10 Things You Didn’t Know About The First Christmas

‘Tis the season that carolers sing, decorations are hung, Nativity scenes are set up, and Christmas cards begin flooding our mailboxes, each with a different scene from “The First Noel.” You might be shocked, however, to discover that many of the details you’ve come to believe about history’s first Christmas are completely inaccurate. The Christmas carols and card companies have it all wrong. To put you in a festive mood (as well as to correct a few historical misunderstandings) here are ten things you probably didn’t know about the first Christmas.

10It Didn’t Happen In December

Jesus probably wasn’t born on December 25. In fact, He probably wasn’t born in December at all. The Bible mentions shepherds keeping watch over their flocks in the fields. December in Israel would have been cold; the fields would have been unproductive, and the sheep were probably corralled. Shepherds usually kept their flocks in the fields during the spring lambing season.

So how did Christmas come to be associated with December 25? The earliest recorded estimates dating the birth of Christ come from Clement of Alexandria (circa AD 200). He mentioned different groups who identified the date of Jesus’s birth as March 21, April 15, April 21, or May 20. The first mention of December 25 as Jesus’s birthday wasn’t until the mid–fourth century, when a Roman almanac listed December 25 as natus Christus in Betleem Judeae, or, “Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judea.”

A popular theory about the origin of Christmas is that early Christians stole the date from a Roman Sun festival, which was held in late December. It’s suggested that this was a deliberate attempt to spread Christmas and Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. This theory has numerous problems, though, as early Christian writers such as Irenaeus and Tertullian make no mention of this, and Origen of Alexandria openly mocks Roman celebrations of birth anniversaries. It has been proposed that December 25, a time of pagan feasts, wasn’t deliberately chosen until the 12th century. While this theory popular on social media, scholars today recognize serious problems with it.

The question remains: Why December 25? Tertullian recorded a calculation that date of Jesus’s birth was March 25. This was later celebrated as a feast commemorating Jesus’s conception, as opposed to His birth. Further, it was suggested that Jesus died on March 25, which led to the belief that He was conceived and crucified on the same day of the year. December 25 is obviously nine months after March 25, so it was taken as Jesus’s birthday.

The truth is that December 25 came from celebrations in the early Church, not from pagan celebrations. Many scholars today believe that Jesus wasn’t even born in December.

9There Wasn’t An Inn

We’ve all heard the story about there being “no room at the inn.” Indeed, this is what our English Bibles say. But in the original Greek (the language in which the New Testament was written), the word kataluma, translated as “inn,” doesn’t necessarily mean a motel. It’s only used a few times in the Bible, and elsewhere, it means “upper room” or “guest room.” The famous Last Supper took place in a kataluma. In fact, there’s a different Greek word for “inn” that does mean a motel or paid lodging, but it isn’t used, though the same gospel writer uses it in the story of the Good Samaritan a few chapters later.

First-century homes often had a main room on the ground floor, where the family lived, and an “upper room” or “guest room,” where people who needed lodging could stay. It was a great shame in the Middle East to refuse hospitality to someone in need. There is a good chance that if there was no room in the “guest room,” it’s because it was already occupied.

This changes the whole story we’ve come to celebrate. Rather than arriving in Bethlehem only to find the local motel with no vacancy, Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem and sought lodging at a family member’s house. This would be a natural thing to do in Middle Eastern culture. Because people were returning to their ancestral homes for the census, other family members had already arrived and were occupying the guest room.

So where did Mary and Joseph stay?

8There Wasn’t A Stable

There’s no mention of a stable in the Bible’s stories of the first Christmas. A stable is assumed because we’re told that they “laid him in a manger.” (A manger is an animal’s feeding trough.) If there was a manger, it must have been in a stable (or perhaps a cave) where the animals stayed, right? Probably not.

As previously mentioned, there’s a good chance that Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, Joseph’s hometown, and sought lodging at a family member’s house. The guest room was full, but it would have been a great shame to turn away someone in need, especially a relative with a pregnant wife. Many families had mangers inside their homes, where young animals would be safe and warm. Some of them were built into the floor of the of peasant homes or occupied a small room on the main floor.

Since the guest room was full, Mary and Joseph were likely offered the manger, and it was there that the mother of Jesus gave birth. Rather than being turned away by a crusty old innkeeper and given lodging in a dirty barn, Mary and Joseph were probably in a relative’s home, surrounded by loved ones, when Jesus was born and laid in a manger.

7Mary Didn’t Give Birth The Night She Arrived

In our Western reading of the Christmas story, we get the impression that Mary and Joseph made it to Bethlehem just in a nick of time and that Mary gave birth that very night. The truth is probably far less dramatic.

The actual account of the first Christmas reads, “And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son.” The phrase “that her days were accomplished” is linked to “when they were there.” This implies that they had been there for a period of time before she gave birth.

