German Advent Calendar: Fact of the Day

23. Dezember – The Date for Christmas

The Date for Christmas: Why December 25th?

K+M+B inscription on the door (left) of the Bavarian house in which Pope Benedict XVI was born. PHOTO: Hyde Flippo – See more views of the former pope’s house in Bavaria.

In the early days of Christianity, the birthday of Jesus was celebrated in various months, including March. No one really knows the true month or date of the birth of Jesus, but it is highly unlikely that he was born in December or even in winter. Shepherds did not tend their flocks in the field in winter but kept them in stalls. The Bible never mentions a birth date for Jesus, which is why some Protestant denominations do not observe Christmas.

C+M+B
Until the Roman church set December 25 as the date for Christmas (in A.D. 354), January 6 was the day of celebration – today’s Epiphany or Heilige Drei Könige (the Wise Men, Three Kings, the Magi) in German. To this day, the initials of the Three Kings – C+M+B (or K+M+B for Caspar/Kaspar/Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar)—plus the year are inscribed in chalk over doorways in German-speaking countries on the eve of January 6 to protect house and home. (See photo.)

Although historically the three letters are supposed to come from the Latin phrase for “Christ bless this house” (“Christus mansionem benedicat”), few of the people practicing this custom are aware of this fact, especially those who use K+M+B rather than C+M+B.

Three Kings
In many parts of Europe, including Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, the Christmas celebration does not end until January 6, now considered the date of the arrival of the three “kings of the orient” in Bethlehem – and the end of the “twelve days of Christmas” (between Christmas and January 6). In Germany January 6 is also connected with the Sternsinger tradition, a nationwide charity drive. In Spain, January 6 (Dia de Los Reyes, “Day of the Kings”) is an important part of the Christmas celebration, when children receive gifts from the “three kings.”

The selection of the December 25 date is rather ironic, since that date was an important day for “pagan” religions. December 25 was a holiday honoring the sun god in Egypt, Syria, Greece, and Rome. It was also the birthday of the Persian god of light, Mithras. Mostly because it was already a day of religious celebration, the Roman Bishop Liberius declared December 25 the official date for Christmas. The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on January 7. Christmas Eve is on the 6th of January.

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Related Pages
AT THE GERMAN WAY

• Christmas from A to Z – German Christmas traditions and terms
• Advent – The Latin word means “arrival.” This custom begins on the first Advent Sunday around December 1.
• Krampus, the Christmas Devil of Alpine Europe – The good bishop-like St. Nicholas has a demonic, nasty companion known as Krampus.
• Photo Gallery: Christmas in Germany – Berlin – A visual tour of Christmas markets and other December sights in Berlin
• Christmas in the USA and Germany– A comparison chart
• German Christmas Carols – Popular carols with lyrics in German and English
• Barbarazweig – The legend and the Christmas custom
• Epiphany and the Sternsinger – January 6 in the Germanic Christmas tradition
• Erntedank (“harvest thanksgiving”) or Erntedankfest in Germany and Austria is different from the American Thanksgiving tradition.
• St. Nicholas – The many German St. Nicks
• Thomas Nast created the modern Santa image.
• The Christmas Pickle Ornament – Fact or fiction?
• Silent Night (Stille Nacht) – Our “Silent Night” page has the true story and related links.
• Holidays and Celebrations in Austria, Germany and Switzerland
• Glass Ornaments – a history

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