Want more Christmas? How about celebrating it again on March 25, a more likely date for Christ’s actual birthday!
(The information for this DYK comes from Candida Moss, University of Notre Dame professor of the New testament, published December 22, 2016, in the Chicago Tribune.)
Early Christians developed the theological view that Christ was conceived and died on the same date. Since there is New Testament evidence pointing to March 25 as the date of His death, nine months later becomes December 25. However, that date collides with New Testament accords of His birth: shepherds keeping watch over flocks of sheep at night would not happen in December, when sheep would have been penned. Watching sheep in the hills would take place in the spring, at the time of lambing.
Another supposition for the December date is that it coincides with pagan festivals, and the Church wanted to supplant pagan with Christian. However, the transferring from pagan to Christian did not happen until the 7th century, some 300 years after a Roman almanac lists December 25 as His birth.
Among Prof. Moss’ 5 myths surrounding Christ’s birth is the myth that He was born in a stable because there was no room at the inn. The idea of a stable seems to come from a misinterpretation of “manger,” which is not synonymous with “stable,” but is a feeding trough for animals, from the French for “to eat.” As far as the inn myth, Biblical scholars believe Mary and Joseph intended to stay with relatives, but there was not enough room in the upper guest quarters, so Mary would have given birth on the main lower floor. It was common for a manger to be on the main level, separating the living quarters from the area animals occupied.
Finally, we come to the myths surrounding the wise men, or magi. First, they were not kings. Second, there is no reason to believe there were exactly three of them. Three gifts were brought, but that could be the work of any number of “magoi,” from two to a horde. And, considering that Herod ordered the killing of all boys age two and under after the wise men visited him in Matt 2:16, Christ may have been as old as two when the magi brought Him gifts.
Have fun with your second Christmas. The spirit of Christmas should be with us every day.
And now you know!
ACH