Just as Rome wasn’t built in a day, a Roman census wasn’t completed in a day. There would have had to have been time for all members of a family to travel the distance required for them to return to their ancestral homes to be counted. There would have been lines and waiting, not unlike our present-day elections. The reality is that Mary and Joseph were likely in Bethlehem for an extended period of time, both before and after she gave birth.

6The Wise Men Didn’t Arrive The Night Jesus Was Born

The three wise men are a staple in almost every Nativity scene, each carrying a gift for the newborn king. Standing beside the shepherds, Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus, they complete the story of the first Christmas. Or do they?

The Biblical account says, “And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother.” Notice two things about this statement: First, the wise men found the family in a house, not a stable. Quite possibly, they were still living with their family in Bethlehem at the time or in a house that they had since rented. Second, they found a “child.” The Greek word used is paidion, which means “toddler,” not brephos, or “baby,” as in Luke 2:16.

It’s also worth noting that after the wise men deceived King Herod by returning a different way, he had all of the children in the vicinity who were two years old and younger slaughtered. These facts point to Jesus being a toddler and the wise men having visited him one or two years after his birth.

5The Shepherds Didn’t Follow The Star

Many think of the shepherds as old men cradling lambs and standing in a stable with the star shining above, having just heard the angels sing. Many believe that the shepherds followed the star to find the baby in a manger. This is but another traditional myth that has come to be associated with the first Christmas.

The misconception developed by the blending of two separate stories (the shepherds and the wise men) which occurred at different times. There probably wasn’t a star hanging over Bethlehem the night Jesus was born, as it didn’t lead the wise men there for two years. The shepherds were said to have been directed by the angel to find the child by following two signs: “You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger.” Using these two clues, the shepherds went in search of the newborn king.

How would the shepherds found a newborn baby in a town the size of Bethlehem? The answer is surprisingly simple. Much like today, births in the first century were a big deal. If Mary gave birth in the home of one of Joseph’s relatives, surrounded by family, the house would have been filled with much rejoicing. The shepherds were no doubt guided by the infant’s cries and happy sounds of celebration.

4There Weren’t Three Wise Men

We’ve come to know them as Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, the three wise men from the East who supposedly traveled by camel following the star. But were there really only three of them? In truth, these three names weren’t added to the story until the seventh century in the earliest Latin records.

Three gifts are mentioned in the Christmas story: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Nowhere is the number of wise men recorded. It’s assumed that each wise man brought a gift, and thus, there must have been three wise men. In reality, there may have been more who came to worship the baby.

Early Christian art is inconsistent as to the number of wise men. A painting in the cemetery of Saints Peter and Marcellinus displays two wise men, while one in the cemetery of Domitilla shows four. A vase in the Kircher Museum has eight wise men, and Asian tradition says there were twelve. The truth is that the number of wise men who visited the infant king simply isn’t known, and there is no compelling reason, aside from the number of gifts, to believe that there were three.

3The Wise Men Weren’t Kings

“We three kings of orient” is sung each Christmas to celebrate the journey of the wise men. Were they really kings?

The Greek word used in Matthew 2:1 is magos. The word is primarily used to denote a member of a group of priests or wise men among the Medes, Persians, and Babylonians. They were educated men, whose study included astronomy, astrology, and enchantment. It is sometimes translated as “wise man,” sometimes as “magician.” The Greek translation of the Old Testament uses the same word in the book of Daniel, where it describes that Daniel was made the “chief of the magicians.”

This fits well with the Christmas story, where we’re told that the wise men “saw his star in the east” and came to worship the baby. Magoi studied the stars and saw meaning in the celestial object that dominated the night sky at that time. Rather than being kings, it seems more likely that the wise men were educated astronomers from the East.

2Mary And Joseph Were Married When Jesus Was Born

Part of the scandal surrounding the birth of Jesus was undoubtedly the claim of Mary’s immaculate conception. It was this that even led Joseph to initially decide to quietly divorce her, rather than have her stoned to death for adultery as the law said. Here was an unwed mother, pregnant in a first-century religious community.

However, it’s not quite as cut and dry as that. Joseph and Mary were “betrothed,” or engaged, when they find out that Mary was pregnant. It’s likely that they had signed a Jewish engagement contract called a ketubbah. This was much more legally binding than our modern engagements and could only be broken by a divorce.

Furthermore, after seeing a vision of an angel in a dream, Joseph got up “and took unto him his wife.” So, in view of the average Jewish person in the first century, they were technically married, although they hadn’t consummated their marriage.

1The Christmas Star May Have Been A Planetary Conjunction

There are a number of fascinating features about the star that guided the wise men. It is said to have risen “in the east,” to have “appeared” at a specific time, to have gone “before them,” and to have “stopped” over Bethlehem.

Taken together, these characteristics cannot possibly describe a star, but they do describe planets, known as “wandering stars” to the ancients. They rise in the eastern sky, travel through the fixed field of stars, and are governed by the planetary laws of motion, which make them appear at certain times and not others. Moreover, they can even appear to stop when they enter their retrograde motion phase.

