The Origins of Christmas Legends and Traditions We Didn’t Know

The December 25th birthday bash for Jesus? That’s more of a calendar quirk than a biblical fact. Calculated in the 3rd century by Hippolytus of Rome, who backtracked nine months from a springtime conception, this date conveniently synced with existing winter festivals.

But here’s a hiccup: human pregnancies last about 40 weeks (hello, mid-January), and biblical references to shepherds suggest warmer months. This December date didn’t hit the big time until the 4th century, as a Christian alternative to pagan festivities.