The Truth About December 25th

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“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary” Luke 1:24-27

How Mary & Joseph met:

In the Jewish tradition, a matchmaker helped to suggest a spouse for a young woman at the age to be married. God was ultimately given the final choice, through prayer, but rarely was the decision left to the young couple. It was likely that a similar situation occurred with Joseph and the Virgin Mary. 

It is held that the Virgin Mary was entrusted as a seamstress to the Temple at an early age and when she reached puberty a proper husband was sought. Joseph moved from Bethlehem to Nazareth for carpentry work. According to Christian tradition and the biblical account in the Gospel of Matthew, Joseph was chosen to be Mary’s husband through divine intervention. 

The account, quoted in its entirety, runs like this:

When Mary had come to her fourteenth year, the high priest announced to all that the virgins who were reared in the Temple, and who had reached the age of their womanhood, should return to their own, and be given in lawful marriage. The rest obeyed the command, and Mary alone answered that this she could not do, both because her parents had dedicated her to the service of the Lord, and because she herself had vowed her virginity to God.... 

When the high priest went in to take counsel with God, a voice came forth from the oratory for all to hear, and it said that of all the marriageable men of the house of David who had not yet taken a wife, each should bring a branch and lay it upon the altar, that one of the branches would burst into flower and upon it the Holy Ghost would come to rest in the form of a dove, according to the prophecy of Isaias, and that he to whom this branch belonged would be the one to whom the virgin should be espoused. 

Joseph was among the men who came.... "and he placed a branch upon the altar, and straightaway it burst into bloom, and a dove came from Heaven and perched at its summit; whereby it was manifest to all that the Virgin was to become the spouse of Joseph.”

While it may not have been a romantic meeting according to our modern sensibilities, their meeting was providential, and they grew in their love of each other, providing a beautiful home for the child Jesus to grow up in.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

September 11, 3 BC – Jesus’ birth (6 months after John the Baptist)

This date is recorded as Tishri 1 the first day of the first Jewish month. It is also known as the Feast of Trumpets “Rosh Hashanah”. 

Documented: “Elizabeth conceived in June/July, Mary conceived 6 months thereafter in December/January and gave birth 9 months later in September/October, which is in the fall."(bibleversestudy.com)

Documented: “The significance of this Tishri 1 considered the “day of a new beginning” is that not only was Jesus born on that date, but it includes the first day of creation; Noah’s first day after floods subsided considered the first day of a new world; the inauguration of Solomon, Jeremiah and Ezra; Joseph of Egypt became king; Joseph was freed from Egyptian prison; Jewish people began their freedom; and it’s the birthdate of Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Samuel and Jacob."  (Truthinscripture.net 1/2/2017) 

Note: Now we have confirmation that both the Rapture and the Marriage of the Lamb will also occur on the Feast of Trumpets.

“And God said, let there be LIGHTS in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for SIGNS, and for seasons, and for days, and years:” Genesis 1:14

Astrological confirmation: “He looked at Jupiter's retrograde motion with respect to Regulus and discovered that on very rare occasions, Jupiter does what appears to be a triple loop around Regulus, and one of those conjunctions occurred in September of 3BC on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.” (salvomag.com)

“In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the field keeping watch over their flock at night.” Luke 2:8

“And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger” Luke 2:16

Newborn Jesus - visited by the shepherds at the time of his birth. At the same time, a star was visible to the Magi in their homeland miles away.

