Christmas beginnings

The birth of Jesus Christ has always been the centerpiece of the Christmas celebration – the “reason for the season.” But it is slowly being overshadowed by more commercial, secular attitudes.  Brushing commercialism aside, there’s no better way to learn about Christmas than by starting at the beginning. Scholars and theologians have been debating the events and their meaning for centuries, but there is a solid foundation to the story.

According to the Bible

Though the arrival of the Messiah is referenced in the Old Testament, the birth of Jesus is discussed only in two books of the New Testament, the gospels according to Luke and Matthew.  (The gospels of John and Mark begin about 30 years after the birth of Jesus, with no mention of the Nativity.)

There are a few discrepancies, but Luke and Matthew tell the same basic narrative, involving the virginal conception, the Angelic revelation of the coming of the Messiah, the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, and the birth of Jesus.

Matthew tells the story of the Nativity largely from Joseph’s point of view, as he comes to terms with Mary’s pregnancy since they actually are not married, but only engaged to each other. But Joseph is assured in a dream that reveals Jesus’ birth as part of God’s larger plan, and goes through with the marriage.

However, Matthew’s gospel contains few details regarding the actual events surrounding the birth. Those details come mostly from Luke. His gospel tells the story from the perspective of Mary, who struggles to understand her virgin pregnancy but also is comforted by the appearance of the Angel.

Adding a few details along the way

Over the centuries, most Christmas stories have followed a traditional line that blends those two gospels, though a few details have been altered and embellished a bit over time.

For example, while Matthew’s account mentions the visit by the Magi (“wise men”) to see Jesus, he doesn’t actually specify how many there were. The notion that there were three – all riding camels – has been added over time but isn’t specifically supported by scripture.

There are a number of other narrative embellishments that have become widely accepted:

• Though the Bible is specific about Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, there’s no mention of Mary ever riding on a donkey.
• Virtually every Christmas play features an innkeeper who turns away Mary and Joseph as they look for shelter, but there’s no specific reference to that in the Bible.
• The gospels state that Jesus was born in a manger, which is believed to have been a crib-style container for feeding cattle. But there’s no specific mention of where the manger was located, whether it was a barn, a stable, a cave, or somewhere outside the main living area of friends or relatives.
• Some Biblical scholars even disagree about whether Jesus was actually born in Bethlehem, or in Nazareth, a village 70 miles to the south. While the gospels mention the journey to Bethlehem, Jesus is referred to throughout the Bible as being “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Why is Christmas on Dec. 25?

However, there is one general point of agreement: there is absolutely no Biblical evidence pointing to the actual date of Jesus’ birth, or even indicating the time of year.  So what’s so special about Dec. 25?

The most widely held belief is that the date was chosen in the 4^th Century by the Roman Catholic Church, since Rome was the main home of Christianity during that time.  Some scholars believe the date was selected to take the place of a “pagan” festival commemorating the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.  Roman authorities wanted to abolish the pagan ritual, and felt it would be easier to introduce a new holiday in its place.

Other religions actually celebrate the birth of Christ on dates other than Dec. 25. For example, Eastern Orthodox churches in countries like Russia, Serbia and Ukraine follow the Gregorian Calendar, which places the date as Jan. 7.

What is harder to determine is when Jesus actually was born. According to the Bible, shepherds were tending their flocks, which were typically kept in the fields from Spring to Autumn, which would eliminate December from the list of possibilities. Some Biblical scholars point to scripture in the book of John that hints at late September, but no one has been able to pin down a specific time of year.

Despite the embellishments and interpretations, there is no doubt as to the importance of the birth of Jesus as the foundation of Christianity, and a cornerstone of faith for millions of people worldwide.