C.A.M. - Christian Apologetics Ministries; Minneapolis, St. Paul, MN
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In this article, I will respond to those who argue that Christians should not take part in the celebration of the Christmas holiday. I fully recognize the sincerity and honest arguments put forward by those who draw back from the celebration of Christmas. They deserve a reasonable response to their position. I humbly offer the present statement as such a response, taking the position that Christmas is indeed for Christians!
I take comfort that this question is really a conscience matter for each individual Christian to decide, rather than something Christians should divide over. Let us each honor the Babe of Bethlehem in the way that seems best to us during the Christmas season.
Robert Myers tells us the meaning of the word Christmas:
“The word Christmas comes from Christes Maesse, an early English phrase that means Mass of Christ.” (Robert J. Myers, Christmas, The World Book Encyclopedia, Volume 3, 1998 Edition, World Book, Inc. p. 528)
Essentially, then, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ. Let us proceed to examine this holiday, first by looking at the biblical basis for its celebration.
“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’--which means, ‘God with us’.” (Matthew 1:22-23)
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)
These verses underscore the importance of the biblical truth that Jesus Christ was born of a Virgin mother. This doctrine is important in that it supports the related biblical teaching that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh! Consider the following points that show the importance of the Virgin Birth.
If Christ was just another man and not born of a virgin:
Biblical support for Virgin Birth
“… Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.” (Matthew 1:16)
“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.’
‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’
The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.’
‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her.” (Luke 1:26-38)
“Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph.” (Luke 3:23)
The doctrine of the Virgin Birth is a line of demarcation between liberals and conservatives. Christians must stand strongly for this biblical essential!
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:1-3)
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
Indeed, the testimony of Scripture is clear: the Child born in Bethlehem’s manger is the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords!”
The celebration of Christmas and other holy days (holidays) is a conscience matter.
“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” (Colossians 2:16-17)
“are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.” (Romans 14:4-6)
These statements by the apostle Paul make it clear that the celebration of holidays (like Christmas) is a conscience matter, and therefore Christians should not be judging each other for our sincerely held beliefs about Christmas.
Some note that there is not a specific command in the Bible to observe the celebration of Christ’s birth. This we do not deny. This reminds me of those in some churches (i.e. The Churches of Christ) who do not use musical instruments in their worship services because there is no record in the New Testament that Christians in the early church used instruments. Of course, this is the classic “argument from silence.” Just because the New Testament does not specifically command Christians to use instruments, does not mean they were prohibited. In the same way, just because there is no specific command to celebrate Christ’s Birth, this does not mean Christians are prohibited from such observance. There is no specific command or example in the New Testament of Christians worshipping in Church buildings. Would anyone thus argue that Christians are not free to worship in Church buildings? Of course not!
The Jews celebrated some holidays without a specific command to do so from God.
We also note that Jews in the Old Testament felt free to celebrate holidays that were not commanded in the Old Testament. For example, note the Jewish celebration of the feast of Purim:
“Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.” (Esther 9:20-22)
The same can be said for the Jewish holiday “Hanukah.”
We also note that the angels certainly rejoiced at Christ’s birth, and if it was acceptable for angels to celebrate Christ’s birth, why shouldn’t we?
“ ‘This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests’.” (Luke 2:12-14)
Luke also declares that “many will rejoice because of His birth.” Isn’t
that what Christmas is all about?
“He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth.” (Luke 1:14)
The shepherds also rejoiced at Christ’s birth. Why shouldn’t we?
“they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2:17-20)
God instituted a number of festivals and holidays for Israel in the Old Testament. For instance, The Passover and Feast of Unleavened bread, The Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles, and Pentecost. I think that this shows that holidays and traditions are good for us, just as they were for Israel. They offer a special time to reflect on and worship God. They also provide wonderful times for families to spend together.
“The ancient Romans held year-end celebrations to honor Saturn [Saturnalia December 17-27], their harvest god; and Mithras, the god of light. Various peoples in northern Europe held festivals in mid-December to celebrate the end of the harvest season. As part of all these celebrations, the people prepared special foods, decorated their homes with greenery, and joined in singing and gift giving. These customs gradually became part of the Christmas celebration.” (Robert J. Myers, Christmas, The World Book Encyclopedia, Volume 3, 1998 Edition, World Book, Inc. p. 528)
Myers shows that it is quite likely that at least some of our Christmas traditions have a pagan origin, but I shall argue that this need not discourage the celebration of Christmas for Christians today, in that the pagan origin of such customs is not in view today.
Myers (and others) goes on to show the connection between the pagan origin of some Christmas customs and the negative opinion of Christmas held by the Puritans.
“During the Reformation, many Christians began to consider Christmas a pagan celebration because it included nonreligious customs. During the 1600’s, because of these feelings, Christmas was outlawed in England and in parts of the English colonies in America.” (Robert J. Myers, Christmas, The World Book Encyclopedia, Volume 3, 1998 Edition, World Book, Inc. p. 528)
The following quotes show that it was more than just the pagan origin of some Christmas customs that lead to the Puritan’s rejection of Christmas.
“The Puritans suppressed the celebration of Christmas for the first two centuries of white settlement. Not only was it suppressed, but in Massachusetts the celebration was illegal from 1659 to 1681. Puritanical resistance stemmed partly from the English tradition of Christmas celebrations: excess use of alcohol, overconsumption of food and a general state of rowdiness. Accounts abound in the 1600s here and in England of roving bands of young lower-class men who gained entrance into upper-class homes and demanded the highest quality of food and drink. If they didn’t get their way, they trashed the place. . . To bring home the above point, Cotton Mather of Boston wrote in 1712: ‘The Feast of Christ’s Nativity is spent in Reveling, Dicing, Carding, Masking, and in all Licentious Liberty . . . by Mad Mirth, by long Eating, by hard Drinking, by lewd Gaming, by rude Reveling’.” (Deborah Locke, Frenetic, Materialistic, Yes-- But Come Eve, Season Quiets, Softens, Saint Paul Pioneer Press, 12/24/1997)
“The first thing you do is
get some friends together and get stagger-through-the-snow drunk. If you’re
male, you’ll want to get dressed up as a woman or a bishop. Enact lewd
scenes in public. Beg for money from prosperous looking individuals. Beat
them if they don’t respond. Sing loudly, blow horns, bang pans.
