LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Comedian and actor Bill Maher revealed the "real truth about Christmas" in the latest episode of 'Real Time with Bill Maher.'
On the Friday, December 1 episode of his program, the 67-year-old television host expounded on the history of why Christmas is celebrated on December 25, which is reportedly not the actual birthdate of Jesus Christ.
Bill Maher has the answer to why Christmas is on December 25
Bill Maher started the segment with a hilarious joke, saying that the number of gods born on December 25 can be an "entire Jeopardy category," proceeding to list the names of several gods who celebrate their birthdays on the same day.
He said, "All the gods want the same birthday well because December 25 was a pagan holiday coming a few days after the shortest day of the year when primitive peoples noticed that the days were starting to get longer again" and that "this was a cause for celebration."
He ended the history lesson by saying, "Cut to," and played Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'. Subsequently, he declared, "And that's the story of Christmas."
Bill Maher shares how much he loves Christmas
Maher began, "A holiday I love, by the way. The tree, the presents, the music, the Christmas memories with my sister and our cousins, filling the bong with eggnog. It's the only time of the year it's okay to put alcohol in milk."
"Christmas is fun if you just accept it's pretend time like a Hollywood wedding. Yes, I love Christmas and always have. Just don't try to make me take it seriously."
Further in the episode, Maher also called out some members of Congress "who don't believe in the separation of church and state," including House Speaker Mike Johnson for his apparent statement that "America is a Biblical Republic" and use of a controversial flag outside his office.
He concluded, citing John Adams, the second POTUS, that "America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion."
Internet reacts to Bill Maher's stance on 'real truth' about Christmas
Reactions on YouTube below Bill Maher's video prove that many are aware of the origin of Christmas, and many applauded the host, saying the episode was one of the best.
One user noted, "It is actually pretty widely known that the date of Christ's birth is not in December and it was chosen for practical purposes, to coincide with pre-existing European holidays."
They added, "This allowed society to continue with minimal adjustments to its long standing schedule, and those who celebrated Pagan rituals like Jule could simply continue, and most of what we now call Christmas traditions originated as Pagan traditions. They even tell you this openly in Catholic school. It is not a secret or conspiracy to hide it."
Another said, "Bill, there are some of us who already knew about the Roman festival of Saturnalia, which was altered to the celebration of Jesus' birth (Christmas) following Emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity, and that Jesus' actual birth date was possibly closer to August or September, but thanks anyway."
"I remember learning this in Sunday school like 15 years ago. I don't know any churches that think Jesus was literally born on December 25. Most think it was actually in spring we just celebrate it in December," stated a person.
They continued, "Traditionally some Christians thought he was conceived and crucified on the same day just 33 years apart. So that's where the tradition largely started from."
A fan expressed, "One of the best New Rules in a LOOOOONG time Bill!" while one more wrote, "This is the best "New Rule" in ages."
