Why we celebrate on December 25
by Jano Rochefort
At this time of year I always get a copy of the December sunrise and sunset times. I think its fascinating, others may consider me sad! Anyway the really interesting dates and times are as follows:
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight Hours |
| 17/12 | 08.01 | 15.51 | 7.50 |
| 18/12 | 08.02 | 15.52 | 7.50 |
| 19/12 | 08.02 | 15.52 | 7.50 |
| 20/12 | 08.03 | 15.53 | 7.50 |
| 21/12 | 08.03 | 15.53 | 7.50 |
| 22/12 | 08.04 | 15.54 | 7.50 |
| 23/12 | 08.04 | 15.54 | 7.50 |
| 24/12 | 08.05 | 15.55 | 7.50 |
| 25/12 | 08.05 | 15.55 | 7.50 |
| 26/12 | 08.05 | 15.56 | 7.51 |
| 27/12 | 08.05 | 15.57 | 7.52 |
As can be seen, there is a bloc of over a week when we have minimum hours of daylight. Its around the 25/26 every year when those who were/are measuring these things would be able to say for certain that the hours of daylight were/are increasing. Or for the Romans, the Festival of the Risen Sun. Thus this particular time in the year was very important to our ancestors and they celebrated when they had the proof that the sun was coming back to them. Stables, stars, babies and wise men had nothing to do with it.
If you would like further information about the history of the yuletide celebration try this link: http://www.humanism.org.uk/site/cms/contentViewArticle.asp?article=1501.
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