Everyone then gathers at a wealthy family’s house and sings about sharing
the food and wine. The family will probably welcome you in, but if they
don’t, break in. Eat your fill. Eat like you may never see this much food
again. Repeat as needed, through New Year’s Day. That probably doesn’t
sound like Christmas to you. . . But that’s because most of the customs
we associate with Christmas were invented in America about 150 years ago.
. . Our cozy, domestic and increasingly secularized Christmas was fabricated
precisely to supplant those earlier revels, says Stephen Nissenbaum in
his new book, ‘The Battle for Christmas’ (Knopf).
Nissenbaum, who teaches history at the University of Massachusetts, notes
. . . It was that Christmas that the Puritans banned for 22 years in America,
beginning in 1659. . . As late as the 1850s, gangs of young men called
‘callithumpian bands’ wandered New York, playing and singing, demanding
money, smashing windows and beating people. Whatever its complex origins
and social meanings, Christmas had clearly broken down. Enter the Big
Guy in red.” (Jerome Weeks, Christmas customs invented to quell past’s
rowdy rituals, Dallas Morning News, as published in the Saint Paul
Pioneer Press, 12/21/1996)
We can see that the Puritans had good reason to reject Christmas in the
degenerative way it was practiced in their day including groups of hoodlums
stealing, extorting, and beating people and other excesses.
And while it is true that the Puritans rejected some of the pagan origins of Christmas customs, it is also true that these customs no longer hold the meaning they originally held. Further, it might surprise some to find that many practices or everyday life also have a pagan origin. Some examples are given below.
Pagan origin of marriage customs:
“The ring, now an essential for the wedding ceremony, is just over 1000 years old. It was adopted by the Christian Church in the 9th century, from the pagan world.” (R. Brasch, How Did It Begin?, Pocket Books, New York, 1st printing, August, 1969, p. 37)
“The choice of the ring finger is of unquestionable pagan origin.” (R. Brasch, How Did It Begin?, Pocket Books, New York, 1st printing, August, 1969, p. 39)
“Rice-throwing at weddings is a survival from ancient Hindu and Chinese religious rites.” (Julie Forsyth Batchelor and Claudia De Lys, Superstitious? Here’s Why!, Scholastic Book Services, New York, Second printing, September 1971, p. 82)
Pagan origin of birthday customs:
“The pleasing custom of blowing out the candles with a single puff in order to make a wish come true was originally a rite to gain the favor of the goddess Artemis.” (Origins: Superstitions and their Meanings, Readers Digest, Readers Digest Association, Inc., 1978, p. 8)
Pagan origin of the days and months of the calendar (Some Puritans also rejected the use of calendars):
“The month [January] is named for Janus, a Roman god.” (Sharron G. Uhler, January, World Book Encyclopedia, 1998 edition, Volume 11, World Book, Inc, p. 30)
“Janus. . . in Roman mythology,
was a god who had two faces that looked in opposite directions. One face
looked into the past, and the other looked into the future. Janus served
as the god of gates and doors and of entrances and exits. His name comes
from the Latin word Janua, meaning gate.
The Romans prayed to Janus at the beginning and end of any important action,
especially a war. . . The Romans called on Janus at the beginning of every
prayer, even ahead of Jupiter, the King of the gods.” (C. Scott Littleton,
Janus, World Book Encyclopedia, 1998 edition, Volume 11, World Book, Inc,
p. 31)
“Q. Where does the word ‘January’ come from? A. The Romans had gods for nearly every purpose, including one for gates and doors-- and that was Janus. He’s depicted on ancient Roman coins as having two faces, making him a natural deity for whom the first month of the year should be named. He was, in a sense, guarding the portal of the year, looking back at the old year with one face, ahead at the new one with the other.” (unsigned, Saint Paul Pioneer Press, 1/11/1998)
“Its name [March] honors Mars, the Roman god of war.” (Sharron G. Uhler, March, World Book Encyclopedia, 1998 edition, Volume 13, World Book, Inc., p. 194)
“Mars was the god of war in Roman mythology. . . Originally, Mars was a god of farmland and fertility. . . In time, the Romans associated Mars principally with war. Before going into battle, Roman troops offered sacrifices to him.” (E. N. Genovese, Mars, World Book Encyclopedia, 1998 edition, Volume 13, World Book, Inc, p. 222)
“The most widely accepted explanation is that it [May] was named for Maia, the Roman goddess of spring and growth. Her name seems to be related to a Latin word that means increase or growth. The ancient Romans held ceremonies in Maia’s honor in May 1 and again on May 15.” (Sharron G. Uhler, May, World Book Encyclopedia, 1998 edition, Volume 13, World Book, Inc, p. 320)
“Monday is the second day of the week. The word comes from the Anglo-Saxon monandaeg, which means the moon’s day. In ancient times, each day of the week was dedicated to a god or goddess. Monday was sacred to the goddess of the moon.” (Jack Santino, Monday, World Book Encyclopedia, 1998 edition, Volume 13, World Book, Inc., p. 702)
“Wednesday is the English name for the fourth day of the week. This day gets its name from Woden, or Ordin, the chief god in Teutonic mythology, to whom it is sacred.” (Grace Humphrey, Wednesday, World Book Encyclopedia, 1998 edition, Volume 21, World Book, Inc., p. 179)
“Thursday is the fifth day of the week. The ancient Norseman considered the day sacred to Thor, the Teutonic god of thunder. The name means Thor’s day. This is probably a translation of the Latin Dies Jovis, meaning Jove’s day, for Jove, or Jupiter, the Roman god of thunder.” (Jack Santino, Thursday, World Book Encyclopedia, 1998 edition, Volume 19, World Book, Inc., p. 273)
“Friday is the sixth day of the week. The name comes from the Anglo-Saxon word frigedaeg, which means Frigg’s day. Frigg was a goddess of love in Norse mythology.” (Grace Humphrey, Friday, World Book Encyclopedia, 1998 edition, Volume 7, World Book Inc., p. 532)
“Saturday, called Saeter-daeg by the Anglo-Saxons, is the seventh day of the week. It is named for the Roman god Saturn and is the only day named for a Roman god.” (Jack Santino, Saturday, World Book Encyclopedia, 1998 edition, Volume 17, World Book, Inc, p. 150)
Jehovah’s Witness are among those who reject the celebration of Christmas
because of the pagan origins of many Christmas customs. However, they
are guilty of participating in many practices and customs (such as the
above mentioned) that have a pagan origin. When it is pointed out to them
(Jehovah’s Witnesses) that they do participate in such practices they
respond by noting that although such customs do have a pagan origin, this
is not the meaning they hold today, and so it is acceptable. But this
is just our point. It is certainly true that many Christmas customs had
a pagan origin, yet those meanings have been lost in time, and now are
at best spiritually enriching and at worst harmless.
