Around A.D. 380 until the 1800's there were two common dates on which the feast we now know as "Christmas" was celebrated. One was December 25th, which was exactly 9 months after the traditional conception of Christ. The other was January 6th, which tended to celebrate Christ's baptism more than His birth.
Over hundreds of years, the time in-between came to be known as the 12 Days of Christmas. In many countries, January 6th is now known as Three Kings Day, and is the day on which gifts are given. Sometimes one gift is exchanged on Christmas day and the rest on the 6th. Others celebrate St. Nicholas' Feast day, December 6th, and exchange small gifts for an entire month.
The bottom-line is that we seem to be capable of making rather advantageous compromises as the Christian Church when it comes to celebrating something important that the Bible doesn't give us clear directives on.
Most Abrahamic religious figures place the birth of Jesus of Nazareth around mid April. Some claim to know, without a doubt, that He was born in September. Regardless...it wasn't made important in the Bible, so, we can assume that we aren't to make much importance of it either. What we seem to be able to agree on is that it was not during Summer. At some point between September and April (which, I think, coincides quite nicely with the "Holiday Season") the greatest miracle that ever happened took place- God became flesh to fulfill a promise that was thousands of years in the making.
In light of all the controversy surrounding Christmas, allow me to repeat one of my favorite quotes by G.K. Chesterton. "The thing I hate about an argument is that it always interrupts a good discussion." Of course there is always the good ol' Bible that tells us to drop quarrels and not to quarrel and so on. (Prov. 17:14; 18:1)
The posts I put up this month are not intended for arguing or causing disunion. Hopefully, they will help you to find more meaning in the season. More to come!
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