7 Answers
Thumbs up Colleen on your research, It's true most Christians don't think that December 25th is Jesus' Birthday. Probably closer to Easter.
The manger thing is also a greeting card misconception. In Israel at the time of Christs birth, may homes had basements where they kept their livestock. Researchers think that this type of place would be the more likely place of His birth.
Another misconception is that there were only three wise men. There were probably many more than three, most Bible scholars believe it was more in the neighborhood of 3,000 or more.
13 years ago. Rating: 3 | |
TU for you for the added information : ) I'm going to guess that anyone with an elevated education of that era was considered to be wise since many people were without any kind of formal education.
I don't think the majority of Christians believe he was born in Dec. No one knows the exact time of his birth but some guess early fall and others, mid summer.
Why Dec. 25th was chosen to celebrate his birth.
Wiki-pedia:
The December 25 date may have been selected by the church in Rome in the early 4th century. At this time, a church calendar was created and other holidays were also placed on solar dates: "It is cosmic symbolism...which inspired the Church leadership in Rome to elect the winter solstice, December 25, as the birthday of Christ, and the summer solstice as that of John the Baptist, supplemented by the equinoxes as their respective dates of conception. While they were aware that pagans called this day the 'birthday' of Sol Invictus, this did not concern them and it did not play any role in their choice of date for Christmas," according to modern scholar S.E. Hijmans.[20]
Origin Of Christmas http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/origin-of-christmas.htm
The date of December 25th probably originated with the ancient "birthday" of the son-god, Mithra, a pagan deity whose religious influence became widespread in the Roman Empire during the first few centuries A.D. Mithra was related to the Semitic sun-god, Shamash, and his worship spread throughout Asia to Europe where he was called Deus Sol Invictus Mithras. Rome was well-known for absorbing the pagan religions and rituals of its widespread empire. As such, Rome converted this pagan legacy to a celebration of the god, Saturn, and the rebirth of the sun god during the winter solstice period. The winter holiday became known as Saturnalia and began the week prior to December 25th. The festival was characterized by gift-giving, feasting, singing and downright debauchery, as the priests of Saturn carried wreaths of evergreen boughs in procession throughout the Roman temples.
Variations of this pagan holiday flourished throughout the first few centuries after Jesus Christ, but it probably wasn't until 336 AD that Emperor Constantine officially converted this pagan tradition into the "Christian" holiday of Christmas.
13 years ago. Rating: 2 | |
BECAUSE OF THE SONG "HARK THE HERALD SING" CHRIST WAS BORN ON CHRISTMASDAY!!
13 years ago. Rating: 0 | |
It say's he was born in Bethlehem. Not born on Christmas day. The song is simply sung on and around Christmas day.
Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
I believe you have it backwards, Jordel. Did you think it was a coincidence that Christmas day rolled around and Christ was born?