Why is Christmas a bigger Catholic holiday than the annunciation?

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I know that this question doesn’t really belong in the philosophy section, but it doesn’t seem to fit in any one of the other three apologetics subsections, and I thought that philosophers might appreciate the question.

If we, as Catholics,believe that life begins at conception rather than birth, why don’t we celebrate the annunciation as the day Jesus came into the world, instead of Christmas?

Perhaps a relevent question as we move into advent. Anyone know the answer? Guesses are also welcomed.
 
Maybe because the Annunciation was when the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would get pregnant with Jesus. We don’t know if she became pregnant that night. We celebrate his birth into the world, just as we celebrate the date of our birth.
 
maltmom said:
Maybe because the Annunciation was when the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would get pregnant with Jesus. We don’t know if she became pregnant that night.
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Maybe, but we don’t actually know when Jesus was born either. we don’t even know if he was born in the year 0!
We celebrate his birth into the world, just as we celebrate the date of our birth.
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Which raises another interesting point: Why do we celebrate birthdays, rather than conceptiondays?
 
zro_x said:
Well, we certainly don’t know when Jesus was born either. we don’t even know if he was born in the year 0!

Which raises another interesting point: Why do we celebrate birthdays, rather than conceptiondays?
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Well, it’s pretty difficult to pin down the exact date of conception, so it would be very impractical. Gestation is not always exactly however many days it is averaged out to be, because it’s just that- an average. This is true of all mammals as well as human beings. For example, sheep can range from anywhere between 142 and 150 days, depending upon a number of factors. Especially if I did not observe her being mated, I really don’t know exactly how many days ago she was bred. Additionally, conception is a process. It’s not really just a moment, just as birth is not.

I am not an expert on human reproduction, but in livestock, a large proportion of the embryos do not implant to the uterine wall- a process which takes days to weeks. I am not sure how many human lives have been lost even prior to implantation.

To me, celebrating the birth makes much more sense, even with conception being such an important part of life- in fact, the most necessary as it is truly the beginning.

Anyway, I have always understood the Annunciation to be when the Word was announced and made flesh.

Pax et bonum!
 
SweetLambs said:
Well, it’s pretty difficult to pin down the exact date of conception, so it would be very impractical. Gestation is not always exactly however many days it is averaged out to be, because it’s just that- an average. This is true of all mammals as well as human beings. For example, sheep can range from anywhere between 142 and 150 days, depending upon a number of factors. Especially if I did not observe her being mated, I really don’t know exactly how many days ago she was bred. Additionally, conception is a process. It’s not really just a moment, just as birth is not.
…

Pax et bonum!
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Indeed, even in human females, mating and actual conception date can be 7 days apart (or even more, in some exceptional cases). And while most woman can pin point ovulation, there is still a 24 hour period or so over when it could happen, or a double ovulation month. You can’t celebrate on the day you conceived, because you don’t know until later, unlike birth, you can celebrate the day it happens, because, hey there’s a baby coming out of me. Also. like sweet lambs said, gestation is not a constant, some babies are born early some are born late. Of my three I had one born on his due date, another was 10 days early, and my last was 4 days late. 🤷
 
The same reason we celebrate birthdays rather than conception days for others.
Namely, conception is the beginning of life, but it is a private sort of event. Birth is when the child enters into a very visible, public place in the world.

I saw an article recently that describes this far better, but I can’t remember where. Somewhere online.
 
@ jilly4sky, waanju, and sweetlambs

Agreed, using birthdays is much more convienient, Still, don’t you think pro-choicers would take us more seriously if Catholics celebrated conceptiondays rather than birthdays? Especially the conceptionday of our Lord?
 
zro_x said:
Which raises another interesting point: Why do we celebrate birthdays, rather than conceptiondays?
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First, because they’re impossible to p(name removed by moderator)oint to one specific day.

Second, it’s just plain weird to celebrate the day your parents had sex. It’s a joyous occassion for all, but still, it’s weird.
 
zro_x said:
@ jilly4sky, waanju, and sweetlambs

Agreed, using birthdays is much more convienient, Still, don’t you think pro-choicers would take us more seriously if Catholics celebrated conceptiondays rather than birthdays? Especially the conceptionday of our Lord?
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Well, since Jesus was actually probably born sometime in July, Christmas is closer to His actual conception than the feast of the Annunciation is!

I plan to celebrate my children’s conception AND birthdays (can’t abandon the latter because we need them for forms and such)

oh wait… that doesn’t work well for adopted kids.
and also, kinda weird----> this is the day I had sex. I didn’t know I was pregnant until a couple weeks later, so sorry I missed your first conception day, kiddo. Maybe we should just do the patron saint’s feast day thing?
 
Still it’s a good question. We should definitely uphold feast of Annunciation. This may help fight against abortion (I think?)
 
maltmom said:
Maybe because the Annunciation was when the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would get pregnant with Jesus. We don’t know if she became pregnant that night. We celebrate his birth into the world, just as we celebrate the date of our birth.
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She did. According to Liturgical Tradition, Gabriel stood in awe and confusion (he couldn’t comprehend it) as he witnessed firsthand the Incarnation taking place.
 
zro_x said:
How so?
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The child (John) lept in her womb with joy.

Here, we have one child leaping with joy at the presence of his Savior. Sounds like more than two bundles of cells or parts of two women’s bodies to me!
 
waanju said:
The child (John) lept in her womb with joy.

Here, we have one child leaping with joy at the presence of his Savior. Sounds like more than two bundles of cells or parts of two women’s bodies to me!
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whoops! I confused the visitation with the presentation. My mistake!
 
I’ve been wondering this same thing for some time now.

The actual date is irrelevant. We know that Jesus was not born on December 25th. (Well, it could be argued that there is a 1/365 chance that he did …;))

But it seems to me that God actually becoming Man, at the time of the Annunciation, is much more amazing event than the birth of the ‘God-Man’.

Until Mary agreed to be the Mother of her Lord God did not dwell on earth in human form. As soon as a human egg was fertilized by the Holy Ghost God became Man – fully God and fully Man.

The only thing I can see is what others have pointed out. We traditionally celebrate birthdays. I suppose if our culture celebrated conceptiondays then we would hold the Annunciation as a greater feast than the Nativity.
 
I have sometimes wondered the same thing when I pray the Joyful Mysteries.

To me, the annunciation is when “The Word became flesh”.

Looking through the answers, I liked the explanation that the gospels do not link the time of the annunciation with the time of conception, and also that, in general, we celebrate births rather than conceptions.
 
zro_x said:
The annunciation from Gabriel that Mary would bear God’s Son. I’m unaware of any other.
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There are 3 annunciation accounts in the infancy narratives: 2 in Luke (annunciation of birth of John and Jesus), and one in Matthew (annunciation of birth of Jesus to Joseph).
 
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