There is no Scriptural evidence that Jesus was born on December 25th, but through tradition, the Church designates that date as the feast of the Nativity when we celebrate Christ’s coming into the world. Likewise, there is no evidence that the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary on March 25th nine months earlier.
So why did the Church pick March 25th as the date to celebrate the Annunciation?
Not only is March 25th exactly nine months before Christmas Day, but it also marks the spring equinox.
The Church chose the first day of spring because in Genesis 1:3, God said, “Let there be light.” Spring traditionally represents a season of light and an end to the darkness of winter. According to Fr. David Vincent Meconi, S.J., in his book 101 Surprising Facts About Mary, “[The spring equinox] was therefore seen as the most fitting day for God to recreate the world with the Annunciation and Mary’s ‘let it be done to me’ (Luke 1:38).”
Additionally, some historians argue that March 25th was the original Good Friday, when Jesus died in order to rise again, defeat death, and bring new life into the world.
To discover more interesting facts about Catholic history, check out Fr. David Meconi’s 101 Surprising Facts About Mary, sold here.
