The extrabiblical evidence from the first and second century is equally spare: There is no mention of birth celebrations in the writings of early Christian writers such as Irenaeus (c.
Yet most scholars would urge caution about extracting such a precise but incidental detail from a narrative whose focus is theological rather than calendrical. The biblical reference to shepherds tending their flocks at night when they hear the news of Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:8) might suggest the spring lambing season in the cold month of December, on the other hand, sheep might well have been corralled. The Bible offers few clues: Celebrations of Jesus’ Nativity are not mentioned in the Gospels or Acts the date is not given, not even the time of year. Although Jesus’ birth is celebrated every year on December 25, Luke and the other gospel writers offer no hint about the specific time of year he was born. A blanket of snow covers the little town of Bethlehem, in Pieter Bruegel’s oil painting from 1566.
