WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT CHRISTMAS
Though Christmas has become a retail extravaganza, its holiday roots lie in the celebration of the birth of Jesus, who the Christian religion regards as the son of God. But was Jesus really born on December 25?
The short answer is no. It is not believed Jesus was born on the day Christmas is globally celebrated. Instead, Christmas was chosen as a convenient celebratory day on the same day of a pagan holiday that celebrated the winter solstice, according to The History Channel. The holiday was celebrated as the Roman pagan solstice, or “birthday of the unconquered sun,” which began on December 17 and ended December 25.One7
When Jesus was really born can be assumed based on Scripture. One large plot point in the story of Jesus’s birth is the presence of shepherds watching over their flocks. This is clearly outlined in the Bible at Luke 2:7-8, and is such a prominent part of the story, it has been featured in Christmas songs, according to the United Church of God. Multiple sources, including books "Celebrations: The Complete Book of American Holidays" and "The Interpreter’s One-Volume Commentary" commented that the weather would not have permitted Shepherds to be tending to their flocks at the end of December. Instead, this implies Jesus was born during a warmer month
Another major plot point, regarding Jesus’s birth and parents Mary and Joseph’s commute to their hometown, Bethlehem, was the concept that Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem for the Roman census. The census allegedly would not have occurred in the winter, or December specifically, because the turnout would have been expected low.
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