The birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, did not occur in December, as many assume. According to the internal evidence in Scripture, His birth likely took place near the end of September or in early October, around the time of the Feast of Trumpets in 4 BC. This timing aligns with the fall harvest and the Romans' registration for taxation, which was typically conducted after the harvest when people had the means to pay. The presence of shepherds in the fields at night, as described in Luke's account, further supports this timeframe, as shepherds would not have been out during the rainy season between late October and early April, with the harshest weather occurring from December to February. In Palestine, around Jerusalem, much of the annual rainfall happens during this winter period, making it unlikely for shepherds to keep their sheep in the cold and rain, or to endure such conditions themselves. Thus, the events surrounding His birth point to a fall occurrence rather than the commonly assumed winter date.

Despite the widespread celebration of Christmas on December 25 or January 6 by mainstream Christians, there is little evidence to support these early winter dates as the actual time of Jesus Christ's birth. Historical records show that Christian leaders did not celebrate His birth well into the late-third century, with Early Church Father Origen mocking Roman birth anniversaries as pagan practices, indicating no similar festivities for Jesus at that time. Earlier still, around the year 200, Clement of Alexandria noted various proposed dates for the Nativity, none of which were in December, with most falling in the spring. By the fourth century, December 25 in the Roman West and January 6 in Egypt and the East emerged as competing dates, possibly influenced by Roman pagan festivals like Saturnalia or the feast of Sol Invictus established on December 25 in 274 C.E. Another theory ties December 25 to the belief that Jesus was conceived and crucified on March 25, exactly nine months prior, reflecting ancient views of divine symmetry. However, biblical details suggest a more likely time in early autumn, aligning with the fall holy days, rather than the short days of winter.