"There
is no historical evidence that our [Savior's] birthday was celebrated during the
apostolic or early post-apostolic times,"
-
The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, "Christmas," p.
47.
"There is no record
of a December 25th celebration of the birth of Christ in Rome earlier
than 336. In Constantinople, no record
of a celebration before 378.
In Alexandria, not before 400; and in Jerusalem, not before 425.
"
- Christmas, by Richard Rives, author of
the book “Too
Long in the Sun”
(http://www.toolong.com/pages/christmas.htm)
"There are no
indications that during the first two centuries the early church ever
celebrated Christ’s birth. The event that was widely celebrated was the death
and resurrection of Jesus at the annual Passover."
- The Meaning, Celebration and Date of
Christmas,
by Dr.
Samuele Bacchiocchi, p.7