We note the following articles in the publications of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, in which they note the pagan origins of such things as rings, yet defend the practices for the reasons just mentioned.
“It must therefore be admitted that on the stream of time the pagans were the first and the so-called Christians were the last to make use of the ring as a symbol of marriage. But this fact alone should not condemn the wedding ring any more than other accessories of dress; for example, sandals were first used by the heathen and later by professing Christians. . . Then will such persons say that the custom of worshipping the true God wrong because the heathen have a similar custom of worshipping false gods? Is the custom of offering sacrifices to the true God wrong because pagans are accustomed to offering sacrifices to their gods? Was the use of the tabernacle altar wrong just because the heathen nations round about used similar structures for their offerings of abominations?.” (Awake, 10/8/1951, p. 22)
Their logic is sound. But by using the same line of reasoning, how can Jehovah’s Witnesses condemn the use of Christmas trees and other Christmas customs, when they also have long ago lost the pagan meanings once associated with them?
“As it is, however, God-fearing people have no such heathen ornamentations on their wedding rings, and of course they do not believe or associate any of the ancient myths with their rings. Of a truth, very few people today even know what fictitious legends and mysticisms were woven around wedding rings by the pagans of past ages.” (Awake, 10/8/1951, p. 22)
Again, the logic is flawless. But by using the same argument, Christians today don’t attach the same meaning to the customs of Christmas as pagans may have had, and “Of a truth, very few people today even know what fictitious legends and mysticisms were woven around” the customs of Christmas in the past.
“Manifestly, in view of the foregoing facts, the wearing of rings presents no great issue for the faithful Christian to face, for certainly there is nothing socially, morally or Scripturally wrong in wearing rings if one chooses to do so.” (Awake, 10/8/1951, 24)
It is hard to understand how Jehovah’s Witnesses can miss these points. Interestingly, Jehovah’s Witnesses originally had no problem with the celebration of Christmas as the following quote shows.
“Even though Christmas day is not the real anniversary of our Lord’s birth. . . nevertheless, since the celebration of our Lord’s birth is not a matter of divine appointment or injunction, but merely a tribute of respect to him, it is not necessary for us to quibble about a particularly date. We may as well join with the civilized world in celebrating the grand event on the day which the majority celebrate-- ‘Christmas day’.” (Zion’s Watch Tower, 12/1/1904, p.364)
Early Jehovah’s Witnesses were even encouraged to give Watchtower literature away as Christmas Gifts!
“ ‘Scripture Studies’ As Christmas Gifts. Dear Friends:- It might interest you to know that we are already offering the books for ‘Christmas gifts’. We find that many secure their Christmas presents several months ahead, and that this month is the one in which many are pleased to secure ‘such a beautiful, appropriate, and above all such a reasonable in price gift!’ ” (Zion’s Watchtower, 11/15/1907, p. 351)
The Irony is that the Watchtower teaches its adherents to avoid Christmas because of its pagan origins, and yet they also celebrated it. Perhaps this means Jehovah’s Witnesses should leave their organization due to its “pagan origins.” These pagan practices of the early Watchtower include more than just the so-called pagan practice of Christmas, but especially pyramidology and occultic medical practices.
Those opposed to the celebration of Christmas, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, have pointed to verses in the Bible that they claim condemn the practice of Christmas trees. For example, note the passages from Isaiah and Jeremiah.
“man too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot. He looks for a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple.” (Isaiah 40:20)
12“The blacksmith
takes a tool and works with it in the coals; he shapes an idol with hammers,
he forges it with the might of his arm. He gets hungry and loses his strength;
he drinks no water and grows faint. 13The carpenter measures
with a line and makes an outline with a marker; he roughs it out with
chisels and marks it with compasses. He shapes it in the form of man,
of man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine. 14He
cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak. He let it grow among
the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow.
