Christmas: Origin, Santa and Cultural Differences

Christians began celebrating Christmas on December 25th during the 3rd and 4th centuries, with early evidence from a Roman almanac in 354 AD. The date was influenced by theological reasoning, cultural context, and political factors, with connections to pagan winter solstice festivals like Sol Invictus. The Gospels do not provide a specific date for Jesus’ birth; early Christians focused more on Easter, and later used theological calculations to determine December 25th. Most Western Christian denominations celebrate Christmas on December 25th, while Eastern Orthodox churches often celebrate it on January 7th due to calendar differences.

1. The History of Christmas

Christmas has deep historical roots that blend Christian beliefs with ancient cultural traditions.

A Historical Analysis of the Global Readiness for the Birth of Christ

Abstract

This research outlines the convergence of geopolitical, cultural, and religious factors in the Mediterranean world during the first century BCE and the first century CE. Often termed Praeparatio Evangelica (Preparation for the Gospel), this period is characterised by the intersection of the Pax Romana (Roman political stability), Hellenistic cultural unification (linguistic standardisation), and the Jewish Diaspora. This study argues that these distinct historical currents created a unique "fullness of time" (Galatians 4:4), facilitating the rapid dissemination and reception of early Christianity.

The Characters of Kind Herod

The character of Herod the Great (who ruled Judaea from c. 37–4 BCE) is defined by a deep and terrifying contradiction: he was both a magnificent, highly effective ruler and a brutally paranoid, tyrannical murderer.

His character can be summarised across three main dimensions, largely sourced from the detailed histories of the 1st-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus.

1. The Politician and Administrator (The "Great")

Herod earned the title "the Great" from history due to his political savvy and his immense contributions to the prosperity and infrastructure of his kingdom.

The Lost Years or Silent Years of Jesus

The period between Jesus' childhood and the start of his public ministry is often called the "Lost Years" or "Silent Years" because the New Testament provides almost no biographical details for these 18 years.

The historical context, however, provides a very strong and widely accepted picture of what his life likely entailed.

1. The Extent of the Biblical Silence

The only event the Gospels record between his birth narrative and his baptism by John the Baptist is:

The Star of Bethlehem and Astronomical Events

That is a fascinating area of historical astronomy. Since the Gospel of Matthew describes a celestial event that signalled the birth to the Magi (astrologers/wise men), astronomers have used modern software to "rewind" the night sky and identify real events that occurred between 7 BCE and 2 BCE.

Here are the three leading scientific theories that attempt to pinpoint the date.

1. The Triple Conjunction (7 BCE)

• The Date: A series of events occurring in May, September, and December of 7 BCE.
• The Event: A "triple conjunction" of Jupiter and Saturn. In this rare event, Jupiter (the "King" planet) and Saturn (often associated with the Jewish people) passed close to each other three separate times within a few months.

Jesus' Birth: Traditional vs. Historical Theories

Despite the familiar Christmas traditions, there is no exact historical record of the specific day or location of Jesus' birth. The Gospels of the New Testament (the primary sources) do not provide a calendar date, and they offer differing accounts of the setting.

Because of this, the answer depends on whether you are asking for the religious tradition or the historical scholarly consensus.

1. The Date of Birth

• Historical Estimate: c. 6 BCE – 4 BCE Most historians place Jesus' birth in this window. This is primarily because the Gospel of Matthew states Jesus was born during the reign of Herod the Great, who died in 4 BCE. If Jesus was born shortly before Herod's death, he would have been born around 6 to 4 BCE.

National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) ban for an additional 5 years

The Government of India, through the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has declared the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), commonly known as NSCN(K), as an "unlawful association." The ban was formally extended in September 2025 for an additional five years.

1. The Official Notification

ATSUM as the Primary Political Voice of Hill Tribes

 This article analyses the political evolution of the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur (ATSUM) from a student advocacy group into a central constitutional actor in Northeast India’s federal conflicts. Using archival memorandums, constitutional texts, and conflict jurisprudence, the study maps ATSUM’s legal mobilisation against structural marginalisation.

ATSUM memorandum history forms a crucial empirical foundation within Manipur’s broader political evolution. The student-led movement demonstrates how constitutional grievances transitioned from administrative marginalisation in the 1980s to internationalised human rights claims after 2023. The increasing juridification of ATSUM’s demands reveals the maturation of tribal political consciousness within India’s federal system.

Naga and Kuki Political Demands: Feasibility and Obstacles

The political demands of the Naga and Kuki communities in Northeast India are centred on self-determination, territory, and identity, with the government of India seeking a solution within the constitutional framework. The feasibility of these demands is heavily obstructed by competing claims over territory and the reluctance of the Centre to concede on issues of sovereignty.

⛰️ Naga Political Demands and Feasibility

The Naga issue is India's longest-running insurgency, with peace negotiations ongoing for decades, notably since the 1997 ceasefire with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) or NSCN-IM.

Meitei–Kuki–Naga Relations Before and After Indian Independence

History, Colonial Transformations, Post-Colonial State Formation, and Contemporary Conflict

Abstract

The relationship among the Meitei, Kuki, and Naga communities in Manipur is shaped by pre-colonial political economy, colonial ethnic classification, and post-independence state restructuring. Prior to British intervention, relations were characterised by fluctuating patterns of trade, warfare, tribute, and political subordination between valley-based Meitei kings and surrounding hill tribes. Colonial policies restructured land, identity, and administration, crystallising ethnic boundaries. After India’s independence and Manipur’s merger in 1949, democratic politics, constitutional safeguards, insurgent nationalism, and competing territorial claims transformed earlier socio-political interactions into rigid ethnic contestations. This paper traces these transformations through archival records, colonial ethnography, and post-independence political developments, demonstrating how historical state formation, identity institutionalisation, and development asymmetries culminated in protracted ethnic conflict, including the large-scale violence from 2023 onward.