Christmas is celebrated on December 25 by many Christians, particularly in the West. In the 3rd century the Roman Christian historian Sextus Julius Africanus dated Jesus’ conception to March 25 (the Annunciation), which, after nine months in his mother’s womb, would result in a December 25 birth. It was not until 336, during the reign of the emperor Constantine, that the church in Rome began formally celebrating Christmas on December 25. As Constantine had made Christianity the effective religion of the empire, some have speculated that choosing this date had the political motive of weakening established pagan celebrations.
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