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{{cquote|Clement of Alexandria [c. 150 – 215], for instances mentions (and dismisses) proposals that Christ was born on April 19 or May 20 and himself calculated the date as November 17, 3 BC. Other suggested dates included March 28 and April 2, but not December 25. None of these dates were influential, or enjoyed any official recognition.<ref>Hijmans, S.E., ''Sol: The Sun in the Art and Religions of Rome,'' 2009, p. 584.</ref>}}

{{cquote|Clement of Alexandria [c. 150 – 215], for instances mentions (and dismisses) proposals that Christ was born on April 19 or May 20 and himself calculated the date as November 17, 3 BC. Other suggested dates included March 28 and April 2, but not December 25. None of these dates were influential, or enjoyed any official recognition.<ref>Hijmans, S.E., ''Sol: The Sun in the Art and Religions of Rome,'' 2009, p. 584.</ref>}}

In 221, [[Africanus (Christian historian)|Sextus Julius Africanus]] wrote a universal history that gave the spring equinox not only as the first day of Creation, but also as the date of incarnation.<ref name=NewCath>"Christmas and its cycle", ''New Catholic Encyclopedia'', 2nd edition, 2002, Catholic University of America Press. vol. 3, pp. 550–557.</ref> On the Roman calendar, the equinox was March 25, now celebrated as Annunciation.<ref>Sosigenes of Alexandria intended March 25 to be the date of the equinox when he designed the Julian calendar. This calendar, introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BC, drifted by almost a day each century. By 325, calendar drift had moved the equinox to March 21, according to the Council of Nicaea. The [[Gregorian calendar]], instituted in 1582, attempted to reestablish the calendar alignment as it was at the time of Nicaea. By modern calculations, the equinox is on March 21 or 22.</ref>  This implies that Jesus was born in December, nine months later.<ref>Africanus did not calculate the date of birth himself. (Hijmans, p. 585, footnote 8.)</ref>

In 221, [[Africanus (Christian historian)|Sextus Julius Africanus]] wrote a universal history that gave the spring equinox not only as the first day of Creation, but also as the date of incarnation.<ref name=NewCath>"Christmas and its cycle", ''New Catholic Encyclopedia'', 2nd edition, 2002, Catholic University of America Press. vol. 3, pp. 550–557.</ref> On the Roman calendar, the equinox was March 25, now celebrated as Annunciation.<ref>Sosigenes of Alexandria intended March 25 to be the date of the equinox when he designed the Julian calendar. This calendar, introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BC, drifted by almost a day each century. By 325, calendar drift had moved the equinox to March 21, according to the Council of Nicaea. The [[Gregorian calendar]], instituted in 1582, attempted to reestablish the calendar alignment as it was at the time of Nicaea. By modern calculations, the equinox is on March 21 or 22.</ref>  This implies that Jesus was born in December, nine months later.<ref>Africanus did not calculate the date of birth himself. (Hijmans, p. 585, footnote 8.)</ref>

Solar symbolism was common among Christian writers of the time.<ref>Hijmans notes the "the pervasive use of the sun as metaphor for Christ in early Christian literature, in which he is often referred to as “Sol verus”, “Sol Justitiae”, etc." (Hijmans, p. 584).</ref> This symbolism was justified by the identification of Jesus as the "sun of righteousness" mentioned by the prophet Malachi.<ref>"But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall." (Malachi 4:2, ESV).</ref>

Solar symbolism was common among Christian writers of the time.<ref>Hijmans notes the "the pervasive use of the sun as metaphor for Christ in early Christian literature, in which he is often referred to as “Sol verus”, “Sol Justitiae”, etc." (Hijmans, p. 584).</ref> This symbolism was justified by the identification of Jesus as the "sun of righteousness" mentioned by the prophet Malachi.<ref>"But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall." (Malachi 4:2, ESV).</ref>

[[Augustine]] argued for a solstice date:{{cquote|Hence it is that He was born on the day which is the shortest in our earthly reckoning and from which subsequent days begin to increase in length. He, therefore, who bent low and lifted us up chose the shortest day, yet the one whence light begins to increase.<ref>Augustine, "[http://www.dec25th.info/Augustine's%20Sermon%20192.html Sermon 192]."</ref>}}

[[Augustine]] argued for a solstice date:{{cquote|Hence it is that He was born on the day which is the shortest in our earthly reckoning and from which subsequent days begin to increase in length. He, therefore, who bent low and lifted us up chose the shortest day, yet the one whence light begins to increase.<ref>Augustine, "[http://www.dec25th.info/Augustine's%20Sermon%20192.html Sermon 192]."</ref>}}

Although Englishman [[Isaac Newton]] is best-known for his scientific work, he also wrote extensively on religious subjects. Like Augustine, Newton connected the date of Christmas to the solstice: {{cquote|The times of the Birth and Passion of Christ, with such like niceties, being not material to religion, were little regarded by the Christians of the first age. They who began first to celebrate them, placed them in the cardinal periods of the year; as the annunciation of the Virgin Mary, on the 25th of March, which when Julius Cæsar corrected the Calendar was the vernal Equinox; the feast of John Baptist on the 24th of June, which was the summer Solstice; the feast of St. Michael on Sept. 29, which was the autumnal Equinox; and the birth of Christ on the winter Solstice, Decemb. 25.<ref>Newton, Isaac, ''[https://www.gutenberg.org/files/16878/16878-h/16878-h.htm Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John]'', "Chap. XI. Of the Times of the Birth and Passion of Christ," 1733.</ref>}}

Although Englishman [[Isaac Newton]] is best-known for his scientific work, he also wrote extensively on religious subjects. Like Augustine, Newton connected the date of Christmas to the solstice: {{cquote|The times of the Birth and Passion of Christ, with such like niceties, being not material to religion, were little regarded by the Christians of the first age. They who began first to celebrate them, placed them in the cardinal periods of the year; as the annunciation of the Virgin Mary, on the 25th of March, which when Julius Cæsar corrected the Calendar was the vernal Equinox; the feast of John Baptist on the 24th of June, which was the summer Solstice; the feast of St. Michael on Sept. 29, which was the autumnal Equinox; and the birth of Christ on the winter Solstice, Decemb. 25.<ref>Newton, Isaac, ''[https://www.gutenberg.org/files/16878/16878-h/16878-h.htm Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John]'', "Chap. XI. Of the Times of the Birth and Passion of Christ," 1733.</ref>}}