“A feast is approaching which is the most solemn and awe-inspiring of all feasts…. What is it? The birth of Christ according to the flesh. In this feast namely Epiphany, holy Easter, Ascension and Pentecost have their beginning and their purpose. For if Christ hadn’t been born according to the flesh, he wouldn’t have been baptised, which is Epiphany. He wouldn’t have been crucified, which is Easter. He wouldn’t have sent the Spirit, which is Pentecost. So from this event, as from some spring, different rivers flow—these feasts of ours are born.”
John Chrysostom, Homily VI: On St. Philogonius (23-24)
This excerpt is from his homily intended to rally Christians in Antioch (c. 386) to observe this holy day which celebrated God’s greatest gift to mankind, Jesus.
Today, winter solstice is observed on 22 December, however under Julian (361-363) the reform of the Roman calendar placed winter solstice on 25 December. Prior to the “Christ Mass” being celebrated on that day, the pagan festival, sol invictus, celebrated that the sun had returned to shine.
As early as the time of Pope Liberius (354) the birth of Jesus Christ was observed on 25 December, and would become known as the feast of the “true son.” On this day, Chrysostom was urging believers in the East to observe this holy day to unify the Church in the ancient world.
Later, the term “Christ Mass” became Christmas. Some would say “the rest is history” but I would say “the rest is generosity” because Christmas celebrates God’s greatest act of generosity toward mankind. From the spiritual and material abundance we receive from him, let us, in turn, give abundantly.
For further reading, see: Rosa Giorgi, Saints: A Year of Faith in Art (2006).