15It is man’s fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms
himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god
and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. 16Half
of the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal, he roasts
his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, “Ah! I am
warm; I see the fire.” 17From the rest he makes a god, his
idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, “Save
me; you are my god.” 18They know nothing, they understand nothing;
their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed
so they cannot understand. 19No one stops to think, no one
has the knowledge or understanding to say, “Half of it I used for fuel;
I even baked bread over its coals, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make
a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”
20He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot
save himself, or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?” (Isaiah
44:12-20)
“For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter.” (Jeremiah 10:3-4)
Upon a cursory reading of these verses, one might make the mistake of thinking they are discussing Christmas trees, but nothing could be further from the truth. The contexts of these passages make it clear that it is idolatry and idol worship that is forbidden, not Christmas trees. Further, despite Jehovah’s Witness claims, no one worships Christmas trees.
More interesting is the fact that evergreen trees served as a sign for God in the Bible. Such is seen in the following biblical texts.
“The glory of Lebanon will
come to you, the pine, the fir and the cypress together,
to adorn the place of my sanctuary; and I will glorify the place of my
feet.” (Isaiah 60:13)
“I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set pines in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.” (Isaiah 41:19-20)
“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD’s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.” (Isaiah 55:12-13)
The historical origin of Christmas trees (and other Christmas decorations) is very interesting as the following authorities show.
“The Christmas tree probably developed in part from the ‘Paradise Tree.’ This was an evergreen decorated with apples used in a popular play about Adam and Eve held on December 24 in medieval Germany. By 1605, some Germans decorated their homes with evergreens for Christmas. They trimmed the trees with fruits, nuts, lighted candles, and paper roses.” (Robert J. Myers, Christmas, The World Book Encyclopedia, Volume 3, 1998 Edition, World Book, Inc. p. 535)
“The traditional colors of Christmas are green and red. Green represents the continuance of life through the winter and the Christian belief in eternal life through Christ. Red symbolizes the blood that Jesus shed at his crucifixion.” (Robert J. Myers, Christmas, The World Book Encyclopedia, Volume 3, 1998 Edition, World Book, Inc. p. 535)
“The Christmas wreath, like the evergreens used as Christmas trees, symbolizes the strength of life overcoming the forces of winter. In ancient Rome, people used decorative wreaths as a sign of victory and celebration. The custom of hanging a Christmas wreath on the front door of the home probably came from this practice.” (Robert J. Myers, Christmas, The World Book Encyclopedia, Volume 3, 1998 Edition, World Book, Inc. p. 535)
“Holly is an evergreen tree with sharply pointed glossy leaves and red berries. It is used in making Christmas wreathes and other decorations. The needle-like points of the leaves were thought to resemble the crown of thorns that Jesus wore when he was crucified. The red berries symbolized the drops of blood He shed.” (Robert J. Myers, Christmas, The World Book Encyclopedia, Volume 3, 1998 Edition, World Book, Inc. p. 535)
“A lovely legend has it that St. Boniface gave the Christmas tree to his Germanic converts as a substitute for their holy oak; this is supposed to have taken place some time during the eighth century. And according to another legend Martin Luther was the first one to decorate a Christmas tree with lit candles.” (Vera Henriksen, Christmas In Norway, Past and Present, Tanum-Norli, Oslo, 1981, p. 44)
“The Christmas tree is German and its adoption in English lands was due merely to the fact that Queen Victoria married a German prince. . . At the time of their Saturnalia the Romans decorated homes and temples with foliage on which they hung images of their gods! . . . Christianity knew of all these traditions. The Fathers of the Church realized the impossibility of abolishing them root and branch. Thus they wisely retained the ancient institution of the green tree and the burning lights but gave them a completely new interpretation. In justification, they quoted the prophet Isaiah who had spoken of the ‘righteous branch’ and foreseen the day when ‘the glory of Lebanon shall come unto you; the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box tree, to beautify the place of My Sanctuary. . .
Germans explain the introduction of the Christmas tree by an incident said to have taken place when Christianity was first brought to their country. When St. Boniface arrived from England to convert the pagans, he was determined to root out all that was heathen. In the city of Geismar he cut down a sacred oak. The felling, which took place on Christmas eve, angered many people and, to pacify them, St. Boniface gave the city a fir tree as a symbol of the new faith he preached.
Another German tale links the first Christmas tree with Martin Luther, the great reformer, The story says that one Christmas Eve Luther was returning home through the snow. He was deeply moved by the beauty of the sky with its thousands of glittering stars. Later, he wanted to describe the spectacle to his wife and children, but words seemed inadequate. Suddenly, he had an idea. He went into the garden and cut down a small fir tree. He put it in the nursery and lighted its branches with many candles so that it presented a lovely picture of God’s glory as it had been revealed to him in the heavens on that cold winter night.” (R. Brasch, How Did It Begin?, Pocket Books, New York, 1st printing, August, 1969, pp. 324-326)
“Karas has amply demonstrated that evergreens have been a symbol of rebirth from ancient times. Bringing greenery into one’s home, often at the time of the winter solstice, symbolized life in the midst of death in many cultures. The Romans decked their homes with evergreens and other greenery during the Kalends of January. Living trees were also brought into homes during the old German feast of Yule, which originally was a two-month feast beginning in November. The Yule tree was planted in a tub and brought into the home. However, the evidence just does not exist which shows that Christians first used trees at Christmas as a symbol of rebirth, nor that the Christmas tree was a direct descendent of the Yule tree. On the contrary, the evidence that we have points in another direction. The Christmas tree appears to be a descendent of the Paradise tree and the Christmas light of the late Middle Ages.” (Pastor Richard P. Bucher, The Origin and Meaning of the Christmas Tree, http://users.rcn.com/tlclcms/chrtree.htm#Anchor18)
The preceding indicates that the historical origin of the Christmas tree is far from clear, yet nothing should prevent the Christian from the practice.
The following information about Christmas trees is provided by the University of Illinois Extension Service, and provides interesting information about the custom of Christmas trees in America.
Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United States since about 1850. Until fairly recently, all Christmas trees came from the forest. Thirty-four to thirty-six million Christmas trees are produced each year and 95 percent are shipped or sold directly from Christmas tree farms. California, Oregon, Michigan, Washington, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and North Carolina are the top Christmas tree producing states.
The best selling trees are the Scotch Pine, Douglas Fir, Noble Fir, Fraser Fir, Virginia Pine, Balsam Fir and the White Pine. Most Christmas trees are cut weeks before they get to a retail outlet. Christmas trees take 7-10 years to mature.
In 2000 31 percent of United States household had a real tree, 49 percent had a fake tree and 21 percent had no tree. You should never burn your Christmas tree in the fireplace. It can contribute to creosote buildup.
The first decorated Christmas was in Riga, Latvia in 1510. The first printed reference to Christmas trees appeared in Germany in 1531.
The first Christmas tree retail lot in the United States was started in 1851 in New York by Mark Carr. In 1856 Franklin Pierce, the 14th President of the United States, was the first President to place a Christmas tree in the White House. Thomas Edison’s assistant, Edward Johnson, came up with the idea of electric lights for Christmas trees in 1882. Christmas tree lights were first mass produced in 1890. Teddy Roosevelt banned the Christmas tree from the White House for environmental reasons. President Coolidge started the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the White House lawn in 1923.
In 1963, the National Christmas Tree was not lighted until December 22nd because of a national 30-day period of mourning following the assassination of President Kennedy. In 1979, the National Christmas Tree was not lighted except for the top ornament? This was done in honor of the American hostages in Iran.” (website of the University of Illinois Extension Service at http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/trees/treefacts.html
No one knows for sure the actual date Christ was born. However, there is evidence that points to the traditional date of December 25th as the following sources show.
“The first mention of December 25 as the birth date of Jesus occurred in A.D. 336 in an early Roman calendar.” (Robert J. Myers, Christmas, The World Book Encyclopedia, Volume 3, 1998 Edition, World Book, Inc. p. 528):
“The traditional date for the birth of Christ from as early as Hippolytus (ca. A.D. 165-235) (footnote 1) has been December 25th… Chrysostom (A.D. 345-407) in 386 stated that December 25th is the correct date and hence it became the official date for Christ’s birth. The one objection raised for the winter date is the fact of the shepherds attending their flock in the night. (Luke 2:8) Usually, it is noted, the sheep were taken into enclosures from November until March and were not in the fields at night. [footnote 2] However, this is not conclusive evidence against December being the time of Christ’s birth for the following reasons. First, it could have been a mild winter and hence the shepherds would have been outside with their sheep. Second, it is not at all certain that sheep were brought under cover during the winter months. [ footnote 3] Third, it is true that during the winter months the sheep were brought in from the wilderness. The Lukan narrative states that the shepherds were around Bethlehem (rather than the wilderness), thus indicating that nativity was in the winter months. Finally, the Mishnah [footnote 4] implies that the sheep around Bethlehem were outside all year, and those that were worthy for the Passover offerings were in the fields thirty days before the feast-- which would be as early as February-- on of the coldest and rainiest months of the year. [footnote 5.] Therefore, a December date for the nativity is acceptable. [footnote 6] In conclusion, the exact date of the birth of Christ is difficult t know with finality. However, a midwinter date is most likely.”
Footnotes for above passage:
- Hippolytus, Comentarii in Danielem iv. 23. 3.
- A. T. Robertson, A Harmony of the Gospels for Students of the Life of Christ, (New York, 1922), p.267;
Leslie P. Madison, Problems of Chronology in the Life of Christ (unpublished Th. D. dissertation, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1963), pp. 53-54- Alfred Plummer, The Gospel According to St. Luke (4th ed.; Edinburgh, 1905), p. 55;
William F. Arndt, The Gospel According to St. Luke (St. Louis, 1956), pp. 80-81- Shekalim vii. 4.
- Cf. Denis Baly. The Geography of the Bible (New York, 1957), pp. 41-66;
Harold W. Hoehner, Chronological Aspects Of The Life Of Christ, (Academy Books, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1977), pp. 25-27- Cf. Alfred Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (93rd ed.; London, 1886), pp. 186-87;
Samuel J. Andrews, The Life of our Lord upon the Earth (4th ed., New York, 1891), pp. 12-21, 87-89.
“It was at the same time, moreover, the prevailing opinion of the church in the fourth and fifth centuries, that Christ was actually born on the twenty-fifth of December; and Chrysostom appeals, in behalf of this view, to the date of the registration under Quirinus (Cyrenius), preserved in the Roman archives. But no certainty respecting the birthday of Christ can be reached from existing data.” (Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Volume 1, AP&A, pp. 166-167)
Many in the early church believed December 25 was the actual date including Chrysostom (354-407) who appealed to historical records of a census of Cyrenious still possessed in his day.
The feast of Epiphany arose before Christmas and partly accounts for the delay in the development of Christmas itself.
We have all probably wondered what astrologers or even “three kings from the orient” are doing in the Christmas story. We can be sure that they were not in fact kings at all, but advisers to kings. Their official title is “Magi” and they would be from the area of ancient Persia and Babylon (modern day Iran and Iraq)
In regards to their names, Bucher relates:
“Do we know the names of the magi? No. The Scriptures are silent on this. The traditional names, dating from about the 7th Century A.D., are Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. This is the western tradition. Eastern Christians have other names.” (By Pastor Richard P. Bucher, January, 1998, The Magi / Wise Men FAQ, http://users.rcn.com/tlclcms/magifaq.html)
The Magi were able in the practices of astronomy and astrology, but they were also political advisers and teachers. We do not know how many there were (tradition tells us that there were three, but almost certainly their entourage was quite large with some estimates suggesting that there were hundreds of men in their party as they came in search of the newborn King of Israel.
