In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. -Luke 2:1
I have heard the questions thousands of times: Why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25? How do we know when the birth of Christ took place? Why celebrate Christmas at a time originally set aside for ancient pagan celebrations? In the Jewish calendar, the fourteenth day of the first month is called the day of conception. If our God of perfect planning and gloriously significant order happened to overshadow Mary on the fourteenth day of the first month of His calendar, our Saviour would have been born toward the end of our December. We have absolutely no way of knowing whether or not He did. But I would not be the least bit surprised for God to have sparked His Son's human life on one Passover... and ended it on another. I am a hopeless romantic when it comes to celebrating Christmas, the birth of my Savior. Until a further "Hear ye! Hear ye!" comes from heaven, December 25 works mighty fine for me.
Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. - Nehemiah 8:10