https://gracethrufaith.com/childrens-stories-for-adults/what-really-happened-at-christmas/ Although Christians celebrate the Birth of Jesus on December 25th, historical evidence pretty much proves Jesus was not born on that date...or even in that month. That's fine with me as Santa Claus and all the other Holiday stuff has taken over the Birthday of Christ. So since History is proving Jesus wasn't born then I think we should give December 25th to Santa, etc. and celebrate Jesus' Birthday in the month history is pointing to as the real Birth month of Jesus.
Which I remember reading a long time ago was September... are they still saying that @Babs Hunt ...sorry I had to go back and read, I'd not noticed you 'd posted a link. yep they're still saying September... well if they changed it, they couldn't have a Santa clause day as well.. the whole modern ethos of Chritmas day is the modern day Santa brining gifts to celebrate the birth of the Christ... (well at least that was the whole idea behind it initially)... so if it was moved to September we'd just have Papa Noel visiting then... during everyone summer holidays...lol
The Wise Men or Magi brought the Christ child gifts @Holly Saunders. And by they time they arrived Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were no longer in that stable and Jesus was no longer a newborn babe. Shepherds who were grazing their sheep nearby saw the newborn Jesus. Over the years religions set up a Birthday for Jesus (clearly in the wrong month), then added all kinds of pagan "rituals and practices" to His Birthday...such as Santa Claus, etc. At first these things were added to bring more "Christians" into the fold, yet instead of teaching these converts Biblical Truth instead of the myths and pagan beliefs...the Church incorporated these myths and pagan beliefs into Christianity. And so it has remained to this day. The World is trying to take Christ out of Christmas completely...and for once I actually agree He should be taken out and given His own Birthday somewhere in September...which is a more accurate month for His birth anyway. Let Santa, etc. have December and just keep calling it the Happy Holidays. Since I've gotten old enough to know the Truth...I can't see Santa bringing gifts on Jesus' Birthday....because Jesus Christ was the "Gift" God gave to all mankind at His birth and there isn't in my opinion any other gift that can compare or compete with God's "Gift" to mankind.
Well of course I know the story of the 3 wise men..etc..but I can see what you're saying.. A religious celebration of Christs birthday in September without the consumerism and commercialisation of Gifts and Father Noel ( similar to the 3 kings celebration in January in Spain) ... would be something many Christians would welcome I'm sure.. and yes making 25th of December just a celebratory gift giving day for children would be something that might be popular . It would need the Pope to announce formally tho' that the 25th of December was not offically Christs birthday...and I can't see that ever happening..
She for Catholics the Pope would have to change that. For Christians of other denominations they would have to have agreement on this too. I really don't see it happening...but it my heart it already has happened.
Gosh, I am really going to have to go back and reread what I post right away before the time for editing is up. "She" in the quote above should be Yes, and the "but it" should be "but in"....
Yes I think sometime in fall is what is believed to be true. I have also heard spring. Sure wasn't winter. Christmas is more around the winter solstice than anything. At least that's my understanding. I don't celebrate it anyway.
We use the Orthodox date of January 7, not because we're Orthodox, but because we get to use the after-Christmas sales. My oldest brother did that all the while he was raising his kids, and I thought it seemed like a good idea. They got one present on December 25 but the rest came on January 7, so Christmas Day was devoted more to the Christian aspect of Christmas rather than to Santa Claus and the elves.
I have also read that Jesus was likely born in September, and maybe during the Feast of Trumpets. It seems more likely to me than that he could have been born mid-winter, at the winter solstice. Sheep (and goats) have a fall mating season, and a pregnancy that lasts about five months, so it is really unlikely that shepards would have had lambs being born in December (not enough time). Also, the sheep would have been kept in their corrals during lambing, where the shepard could check on them, and the newborn lambs would be safe from wolves and other predators. If the lambs were born in early spring, then they would have been old enough to be out in the pasture with their mothers by late summer or fall, and the pasture would have still been good at that time of year. However, I do not think that we should stop celebrating the birth of Jesus, or having Christmas celebrations. For one thing, if Jesus was born in September, then his immaculate conception would have happened in December, which means that we would be celebration the actual time that Jesus came to earth as a human being. Also, Christmas, is a time for families to come together, and sometimes the only time of year that this happens for some people, and I think that this is a good thing. Many people who profess no religious beliefs at all will still celebrate Christmas as a family holiday, and a time of giving and helping other people.
I commented in another thread that astronomers looked at events that could account for the Star of Bethlehem's location and duration (to guide the Maji) around the time of Herod, and identified a couple of comets in the years I believe around 2A.D.-4A.D. But the time of year for both of those spanned March-April, which fascinates me because it raises the issue of Jesus being crucified on his birthday. Of course, it's all speculation, but we do know that December was chosen by the early Church so as to co-opt the Winter Solstice celebrations, and there are no astronomical events to account for the Star of Bethlehem near that point in history at time of year.