“Fortunately other ancient literature comes to our aid in helping us to understand who magi were. From the Jewish historian Josephus, the Greek historian Herodotus, and the writings of Strabo, a clearer picture of the people called the magi appears. The magi first appear in history in about the 7th century B.C. in the Median empire (Herodotus I, ci). It is possible that we see examples of them in Daniel 2 and Jeremiah 39. At the time of the birth of Jesus they were an ancient priestly caste dwelling within the Parthian empire that practiced astrology. (Note: at this time, “astrology” was a hybrid of astrology and what we now call astronomy.) They were adept at interpreting dreams (which we possibly get a flavor of as early as Daniel 2). Also at the time just prior to the birth of our Lord, the magi formed the upper house of the council of the Megistanes, whose duties included the election of the king of the Parthian empire (Strabo, XI, ix, 3). Thus, the magi at this time were very possibly “king makers.” (Sources: D. W. Jayne, “Magi”, The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, vol. 4:31-34; Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews and The Jewish War; Herodotus, The History of Herodotus; A. Holmstead, History of the Persian Empire)
Why do we call them “wise men”?
[The] “magi were priests, serving an ancient priesthood, astrologers,
interpreters of dreams, and government officials who had the authority
to elect the Parthian king. In the context of the times, because they
served these roles and had such amazing knowledge of mysteries as these,
they were considered to be the scholars of the day” (By Pastor Richard
P. Bucher, January, 1998, The Magi / Wise Men FAQ, http://users.rcn.com/tlclcms/magifaq.htm)
Jehovah’s Witnesses have painted the Magi as being lead by Satan as this example shows:
“Who do you think made that new star to shine. . . Satan the Devil wanted to kill God’s Son, and he knew that King Herod of Jerusalem would try to kill him. So Satan is the one who must have made that star shine” (My Book of Bible Stories, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, New York, 1978, p. 86)
While I can understand the Watchtower’s reluctance to embrace the “Magi” due to certain unbiblical practices, this unfortunately reflects the Watchtower’s lack of depth at biblical understanding. The following biblical information makes it clear that the “Magi” were not motivated by Satan, but were actually motivated by the promises in God’s word concerning a coming king (Jesus).
For instance, if the Magi were a part of a satanic plot to kill Jesus, why did they heed the warning from God and return home in a way as to avoid King Herod. (Matthew 2:12) If they wanted Jesus dead, why didn’t they kill him, or at least rush to Herod and report on Jesus’ whereabouts?
It should also be pointed out that in distinction from ancient astrology, the Magi did not worship the star, but in fact came to worship the one “who has been born the King of the Jews”. (Matthew 2:2)
Norman Geisler points out that this star was not used to predict the future as in astrology, but to announce the birth of Christ. (Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe, When Critics Ask, Victor Books, Wheaton, IL, 1992, pp. 326-327)
Further, the Magi were aware
of the biblical prophecies concerning the coming king of the Jews. They
would have learned of these at the hand of Daniel himself who served as
the head of the Magi during the period of the “Babylonian Captivity.”
For instance, they would have been familiar with the prophecy in numbers
24:17:
“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come
out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.” (Numbers 24:17)
Te Jehovah’s Witnesses fail to note that while the prophet Daniel was above reproach in his godly character, nonetheless, he indeed was willing to serve as a Magi in the same “country” as the “Magi” of the Christmas story.
“Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men.” (Daniel 2:48; see also Daniel 5:11-12)
Did the Magi visit Jesus on the night of his birth?
Bucher relates the following:
“How old was Jesus when the
magi visited Him?
The Biblical data to guide us in answering this is as follows. (1) We
know from Luke’s Gospel (2:21) that Jesus was circumcised at 8 days old;
(2) We also know from Luke 2:22-24, that when the 40 days of Mary’s “uncleanness”
had passed (see Leviticus 12:1ff.), they presented Jesus, their first
born son in the temple in Jerusalem, according to God’s Law (Exodus 13:2ff.;
Numbers 3:13, 8:17. (3) Herod asked the magi when they had first seen
the star (Matthew 2:7) and on this basis later killed all of the male
children in Bethlehem, age two and under. (Matthew 2:16) In addition to
this, there is (4), that the magi came during the reign of King Herod,
whom we know died in 4 BC;
On this basis we can lay out the following with a fair amount of certainty. Jesus was between 41 days and 2 years old when the magi arrived. The magi had to have come after Jesus’ presentation in the temple, that is, after Jesus was 40 days old. Why? Because, Matthew’s Gospel tells us that after the magi departed, an angel warned Joseph to flee to Egypt, since Herod would seek to kill Jesus. According to Scripture, Joseph left that very night and went to Egypt. (2:13-15) This would have left no time or opportunity for the presentation in the temple, which we know happened” (By Pastor Richard P. Bucher, January, 1998, The Magi / Wise Men FAQ, http://users.rcn.com/tlclcms/magifaq.html)
While it is popular to look for a natural event to explain the “Star of Bethlehem” such as a comet or the conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn in 7 B.C., it is impossible to conclude this. This was a special star.
In Greek the word for star “aster” – “a star, luminous body like a star, luminary”; Mat. 2:2,7,9,10. (The Analytical Greek Lexicon, Samuel Bagster And Sons Limited, London, England, n.d., p. 57)
This was a special “star” or luminescent object in the sky that was placed there by God to guide the Magi to the Christ Child. No natural phenomenon could guide the Wise man to a specific house in Bethlehem.
“Then Herod called the Magi
secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and make a careful search for
the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go
and worship him.’
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they
had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place
where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.” (Matthew
2:7-10)
Further, even the year of Christ’s birth is not firmly established, so suggesting that certain astronomical events were the star of Bethlehem is sheer speculation.
