celebrated midwinter night followed by 12 wild nights of eating and drinking. The 12 days of Christmas PAGAN!

The church under Pope Julius I declared that Christ’s birth would be celebrated on December 25 in 350 AD in order to try to hijack the PAGAN festivals but it was largely ignored. Christians did not really celebrate Christmas until 378 but it was then dropped in 381 and not resurrected until 400.

The Christmas tree stems from pagan tradition and ritual surrounding the Winter Solstice, which included the use of holly boughs ivy and other foliage as an adaptation of pagan tree worship. Holly and ivy represented male and female. Mistletoe was considered a sacred plant, and the custom of kissing under the mistletoe began as a fertility ritual - all PAGAN!

Santa Claus came from the Dutch “Sinterklaas” and was a tall figure riding a white horse through the air and usually accompanied by Black Peter, an elf who punished disobedient children. Also the origin of the reindeer, sleigh and the elves ALL PAGAN!

The modern red coated Santa was brought about by coca cola!

AMERICA ACTUALLY BANNED CHRISTMAS several times and is the originator of the expression “Happy Holidays” which came about because of the pagan origins of Christmas to include all religions and traditions!

The Venerable Bede, an early Christian writer pointed out that the Christian church absorbed Pagan practices when it found the population unwilling to give up the festivals. Thus a lot of what Christians now see as Christians practices are in fact pagan!

Christmas is the time of year christians strive to prove just how pagan they have become

i suggest you go to bethlehemstar.net to get amazing info but the answer to your question is that December 25 was the day the 3 wise men came and offered gifts to the Jesus. That is why we give gifts on Christmas. Jesus was actually a toddler when the 3 wisemen came. ummm.....what else.......Jesus was actaully born in march(i think).

It was decided at the Council of Nicaea, 300 years after the death of jesus. Silly, isn't it.

Pope Julius I

Peace be with you

<<<Devout Catholic>>>

Charles Darwin did.

The church. They wanted it to be close to the same day as the pagan midwinter celebration.

I do not know, but maybe you can find that question on Google.