The birth of Jesus, the star of Bethlehem, the Christmas tree, Santa and gifts. What about the various Christmas traditions?
Was Jesus really born on Christmas eve?
“And it came to pass at the time that a commandment went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world would be appreciated. And this estimate was the first and happened to the time when Cyrenius Governor was in Syria”, the Evangelist Luke describes it. At the same time it is said in the evangelists, Matthew, that the cruel king Herod had all children in Bethlehem murdered, after he had heard of the birth of the new king of the Jews.
The two historical events of the biblical Christmas story: The described census was used to calculate the possible tax revenue and took place in the year 6 or 7 after the birth of Christ. And the odious Herod died in the year 4 BC, in between the two events is approximately ten years.
Also the date of birth is 25. December is not found in the Bible, it was only established in the fourth century under Emperor Constantine I. aware of this day, since pagan cultures like the Romans, Celts or Germanic people celebrated on this day, the winter solstice. With the calendar reform in the 16th century. Century wandered the winter solstice on the 21. December.
In addition to birth year and day, also the birth place of Jesus is controversial: it May be that the evangelists moved lists the place of birth to Bethlehem, because according to the Old Testament king David had been born, whose descendant the Messiah.
The birth history should characterize Jesus as the son of God, and through him the connection with historical persons, such as Quirinius and Herod, in a context of prevailing healing expectations. The Bible is not a history book, but a collection of fonts, which is regarded in Judaism and Christianity as Scripture with a normative claim for the whole of religion.
The star of Bethlehem was a Supernova?
Gave it to the star of Bethlehem actually?
For half an eternity, scientists are looking for an explanation as to what it could have with the bright star that led the three Wise men from the East to Jesus, as described in the gospel of Matthew.
From historical sources it is known that Halley has approached cal Koment about 2000 years ago the earth. Also known is that in the time of Jesus birth, the two planets Saturn and Jupiter three times in one year very close – a very rare spectacle. But there are two points of light, not just a bright star were the in spite of the proximity, as described by the Evangelist Matthew.
Other theories suggest that it may have been when the cosmic event is a Supernova, the Explosion of a large star that outshone all the other stars.
No, Coca-Cola did not invent Santa!
There is no Santa Claus?
No, it was not American lemonade manufacturer, invented the Santa Claus. The basis for the Santa Claus figure Saint Nicholas, which is in the 4’s. Century Bishop of Myra in today’s Turkey was and the legends. Its the form of a Bishop was in the 19th century.Century secularized and its liturgical chasuble velvet Mitra as a cloak and a pointed hat.
Since the Protestants rejected, however, the veneration of the saints – and thus also the veneration of Saint Nicholas, came with the Reformation, the Christ child in the center of attention. In the future, the Christ child brought the presents – at least in southern and Western Europe. In Northern and Eastern Europe, however, kept Nicholas velvet Santa’s little helper for the task. In the course of time, the angel became an independent institution, the same Christ child and the reference to Jesus was becoming more diffuse.
Its characteristic appearance missed the Santa Claus of the German-American Illustrator Thomas Nast, the was carriage in 1863 in Harper’s Weekly magazine, a meek, chubby Santa Claus in a red coat with a long white beard and reindeer. Oriented Nast has on the Palatine “Belzenickel”, a fur Christmas wear figure from the 19th century. Century, which he knew from Childhood. As he was later to colorize the drawing, he chose the colors Red and White.
This representation also of the Swedish graphic artist Haddon Sundblom for a Coca-Cola took over in 1931 campaign, which it was until 1966 ad. The U.S. soda manufacturer has so influenced so decisively the image of Santa Claus.
The search for suitable gifts often the Christmas season
What time is it gifts?
The time of Christmas varies from country to country. Originally, the children were on the feast day of Saint Nicholas, 6. December, gifts. After the Reformation, was laid in the Protestant regions of the presents on Christmas eve, as the Protestants refused the veneration of saints and their name day is not celebrated.
Earlier, the mess took place in Germany around midnight on the night of 24. on the 25. December, after the Christmas mass, instead. Because the Smallest allowed but may not stay up until midnight, was brought forward to the mess in the early evening.
In the USA and in the UK it is still common that Santa Claus or Father Christmas, at midnight, brings the gifts by the fireplace and the children are allowed to open on Christmas Morning.
In Spain and Parts of Italy, the gifts are only at 6. January, the Epiphany, unpacked. According to the Bible the Wise men from the East brought with them, after all, the newly-born Jesus gifts. But unlike in Spain, not the Santa Claus or the Christ child brings in Italy the gifts, but the witch Befana.
