4 Theories on the Date of Christmas [Ecumenical]

Black Cordelias ^ | December 2, 2008

[GunRunner]

Mithraism was very popular in the Roman Empire right around the same time as Christianity was gaining ground. Mithras was said to also have been born of a virgin (or in some traditions straight from a solid rock) on December 25th, which was the winter solstice on the Julian calendar.

Celebrations of the winter solstice far predate Christianity.

[Varda]

I’d guess lambing was timed to occur with the new grass and grass growth in arid climates is dependent on the rainy season. The rainy season around Jerusalem starts in November.

[Straight Vermonter]

No, lambs were almost always born in the spring (or late winter if they came early). Modern animal husbandry practices can produce lambs in spring and fall but that wasn’t available 2,000 years ago.

[Varda]

Modern animal husbandry produces whole crops of extra early lambs or twins or a couple of crops a years. Extra early in the US is January. Naturally lambs will come in the spring here because of the grass. The birth of grazing animals and new grass always goes together.

But extra early can be different with different breeds and I never farmed in a desert so I looked it up.

AWASSI SHEEP
"Ewes coming in heat very early in the season may lamb when there is still a shortage of grazing before the rains."

Before the rains is October.

"In Iraq, the principal lambing season of Awassi ewes is in November, and in Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and Israel in December-January. "

If the lamb of God was born during lambing season then December is one of those months.

[stripes1776]

So unless it was springtime the shepherds would have been home in bed rather than watching over their sheep.

Not necessarily. The animals would have been kept in a cave at night during winter. A good shepherd would have had someone staying in the cave at night to keep guard over the sheep. Whoever guarded the cave would have let Mary and Joseph stay in the cave that night.

[Straight Vermonter]

Except the scripture says “in the fields”.

[AD from SpringBay]

John says at the end of his Gospel that there is much more that could have been recorded that was not recorded.

That leaves room for all types of conjectures about all types of topics. They could have had Doubting Thomas day, for example. I think I'll stay away from that thin ice.

[stripes1776]

Except the scripture says “in the fields”.

Well, you could always start your own church and celebrate Christmas on whatever date you think Christ was born. For example, you might celebrate Christmas on March 25.

On the other hand, you could stop celebrating Christmas altogether, like the Puritans. After all, the Bible does not say to celebrate Christmas, so stop celebrating it.

[Uri’el-2012]

The question is whether you believe and trust
the Holy Word of Elohim in Luke 1
or you trust the traditions of man

Yah'shua's birth on Sukkot
(Sukkot is the Feast of Tabernacles or booths,
where we live in temporary shelters.
Sukkot is when YHvH took on a temporary
garment to be with His People
and to die as the Lamb of G-d on Pesach
in order to bring salvation to all
who would call on His Name: Yah'shua
( YHvH is become my salvation)).

Sukkot as the date is supported by Elizabeth's
pregnancy of John the Immerser.
The time sequence is outlined by the
Holy Word of Elohim in Luke 1 with Zacharias.

Zacharias served as a high priest and
based on his tribe, we know when he served
(1 Chronicles 24:7-18) and when he was
struck dumb and when John was conceived.

John would have been born on Pesach.
Most Jews believed that Elijah
would come at Pesach to announce
the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5).

Factor in when Miriam visited her cousin Elizabeth,
Elizabeth was six months pregnant (Luke 1:26)
Thus the timing of Yah'shua's birth can be ascertained.

John (1:14) tells us that Yah'shua was made flesh
and tabernacled among us.

The word "dwelt" in the Koine Greek is:

σκηνόω Strong's G4637 - skēnoō
1) to fix one's tabernacle,
have one's tabernacle,
abide (or live) in a tabernacle (or tent),
tabernacle
2) to dwell

Eight days after the beginning of Sukkot is
another Holy Feast Day called Shemini Atzeret.

Eight days after a Jewish male is born he is circumcised.

After the Eighth day comes the the most Joyous day:
Simchat Torah or
the rejoicing in the Torah (The Word of Elohim).

Nine months back from Sukkot is Chanukah
where the light entered the temple.

Biblical Dates for the Birth of Yochanan the Immerser
and for the Conception and Birth of Yeshua HaMashiach

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach Adonai

[Straight Vermonter]

I wasn’t aware that the cornerstone of Christianity was that Christ was born a certain day.

[stripes1776]

I wasn’t aware that the cornerstone of Christianity was that Christ was born a certain day.

But it is a cornerstone. It's called the Incarnation. Scholars may dispute the exact day and year. But what a Christian scholar never disputes is that God was made man, conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

Celebrate the birth of God whenever you like.