在基督教建立初期，基督徒并不庆祝圣诞节。为什么选取12月25日为圣诞节呢？
Christmas Day
In the early years of Christianity, Easter was the main holiday. The birth of Jesus was not celebrated. In the fourth century, church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday. Unfortunately, the Bible does not mention the date for his birth. Although some evidence suggests that his birth may have occurred in the spring, Pope Julius I chose December 25th. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival, a holiday in honour of Saturn, the god of agriculture.
By holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals, church leaders increased the chances that Christmas would be popularlyembraced.
Institute：建立、制定，开始（某种制度）
Adopt：采用、接受、接纳
Pagan：异教，非正统的
Saturnalia festival：农神节
Saturn：农神
Agriculture：农业
Embrace：乐意接受
在基督教建立之初，复活节是主要的基督教节日。那时教会并不庆祝耶稣的生辰。公元四世纪，教会决定开始庆祝耶稣的生辰。可惜，圣经并没有提及耶稣的出生日期。尽管有些证据显示，耶稣可能出生于春季，教皇尤里乌斯一世还是决定把12月25日定为圣诞。人们普遍认为，教会选取这一天为圣诞是为了把圣诞节与非宗教节日农神节融合。
把圣诞节的庆祝活动与民间传统的冬至庆祝放在一起，这就使圣诞节更被普罗大众接受和欢迎。
(来自“英国文化园”公众号。公众号中有音频。）
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