Documented: “At that season {winter}, it has been urged, the weather was commonly too inclement for shepherds and sheep to pass the night in the open air, and there was too little grass for pastorage. In summer, on the other hand, the grass on the hills is rapidly burnt up. The season at which the grass is greenest is that just after the Passover {fall}, so this appears the most probable date.” (bibleversestudy.com)

“Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2

“And I will display {wonders in the heavens above} and signs in the earth beneath” Acts 2:19

Astrological Confirmation: “In the words of Paul Wierwille,” it probably began in August of 3 BC, when Jupiter the King planet became visible above the eastern horizon as a morning star, seen by the Magi ‘in the rising.’ On August 12, Jupiter came into conjunction with Venus, the bright morning star, in the constellation of Leo, the sign of Judah. This might have been the “first sighting” which the Magi later communicated to King Herod when they were questioned by him after arriving in Jerusalem. Perhaps, the Magi began preparing for their long journey to Jerusalem to find the Jewish Messiah after this initial sighting.” (truthinscripture.net 1/4/2017)

“A great {sign appeared in heaven}; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was pregnant, and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth”. Revelation 12:1-2

Astrological confirmation: "Jupiter has been determined to be the star that the Magi saw in the East as it was visible starting Sept 3BC. It was common for planets to be considered stars & in Hebrew; Jupiter was known as Sedeq (righteousness or kingship) a term also used for Messiah. On that same day the star Regulus known as the brightest star of the constellation of “kings” Leo stopped its lateral motion for 6 days.  It has also been determined that not only did Jupiter stand still over Bethlehem on Sept 11 3BC but assumed its position while in the abdomen region of the constellation of Virgo “the virgin”. It has also been noted that the Sun was in the constellation Virgo together with the new moon at this time. This fits a plausible interpretation of the passage in Revelation describing the birth of a male child who is to be the ruler of our universe. So, the royal planet {Jupiter} approached the royal star {Regulus} in the royal constellation {Leo} representing Israel. It is also noted that Jupiter & Venus “mother planet” made close contact around July 3BC in the constellation Leo.  The planet Jupiter & star Regulus repeated their conjunction in Feb & May 2BC continuing the guidance of the Magi to Bethlehem with a final show in June 2BC of contact between Jupiter & Venus, the brightest objects in the sky besides the sun & moon." (TruthinScripture.net Jesus birth-The Star of Bethlehem Jan/4/2017 and Hillsdale.edu/Imprimis1996)

“And when eight days were completed so that it was time for His circumcision, and when the days for their purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord” Luke 2:21-22

Infant Jesus - was circumcised 8 days after birth and then 33 days later after the required purification period for a male had his presentation at the temple in Jerusalem.

After his birth they stayed in Bethlehem for several reasons, Jesus needed to be circumcised in 8 days and presented at the temple in Jerusalem after 33 days. Mary needed to present herself at the temple 40 days after birth for purification. Bethlehem was closer to Jerusalem than Nazareth so to make these religious ceremonies more manageable they stayed in Bethlehem. 

This journey wasn’t just a bureaucratic formality; it was an arduous trip that involved significant travel and logistics. Having made the difficult journey of 7-10 days to Bethlehem and given the newborn Jesus’ fragile state, it would make practical sense to stay put for a time. They may have found some stability in Bethlehem—a place teeming with Joseph’s kin—and could have received familial support that was essential in those times for sustenance and childcare.

“He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found him, report back to me, so that I too may come and worship Him. After hearing the king, they went on their way; and behold the star, which they had seen in the east, went on ahead of them until it came to a stop over the place where the Child was to be found. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with joy.” Matthew 2:8-10

The second sighting by the Magi happened when they arrived in Jerusalem after inquiring about the birth of the Child. It has been determined that the preparation for the long trip and travel time for their journey took approximately 15 months. They arrived on Dec 25 2BC bearing gifts. 

This date, December 25th, was originally chosen based on an estimated date of Jesus conception in March, later rumored to coincide with Roman pagan festivals. It's amazing to find that it coincides with confirmed documentation of the Magi’s visit and serves as a better reason for the giving of gifts.

Astrological Confirmation: “According to the above authors, beginning in August of 3 BC and ending December of 2 BC, several conjunctions of the planets Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Mars, and Saturn occurred. In addition, movements of planets within constellations associated with the Messiah occurred {Leo the lion, Virgo the virgin, and Cancer the crab}. Finally, planetary conjunctions with key stars occurred [Jupiter with Regulus {the “King star” – in the constellation of Leo, the “Royal Constellation”}. This was quite a show in the heavens for those trained to see it! At the end of 2 BC, Jupiter appeared at its ordinary time for retrogression, and it became stationary among the stars. It was at this time in December of 2 BC that something unusual happened. 

