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Uploaded: 22 Dec 2025 (10 months ago) · Shared: 13 Feb 2026
Duration: 57:40
Uploaded: 22 Dec 2025 (10 months ago) · Shared: 13 Feb 2026
Duration: 57:40
Youtube Description
Religion for Breakfast videos take a lot of research and collaboration. Patreon support helps fund editors, scholars, and future episodes. Support ushere: https://www.patreon.com/c/religionforbreakfast
Read Dr. Schmidt's Christmas publications here: https://tcschmidt.com/christmas-publications/
The Bible doesn't say when Jesus was born...so why December 25th? New Testament scholar Dr. Tom Schmidt explains.
00:00 Intro: The Debate Over December 25th
01:20 What We Know for Sure (John Chrysostom)
05:25 The History of Religions Thesis (Sol Invictus)
07:43 Problems with the Sol Invictus Theory
11:20 The Winter Solstice in Ancient Culture
13:05 The Calculation Theory: Passover & The Equinox
15:34 'Cosmic Perfection': Linking Conception & Crucifixion
19:42 The Hippolytus Statue (222 AD)
22:36 Deciphering the 'Genesis of Christ' Inscription
27:14 Calculating the Birth Date from Creation
30:04 Other Early Chronographers (Julius Africanus & Clement)
34:12 How December 25th Spread & 'Won'
53:29 Other Holidays: Saturnalia, Kalends, & Brumalia
56:44 Conclusion
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Who are ReligionForBreakfast?ReligionForBreakfast is an educational channel dedicated to the academic, nonsectarian study of religion. We strive to raise the level of conversation about religion on YouTube by exploring surprising facts about humanity's beliefs and rituals through an anthropological, sociological, and archaeological lens. Here at RFB we respect everyone: religious, non-religious, and everyone in between.
What is Christmas?Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. It is observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. Christmas Day is a public holiday in many of the world's nations, is celebrated religiously by a majority of Christians, as well as culturally by many non-Christians, and forms an integral part of the holiday season centered around it. Although the month and date of Jesus' birth are unknown, by the early-to-mid fourth century the Western Christian Church had placed Christmas on December 25, a date that was later adopted in the East. Today, most Christians celebrate on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar, which has been adopted almost universally in the civil calendars used in countries throughout the world.
