Federalist Radio Hour Remembering The Reason For The Christmas Season
Dec 23, 2025
Kenneth Calvert, a history professor at Hillsdale College, delves into the rich historical roots of Christmas. He contrasts the shepherds' humble visit to Jesus with the later arrival of the Magi, offering insights into early Christian beliefs about Christ's nativity. Calvert discusses December 25's connections to pagan festivals, while emphasizing the significance of Jesus' birth over imperial claims to divinity. He encourages viewers to remember the true meaning of Christmas through the lens of sacrifice and reflects on the nativity's miraculous events.
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Origins Of December 25 Dating
- Early Christians marked March 25 as the incarnation and December 25 as the birth nine months later.
- Kenneth Calvert argues this dating aligns reasonably with gospel chronology and ancient practice.
Christian Dating Versus Pagan Origins
- Early Christians emphasized the incarnation at conception, not a pagan solar festival origin.
- Calvert rejects the common claim that Constantine invented December 25 for pagan reasons.
Aurelian And Sol Invictus
- Emperor Aurelian set Sol Invictus on December 25 in the 3rd century, creating a calendar overlap.
- Calvert explains this overlap doesn't prove Christianity copied pagan rituals.