Ernest Martin describes the details of this particular occurrence:

“But this time something unusual happened. In 2 B.C. as viewed from Jerusalem, Jupiter came to its normal stationary position directly over Bethlehem on December 25th."(truthinscripture.net 1/4/20)

Astrological Confirmation: “In fact, Jupiter and Venus, each very bright, had been moving closer together in the sky for many nights. But on June 17, they appeared to have fused into one great star. No one alive had seen anything like it; centuries separate conjunctions like this. This event was one in a sixteen-month-long progression of events, each involving Jupiter, the king’s star. If you had been an astrologer in the East (Mesopotamia), you would have consulted omens lists to interpret such events. Those omens lists were many centuries old, and they had come to be revered as a kind of scripture. In fact, if an omen threatened the life of the king, a substitute king might be placed on the throne for a time, so that the evil destined for the king could happen to the substitute. Three striking omens in succession warned against someone killing the king, changing the dynasty. In the Parthian Empire, one house of the government was the House of the Magi. They were the people who read the sky and advised the kings, based on the omens. It makes perfect sense that a delegation of Parthia’s Magi ventured west to find that “someone” who would rise, and secure peace rather than face war. The fact is: we can now attach calendar dates to the different scenes in that sixteen-month-long pageant involving the king’s planet Jupiter in 3 and 2 BC. The pageant culminated in a stationing {stopping against the background stars} of Jupiter, seen from Jerusalem as shining above Bethlehem. That was on the 25th of December, 2 BC. Matthew’s story of the Star has become virtually undeniable.” (patternsofevidence.com 6/17/22)

“And after they came into the {house}, they saw the {young child} with His mother Mary; and they fell down and worshipped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11

Toddler Jesus (15 months) - Jesus’ family were visited by the Magi in their home in Bethlehem {not a stable} when he was a young child {not a baby}. 

So now that we have proof December 25th pertains to Jesus Christ the most beloved baby's birth, let's take a look at the story of Saint Nicholas who is how the folkloric Santa Claus (St. Nick) evolved. 

Saint Nicholas was a real 4th-century {301-400 AD} Christian bishop from modern-day Turkey, famous for his secret generosity, especially the "legend" of secretly providing gold for three poor daughters' dowries, which led to traditions of gift-giving, stockings, and the figure of Santa Claus. 

Though details are "scarce", stories portray him as a defender of the faith, protector of children, sailors, and the innocent, evolving into a beloved European saint whose traditions merged with "folklore" to become the modern Christmas figure. 

The Historical Figure

Life: Born around 280 AD in Patara (Turkey), he inherited wealth, became a devout Christian bishop of Myra, and was known for his piety and charity. Saint Nicholas Day, honoring the Bishop Nicholas of Myra (who died Dec 6, 343 AD), began as a feast day in the 4th century on "December 6". 

Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop known for secret gift-giving, evolved into Santa Claus through Dutch immigrants calling him "Sinterklaas," which became "Santa Claus" in America, blending with English "Father Christmas" and solidified by Washington Irving (wagon) and Thomas Nast (jolly, plump image with red suit) in the 1800s, culminating in the familiar figure via Clement C. Moore's poem and later Coca-Cola ads. The date wasn't universally changed, but the figure of St. Nicholas was gradually blended with Christmas traditions in the U.S., shifting his gift-giving from December 6th to Christmas Eve, while older traditions persist. 

So, although I don't criticize allowing children to enjoy the Santa Claus traditions, I believe that the true story of December 25th should be included. As a family tradition during my childhood, we  celebrated the gift giving of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, but my parents made sure that EVERY Christmas Day (December 25th) was ALL about the real reason for the season, Jesus Christ's birth and that we knew that Santa Claus was a folklore.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! May you all receive the greatest gift of all!