And yet something has fundamentally changed: Originally, the children were blessed, recently, even the adults were considered.
Why do we make Christmas a fir-Tree?
No, a fir-Tree is not mentioned in the Bible. There is no historically verifiable at the beginning of this custom, but in many cultures, fresh trees or plants were brought into the living area, because they embodied health and fertility. At the winter solstice, about the “heathen” Wintermaien brought into the home. This cult took over the early Christians too.
The first Christmas trees were first made in 15. Century. Since the first half of the 18th century. Century, the news about the Christmas tree piling up. The nobility, the custom had spread across Europe.
No Christmas is complete without a glowing Christmas Tree. However, this was not always so
The Reformation made the Christmas Tree for the Christmas icon of the Protestants, while the Catholics gathered only to the crib. Until the beginning of the 19th century. Century, after the liberty wars against Napoleon, the shining tree is cross confessional in the living room.
However, could afford only the upper layers of a Christmas tree, because Christmas trees were originally found in Central Europe rather rarely. The simple citizens and, above all, the townspeople had to content themselves with branches. This changed as from the second half of the 19th century. Century fir is increasingly and spruce forests were created, which covered the urban demand.
European emigrants brought the custom in the New world. There is evidence that the German-born Harvard Professor Charles Follen in 1832, set up a Christmas tree in his house in Massachusetts and so is the custom in new England. In 1891, for the first time, a “Christmas tree” in front of the White house in Washington.
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In search of the Christmas starThe Three kings – on Tour
Kaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar – the Christmas story according to the “Star-wise men from the East belonged to” one of the first visitors to the infant Jesus. The scholars were a celestial phenomenon followed. Whether it has been given at the time of the birth of Christ really a “Christmas star”, is controversial. But one thing is certain: at that Time we saw the star still considerably better than it is today.
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In search of the Christmas starAt home in the Cologne Cathedral
Since the 12th century. Century, the bones of the three Wise men from the East are here – in the Cologne Cathedral. In an ancient Shrine, is considered to be one of the most valuable and largest of its kind. But what if the Three kings had no desire to be in the Shrine? What if you wanted to open the door, once again, to follow the star? Then you would probably have problems…
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In search of the Christmas starA sea of lights and no star
Because the three would see the Point: A brightly-lit Cathedral. And hardly any stars in the sky. Because the are not to be seen in the case of too much artificial light. Just 200 to 500 stars may be discovered, according to the “Dark Sky Association” of city dwellers today still visible to the naked eye – it used to be around 2500. How do you follow the Christmas star?
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In search of the Christmas starLight Polluted Europe
“First out of the big city and then in the direction of Bethlehem,” would perhaps be a good piece of advice. But a star there is no guarantee on the further route. Researchers speak of a “light pollution” in Europe. Because of this level of artificial lighting is harmful: It degrades Ecosystems, and interfere with the Chrono biological rhythm of humans and animals.
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In search of the Christmas starMilk street? Never seen!
And so the stars in the sky for the Magi would look like today is probably quite different than 2000 years ago. Where is, for example, the milky way? Half of the Europeans can’t recognize the galaxy even when the sky is clear – too much artificial light takes the point of view. And also a third of the Germans in surveys, to have the galaxy never seen before.
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In search of the Christmas starPlaces of the stars customer
Perhaps the three Wise men from the East are advised to check times, where today’s astronomers need to build their research stations? The largest radio telescope in the world is in one of the highest and most remote landscapes on earth: The Atacama desert. From here you should be able to the Christmas star actually detect if there is one.
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In search of the Christmas starSomewhere in here is the Stall needs to be…
We assume that the Three Holy kings to sift the Christmas star and make it to Israel. And then? Also, this Region is illuminated by artificial light. To see the picture clearly, too, the Nile in the neighboring country of Egypt is The river Delta makes up only five percent of Egypt’s land area – but as the lights suggests, living here, more than 95 percent of all people.
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In search of the Christmas starChristmas lights everywhere
And so here it is: the Church of The Nativity of Jesus in Bethlehem. This is the place to have a Christmas star, the Three kings more than 2000 years ago. At that time there was on this place, probably even less artificial light. The Christmas custom, to illuminate streets and homes light, makes the view of the stars in the sky, in any case, much more difficult.
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In search of the Christmas starThere was the Christmas star really?
Here, in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, he is so: The Christmas star. Whether it was him really, about the puzzled scientists until today. Some researchers believe that the celestial apparition could have been a comet. Others believe it was a Supernova or the collision of two planets. A pity that we can not ask the star-watchers of that time.