It’s one of nature’s nastier tricks that the days get shorter and shorter, darker and darker, and then when they are as short and dark as they can be–that’s the first day of winter.
That’s why people in the northern hemisphere have always needed a winter solstice perk-me-up.
Coincidence that Jesus was born so near the winter solstice? I don’t think so.
December 25th was the birthday of Mithra, whose cult was early Christianity’s main rival. That is why the church decided to celebrate the birth of Jesus then. If shepherds were out in the fields at night when He was born, it would have been in early Spring, at lambing time.
pschearer Premium Member almost 16 years ago
It’s one of nature’s nastier tricks that the days get shorter and shorter, darker and darker, and then when they are as short and dark as they can be–that’s the first day of winter.
That’s why people in the northern hemisphere have always needed a winter solstice perk-me-up.
Coincidence that Jesus was born so near the winter solstice? I don’t think so.
stpatme almost 16 years ago
December 25th was the birthday of Mithra, whose cult was early Christianity’s main rival. That is why the church decided to celebrate the birth of Jesus then. If shepherds were out in the fields at night when He was born, it would have been in early Spring, at lambing time.