The Bible gives no calendar date for the birth of Jesus. By the third century, competing traditions had emerged with some Christians celebrating Jesus’ birth on August 28th, others on May 20th, and still others on April 21st. The first evidence of Christians associating December 25th with the birth of Jesus comes from a document dated to the year 354. Associated with the Winter Solstice, December 25th had ancient associations with Pagan holidays like Saturnalia. It was also considered the birthday of Sol Invictus — the sun worshipped as a god. John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place will review the evidence we have for why Christians ended up celebrating Christmas on December 25th. What traces of the earlier pagan festivals survived through the Middle Ages and even into the present?