The formal adopted day of December 25, celebrated by Christians, as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus. The more probable Astrological birth date of Jesus is March 3rd, 6 BC. However, the Urantia book gives the exact time/date that Christ was born as August 21st, 7 BC, at 12:00 noon, in Bethlehem.
The reason for the discrepancy between the celebrated date and the actual date is due to the early Christian desire to displace the ancient Teutonic ritual of celebrating December 25 as the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun--marking the death of the old year and the beginning of the new.
It was the early Egyptians, who with Sun-dials, noted that for three days the Sun stopped in its movement south. On December 25th, it appeared to begin its progression north, marking an event that the darkest days were over.
A festival is held in the world of spirit at Christmas for it is in fact based on a rhythm associated with the birth of the Sun. This time was also chosen by all races whose religions were founded upon the laws of nature. This festival of the birth of the Sun is the greatest of all because it represented the beginning of a new era. It is not only the end of the cycle, but the formation of a new one. This festival is mainly for the Indians and guides of older races and has little significance for the newer western races. Because these festivals are held in the world of matter, they are also celebrated in the world of spirit. A spiritual meaning has now evolved and instead of celebrating the dawn of new life, it is a time when guides withdraw from this world to obtain a new power of spirit in order to bring new light back into this world.