Of course, we don’t have to give gifts on Christmas. Nonetheless, we can appeal to the example of the Magi who brought gifts for the baby Jesus:
“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11)
We can also appeal to the practice of the Jews as they gave gifts during Purim.
“Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.” (Esther 9:20-22)
I think this is a conscience matter for each Christian and family to work out between themselves and the Lord. My preference with my children is to treat “Santa Claus like a cartoon character, based on a real person, Saint Nicholas of Myra. (fourth century) known for his generosity to Children. I tell my children that Santa Claus is Jesus’ friend. Note what the following sources have to say about the historical Saint Nicholas.
“ The Saint was a bishop who lived in Asia Minor during the A.D. 300’s” (Robert J. Myers, Saint Nicholas, The World Book Encyclopedia, Volume 17, 1998 Edition, World Book, Inc. p. 51)
“Throughout history Nicholas of Myra (d. 350) has been one of the most beloved saints even apart from the Santa Claus context. In fact, George McKnight claims that both in the eastern and western Church, Nicholas is “the object of extreme veneration, to a degree unequaled in the case of any other saint.” The first historical record of his veneration is the fact that the emperor Justinian built a church in his honor in Constantinople around the year 540. Nicholas is the patron saint of entire nations, including Greece, Russia, Sicily, and Lorraine, and many cities throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, and Italy. He is also patron saint of children, bakers, merchants, and mariners.
Ironically, very little factual information is actually known about this most popular saint. In the words of Weiser, there is scarcely any definite historical fact known about him except that he was bishop of Myra in Asia Minor; that he was cast into exile and prison during the persecution of Emperor Diocletian and released by Constantine the Great; that he died in Myra about 350, and in the year 1087 his body was brought by Italian merchants from Myra to the city of Bari in Italy, where his relics are still preserved and venerated in the church of San Nicola.
The Feast of St. Nicholas on Dec. 6 has been observed with great enthusiasm throughout Medieval Europe over the centuries. This enthusiasm was due to the many legends that had grown up around Nicholas: that he had distributed gifts to the poor at night through their windows, had fasted while a baby, had helped dowerless maidens, saved a city from famine, had aided a ship in distress, etc” (Pastor Richard P. Bucher, The Origin of Santa Claus and the Christian Response to Him, http://users.rcn.com/tlclcms/santa.htm)
Conclusion
In closing let us learn from the example of humility the Son of God displayed at the incarnation. Wrapped in swadling clothes and lying in a manger was Almighty God. That is real love!
“…being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:6-11)
Let us humble ourselves to the babe in the manger, yeah to the God of all
creation. As God gave his Son for all of us, let us imitate God and give of
ourselves to God and others as we walk our days on earth.
Interesting facts and customs about Christmas
The following section is an appendix that includes much information about Christmas (with brief comments from myself) that I found to be very interesting, and is included at no extra charge!
Noel is a French word that means Natal or birth. Hence, the first Noel means that first Christmas or the birth of Christ.
“The word Xmas is sometimes used instead of Christmas. This tradition began in the early Christian church. In Greek, X is the first letter of Christ’s name. It was frequently used as a holy symbol.” (Robert J. Myers, Christmas, The World Book Encyclopedia, Volume 3, 1998 Edition, World Book, Inc. p. 529)
Interesting Christmas customs from around the world.
“In Ireland, people put a lighted candle in their window on Christmas Eve as a sign of welcome to Mary and Joseph.” (Robert J. Myers, Christmas, The World Book Encyclopedia, Volume 3, 1998 Edition, World Book, Inc. p. 530)
“A popular Christmas custom in Norway is ringe in Julen (ringing in Christmas). Throughout the country, people ring church bells at 5 p.m. on Christmas eve.” (Robert J. Myers, Christmas, The World Book Encyclopedia, Volume 3, 1998 Edition, World Book, Inc. p. 532)
“The Christmas season ends on epiphany, January 6. In Western churches, Epiphany celebrates the coming of the Wise Men to the Christ Child. Among Eastern Christians, this day celebrates Jesus’ baptism. Epiphany falls on the 12th day after Christmas, The song ‘The twelve Days of Christmas’ refers to the 12 days between Christmas and Epiphany.” (Robert J. Myers, Christmas, The World Book Encyclopedia, Volume 3, 1998 Edition, World Book, Inc. p. 534)
“Many Italians serve eels for dinner on Christmas Eve.” (Robert J. Myers, Christmas, The World Book Encyclopedia, Volume 3, 1998 Edition, World Book, Inc. p. 531)
“In Poland. . . The Christmas Eve Meal features fish, sauerkraut, potato pancakes, and beet soup.” (Robert J. Myers, Christmas, The World Book Encyclopedia, Volume 3, 1998 Edition, World Book, Inc. p. 531)
“Christmas comes in summer in Australia and New Zealand. Many people there go to the beach on Christmas day.” (Robert J. Myers, Christmas, The World Book Encyclopedia, Volume 3, 1998 Edition, World Book, Inc. p. 531)
This next section is from the following
web address: http://users.rcn.com/tlclcms/chrtree.htm
an the article called “The Origin and Meaning of the Christmas Tree
By Pastor Richard P. Bucher
Variations of Christmas tree origin stories.
“The story has appeared in many forms. Here is how it appears in Karas, 111: “One clear cold Christmas Eve the famous Reformation leader Martin Luther was walking home through the woods. As it was a beautiful starry night, he paused for a moment to gaze at the sky in reverent meditation. He was in a grove of tall pines . . . From where he stood it looked as though thousands of stars had settled on their branches. He proceeded to cut a tiny tree and took it home where he decorated it with small candles in metal holders to recreate his experience for his children. That glittering tree became a tradition for his family in the many Christmasses to come just as it has for many other families around the world.”
