Today, Christmas is celebrated on December 25 or January 7, and it feels as if it has always been this way.
In reality, these dates are the result of a long historical and calendrical evolution, and the holiday itself grew out of a point in the year far more ancient than Christianity.
Let’s break it down step by step.
1. Before Christianity: What Did All Peoples Celebrate?
The Winter Solstice — the Key Point of the Year
Before the emergence of Christianity, virtually all civilizations — from Europe to Asia — celebrated the winter solstice.
Why this particular day?
Because it marks a true astronomical turning point:
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the shortest day of the year
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the longest night
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the moment when the Sun appears to “stand still”
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and after which light begins to return
This is not a symbolic or arbitrary date —
it is a physical fact, observable without any instruments.
The Meaning of the Solstice in Ancient Cultures
Across different traditions, the same underlying logic repeats:
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the death of the old cycle
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the birth of a new Sun
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the promise of future life
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fire as a symbol of light
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the motif of the birth of a god or a savior
Among the Slavs, this was Kolyada.
Among the Romans — Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (the Birth of the Unconquered Sun).
Among the Scandinavians — Yule.
Among the Iranians — Mithra.
Among the Egyptians — Horus.
The shared archetype is simple:
Light overcomes darkness not by force, but by rebirth.
2. When Christianity Appeared — and What About the Date of Christmas?
The First Christians Did NOT Celebrate Christmas
In the early centuries of Christianity:
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there was no fixed date for Christ’s birth
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the central holiday was Easter
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Christmas was considered secondary
Different communities proposed different dates:
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spring
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autumn
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even March or April
December 25 is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible.
3. Why December 25 Was Eventually Chosen
The 4th Century — Rome and the Politics of Meaning
In the 4th century, under Emperor Constantine the Great, Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire.
The Church faced a key challenge:
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not to destroy the familiar worldview
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but to reinterpret it
What existed before: the birth of the Sun
What replaced it: the birth of Christ — the “Light of the World”
December 25 already existed as the festival of Sol Invictus, and it was filled with a new meaning.
Some call this a cultural bridge. Others call it a substitution of meanings.
4. An Astronomical Nuance That Is Often Forgotten
The winter solstice has never occurred precisely on December 25.
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astronomically: December 21–22
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the 25th is a symbolic date
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tied to calendar systems, not the sky
Over time, due to calendar inaccuracies, astronomy and calendar dates began to drift apart.
5. How Two Dates of Christmas Appeared
The Julian Calendar
Introduced in Ancient Rome.
It was used by:
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Byzantium
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Rus’
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the Orthodox world
Over time, it began to lag behind the Sun.
The Gregorian Calendar (1582)
Introduced in the West to restore astronomical accuracy.
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the Catholic world adopted it
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Orthodox churches did not
The difference gradually grew to 13 days.
Russia and Orthodoxy
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the state switched to the new calendar in 1918
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the Church remained on the Julian calendar
As a result:
December 25 (new style) = January 7 (old style)
An Important Clarification - all of this applies to the Northern Hemisphere.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the opposite process takes place — there it is the summer solstice.
Northern Hemisphere:
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December 21–22 → winter solstice
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the longest night
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after this, daylight begins to increase
Southern Hemisphere:
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December 21–22 → summer solstice
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the longest day
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after this, night begins to increase
The processes are mirrored, yet synchronized — like two poles of a single cycle.
Why I Am Telling You This Today
Because understanding time equals understanding life.
When you understand cycles, holidays stop being just dates and become points of meaning.
Events throughout the year stop looking random and begin to reveal their inner logic.
This is exactly how event astrology works. And this is exactly how 2026 works.
2026 — A Turning-Point Year
2026 is a global turning point. A year when one cycle ends and another begins.
And if you understand the mechanics of the year, you don’t just observe change —
you understand where it is leading.
We are living in epochal times when the world is restructuring at a fundamental level: technology, power, places, scenarios — everything is changing simultaneously.
In periods like this, the value of astrological insight multiplies. It restores clarity, stability, and the ability to see how big cycles unfold — and how they activate in each person’s personal life.
This video forecast will clarify much and help you start 2026 not blindly, but consciously.
Watch the Full 2026 Video Forecast
If you want to see the full video forecast for 2026 from Anna Raight, with deep insights, detailed cycle analysis, and practical guidance:
Come join us.
Let your 2026 begin with understanding and purpose, not uncertainty.
With warmth,
Anna Raight