What is the actual birth date of Jesus Christ?

Though widely celebrated on Dec. 25, the actual birth date of Jesus Christ remains unknown, as of 2015. Many researchers estimate that Jesus was born in the early fall of 2 B.C.

According to biblical records, shepherds were outside watching their flocks at the time of Jesus' birth, and Jesus' parents traveled to Bethlehem to register in a census. Neither of these would have occurred in December, a cold, rainy month in Judea. Researchers believe the celebration of Christmas originated as a substitution for non-Christian celebrations of the winter solstice. Some theorize that Christians chose Dec. 25 to encourage the spread of Christianity throughout the Roman world.