Another pure legend that is sometimes passed off as historical fact is the story of St. Boniface. As one web page puts it: “The first Christmas tree is said to have originated in 8th century Germany when a British missionary, St. Boniface, cut down a giant oak that crushed every tree in its path except a small fir sapling. Considering this a miracle, St. Boniface called it “the tree of the Christ child.”
Burning of the Yule Log was adapted to an English custom from the ancient Scandinavian practice of kindling huge bond fires in honor of the winter solstice. This helped the dying earth to regain strength and allow the rebirth of the sun. The log was cut from a red oak, and burned all of Christmas Eve and some would burn it all day on Christmas Day also. All of this is taken from sun worship rituals.
Nativity ScenesShortly before Christmas 1223, St. Francis of Assisi wrote to his friend, John Velita, the Lord of Greccio, “I would fain make a memorial of that child who was born in Bethlehem, and in some sort behold with bodily eyes His infant hardships; how He lay in a manger on the hay, with ox and ass standing by.” St. Francis organized a group of people to go on Christmas Eve and created the first live nativity scene that year. It has become a greatly practiced custom. Also from this re-creation came the celebrating or honoring of the cr`eche, the wooden model of the feeding trough holding the Christ Child. In some Catholic countries, this elaborately carved cr`eche, often taking years to complete and much wealth to buy, is placed as the center of the Christmas festival, replacing the customary Christmas Tree.
MistletoeIn ancient Britain it was the sacred plant of the druids. The arch druid and his priests performing elaborate ceremonies around it at the winter solstice. Because of the pagan associations, the mistletoe has seldom been sanctioned in church decorations. Traditionally, a girl would stand under it, when a male would approach and pick a berry and kiss the girl. When the berries were all gone then there were no more kisses.
Caroling“A well-loved Christmas custom is the singing of Christmas carols. The word ‘carol’ is thought to have originally denoted a dance accompanied by singing. Thirteenth century Italy is considered the birthplace of the real Christmas carol, and St. Francis of Assisi, who led songs of praise to the Christ Child, is thought to be the father of this custom” (Steve Harmon, Th.G., B.S., Th.M., Th.D , Customs of Christmas, 57 East Foster-Maineville Road Maineville, Ohio 45039 (513) 683-6708 E-Mail mailto:drsteve@iglou.com)
The following is an essay that has appeared in various newspapers that was written by Michael J. Paquette. It offers fascination background information on the journey that Joseph and Mary would have taken from Nazareth to Bethlehem:
“The traditional Nativity story
from the Scriptures obscure the reality of the treacherous travel and harsh
conditions that Joseph and Mary faced. . . A newly betrothed couple is forced
by the government to register for a census in a town far away. The woman is
nine months pregnant. When they finally reach their destination after an arduous
journey, there is no place to stay and their baby is born in a spot fit only
for animals.
James Strange, a New Testament and biblical archaeology professor at the University
of South Florida in Tampa offers these comments, ‘We have no idea how difficult
their journey really was.’ They probably would have traveled the usual route
to the city of Joseph’s ancestors which is south along the flatlands of the
Jordan River, then west over the hills surrounding Jerusalem, and on down
into Bethlehem. Making that 90-mile journey would be a fairly grueling trip
says Strange who leads an annual excavation team to Nazareth. ‘In antiquity,
the most we find people traveling is 20 miles a day. And this trip was very
much uphill and downhill. It was not that simple.’
Strange estimates that Joseph and Mary likely traveled only 10 miles a day because of Mary’s due date. And the trip would have been in the winter. What’s the Judean desert like during winter? ’It’s in the 30’s during the day, rains a lot, is nasty and miserable. At night it would be freezing.’
To protect themselves from the
elements, the ancients wove a heavy woolen cloak one and a third times larger
than the human form. Afterward, it was shrunk to size. The shrinking process
helped the cloak shed rain and snow. Under their cloaks, people wore long
robes, belted at the waist, tube-like socks and enclosed shoes.
Unpaved, hilly trails and harsh weather were not the only hazards Joseph and
Mary would have faced on their journey south. One of the most terrifying dangers
in ancient Palestine was the heavily forested valley of the Jordan River.
These woods were populated with flesh-eating beasts such as lions and bears
and wild boars. Archaeologists have unearthed documents warning travelers
of the forest’s dangers, he said. “People were frightened to death to travel
near this forest”, Strange said. “They would carry a short spear or a short
sword to protect against these wild animals.”
Brutes of a two-legged variety also posed risks. Bandits, pirates of the desert and robbers were common along major trade routes like the one Joseph and Mary would have traveled.
Rev. Peter Vasko, director of the Holy Land Foundation that seeks to restore sacred Christian sites there, adds that the threat of outlaws often forced solitary travelers to join trade caravans for protection. ’Traders took a number of people with them as passengers and they would have to pay something for protection.’ Caravans may have been as large as 300 people with 60 camels to bear packs of merchandise. Donkeys were used for passengers, but the camel was the key to travel in a shoestring.
In addition to the camel’s burden-bearing ability, its dung, when dried, was burned to provide warmth at night and fuel for cooking. Camel hair was used to make bedding and camel milk was used for nourishment, especially for Mary, a mother-to-be.
Joseph and Mary would have had to bring their own food and water. Water was carried in wineskins and their food would be lots and lots of bread. Breakfast was dried bread, lunch was bread with oil, and dinner was herbs with the oil and bread…
Their final arrival at Bethlehem would be met by 10,000 or more other descendants of David, all looking for a place to stay. Under normal circumstances, they could have expected to stay with relatives, but Mary’s condition slowed them down and there was found no room for them either with relatives or strangers at an inn. (Michael J. Paquette, Saint Paul Pioneer Press, 12/21/1996)