Christmas Pet Peeves

Hello! It is once again time for me to share some of my Christmas "tradition" pet peeves. As in those parts of the Christmas tradition that are often in the Christmas story but not actually present in Scripture... anywhere!

Jesus was born on December 25th, 0 A.D. (C.E.)

Uh, sorry, but this is patently FALSE! First there is no "0" A.D. as the calendar starts on 1 A.D. and most scholars believe Jesus was born around 5 or 6 B.C. (B.C.E.) as Herod was killed 4 B.C. (B.C.E.). He was most likely born in the spring or fall when shephards would have been out tending to the sheep. The idea to celebrate Christmas on December 25th originated in the 4th Century by the Catholic Church under Constantine's rule. The first Christians and early church fathers did not celebrate Christmas. Paul and the apostles never mention it in their correspondences to the early church. It was chosen to cover a "pagan" holiday with a new Christian tradition for the sake of turning people to Christianity (the then "state" religion). Christmas was slow to catch on in America. Early colonists considered it a pagan ritual. It was even banned in Massachusetts in the colonial days. The "war on Christmas" would not have been fought by either St. Paul or the early Christian settlers (our church heritage).

Jesus was born in a stable not unlike a modern day barn

Uh, wrong, again! Jesus was born in the lower half of a home. If you think that either Joseph's or Mary's families would have allowed them to leave the family hospitality during the census... then you don't know much about Middle Eastern hospitality (either then or NOW). This is a bad translation of the word "upper room" (Greek work "kataluma") which was misstranslated as "Inn." Then you add an "innkeeper" to your Christmas tableau and the error is complete! Jesus was born in the lower half of Joseph's ancestral home. The upper room (better, cleaner accomodations) were saved for the older members of the family. Thus, the younger members stayed downstairs... where the valued animals were brought in for the night to be kept safe. So it is more like an "attached family room/ garage" situation.

The wisemen came to Jesus' birth

Uh, three times a charm! Wrong again! First, if you think that males who were not members of Joseph or Mary's immediate families were there to greet this newborn than you know nothing of "cleanliness" laws. Mary would not have seen strangers for a few weeks, at least. But more importantly in the text that speaks of the "Magi' there is a word used to describe Jesus in Matthew 2:11 and it is the Greek word "teknia" which means CHILD/TODDLER not infant. These men, with their large entourage, do come to bring gifts to Jesus but not until a few years AFTER his birth! They were not present at the original manger scene.

My hope is that by demystifying some of the traditions of Christmas we can begin to celebrate the MEANING of the season. God who cares so deeply for each one of us... sent his son to exemplify by his life & works God's GRACE towards all of humankind. We honor that love through acts of selfless giving and joy-filled moments with family this and every CHRISTMAS!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!