Why was June 24th chosen for the date of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist?
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Question Why was June 24th chosen for the date of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist?
Short Answer:
Astrology, paganism, precedence and genealogy/chronology as interpreted through the bible.
- Astrology: June 24th was celebrated by the pre-Christian Romans as one of two solstices. The other Solstice occurs late December. Celebrated by the Romans on December 25.
- Paganism: Both solstices were already popular late Roman holidays, when the empire adopted Christianity. Their popularity with Rome lead to their adoption/rebranding as Christian holidays.
- Precedence: December 25th solstice Holiday was associated with several Roman Emperors and the Roman Army. The other solstice, also a popular holiday was associated with the poor. Naturally the former solstice would be associated with Jesus inarguable the most important figure in Christianity until the Reformation. Christmas.
- Genealogy/Chronology: Having associated the one solstice for Jesus's birth, Christians named the other solstices which chronologically preceded it, for John the Baptist whose ministry preceded Jesus's ministry. John the Baptist, Jesus's most famous male relative, his cousin in the bible.
Answer:
The origin's of June 24th and many Christian Holidays extend back to pagan times, especially from the highly influential pagan Romans on early Christianity. 4th century CE, as stated in the original question, is when everything changed between pagan Romans and Christians. 4th century CE corresponds to when Christianity was legalized by Emperor Constantine the Great. Emperor Theodosius (392 CE) would famously outlaw paganism all together making Rome legally at least a Christian country. However, while Theodosius outlawed Pagan rituals; he left intact the Pagan Holidays. He did this because the Pagan segment of his empire remained influential, and this was a compromise reflecting their importance.
Nativity of St. John the Baptist? June 24th for the Romans was the feast of Fortuna, the goddess of luck. A very popular holiday among the plebeians/poor of Rome. Sacrifices on this day were given in order to attract prosperity in the coming year. June 24th was possible attributed to John the Baptist when the holiday was "Christianized" because it like Dec 25th, Jesus's Nativity, were both Solstices. Therefore related, as Jesus was related to John the Baptist. They were cousins (second cousins in the bible Luke Chapter 1). Pagan holidays were rebranded as Christian and attributed with Christian relevance in order that the Pagan's could still celebrate their popular holidays under Theodosius.
Christianity and Paganism (see Theodosius ) pagan Roman holidays which were brought into Christianity as the pagan Romans were "converted". When Emperor Theodosius outlawed the rituals of paganism in Rome 392 CE, he permitted their holiday celebrations to continue. It was pubic relations to retain popular pagan holidays after they were re-attributed to some Christian event or meaning.
Many Christian holidays today have roots in pagan holidays especially Roman ones.
based upon: Seven Pagan Holidays still Celebrated Today
- Christmas(Romans celebrated Sol Invictus, the Unconquered Sun),
- New Years (Romans Celebrated New Years same day since 153 BC when the Senate moved new years day to Jan 1st because of the Second Celtiberian War,
Why the consular year began on January 1 was due to the Second Celtiberian War. In 154 BC, there was rebellion in Spain. Quintus Fulvius Nobilior was designated consul for the following year but could not assume office until the Ides of March. Given the military situation, the Senate decreed January 1 to be the start of the new civil year, which permitted Nobilior to be inducted and depart with his legions
- Halloween, Romans had many days dealing with reconnecting with the dead, one on Nov 2nd
- Easter, it's a Hodge podge of several holidays.
- The Jewish holiday Passover,
- Easter get's its name from the German celebration of Eostre, the goddess of Spring. Easter Eggs and the bunnies were borrowed from Eostre, symbols of rebirth and fertility.
- The Romans too had a kind of deprecated holiday on March 15th dealing with fertility and rebirth.
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