There is evidence that Herod the Great died in 1 BC, not 4 BC as previously thought. During the fall of 2 BC, an amazing planetary conjunction between Jupiter and the star Regulus would have resulted in one of the brightest objectsthat people at that time had ever seen. It’s interesting to note that Jupiter is named after the greatest god of Roman mythology, and Regulus means “regal” or “kingly.” This symbolism would not have been lost on the magi (aka astronomers) who decided to follow it.

By running computer simulations, we can discover the exact day that Jupiter went into its retrograde motion and appeared to stop. That day was December 25, 2 BC. To the wise men gazing at Jupiter from Jerusalem, it would have appeared to be over the little town of Bethlehem. So, December 25 may not have been the day Jesus was born, but rather the day that the wise men came to give him gifts.

10 Wacky Allergies To Things Other Than Foods

When we think about things that trigger allergies, we usually imagine something that people eat or drink. You know, that kid who will be dead in seconds if he eats peanuts or the girl who bolts to the bathroom after she drinks milk.

But not all allergic reactions are to food or drink. This list will take you through some of the stranger allergies our human bodies can fall victim to.

10Cold Temperatures
Cold Urticaria 

Most people don’t particularly like being cold. But for a sufferer of cold urticaria, low temperatures bring on a whole new world of discomfort. Symptoms can range from redness, welts, and itching on skin that has been exposed to the cold all the way to systemic symptoms like headaches, diarrhea, tachycardia, and even anaphylaxis.

In most cases, cold urticaria can be diagnosed by a cold stimulation test. (An ice cube in a plastic bag is placed on the arm for five minutes, and the results observed.) If welts appear after a period of 5–10 minutes of rewarming, the test is considered positive. If the ice cube test is negative, cold urticaria cannot necessarily be ruled out.

Unfortunately, there are a number of atypical presentations of cold urticaria which are less easily diagnosed. This includes delayed cold urticaria, in which reactions to the cold stimuli may take 3–24 hours to appear, and localized cold urticaria, in which only certain parts of the body will react.

Treatment for cold urticaria typically involves the avoidance of cold temperatures. This includes cold foods and beverages, immersion in cold water, and exposure to cold weather. Antihistamines can also be used to alleviate symptoms.[1]

9Pregnancy
Pemphigoid Gestationis 

Pregnancy is a wonderful but sometimes challenging experience for most mothers-to-be. However, for those with pemphigoid gestationis, pregnancy rapidly becomes extremely uncomfortable.

Pemphigoid gestationis is an autoimmune condition which occurs predominantly during mid-to-late pregnancy, anywhere from 13 to 42 weeks. It begins with some minor itchy red bumps around the navel. Over the course of days to weeks, these can spread across the body to cover the patient in blisters or welts. The arms, legs, torso, back, and buttocks can be affected, usually leaving the patient’s face, scalp, palms, and soles of the feet unaffected.

Unfortunately, pemphigoid gestationis cannot be prevented. Instead, treatment focuses on managing the symptoms. Antihistamines and topical corticosteroid creams can be used to reduce itching. If the case is severe, oral corticosteroids may be prescribed. Usually, symptoms will disappear within weeks after delivery of the baby.[2]

8Vibration
Vibratory Urticaria

Vibratory urticaria is a condition in which allergy symptoms such as itching, redness, and swelling are caused by the skin being exposed to vibration, friction, or repeated stretching. If the stimulus is particularly strong, additional symptoms may include fatigue, headaches, metallic taste, blurry vision, or faintness.

Simple daily activities like drying off with a towel or taking a bumpy ride in a car can provoke an attack that may last for as long as an hour. Several episodes can occur in one day if the individual is exposed to continued vibratory stimulus.

Vibratory urticaria can be caused by a single mutation in the gene which is responsible for making the protein ADGRE2, found in immune cells throughout the body. This mutation causes one amino acid within the protein to be substituted, altering the structure and making it less stable. Vibration and friction are then able to break this protein’s structure, which signals an immune response.

This mutation is not responsible for all cases of vibratory urticaria, although it is unknown what other causes may exist.[3]

7Water
Aquagenic Urticaria

People affected by aquagenic urticaria can usually drink water without trouble. However, water coming into contact with their skin causes an allergic reaction. Itching and numerous red welts are the most common symptoms. Shortness of breath occurs less frequently.

Thankfully, aquagenic urticaria is an extremely rare allergy, with only around 50 documented cases on record. From the data available, females are more frequently affected than males and symptoms generally begin during puberty or shortly afterward.

Although it is not a common condition, aquagenic urticaria is arguably one of the most difficult allergies to live with.[4]

6Sun
Photosensitivity

Photosensitivity is a catchall phrase for a variety of conditions in which an allergic response is caused by sunlight. Sun allergies are most likely to affect the skin in the V of the neck and the outer surfaces of the arms and legs—places which are likely to get a lot of direct sunlight.

As more than one condition may be responsible for a sun allergy, symptoms can vary. But they include hives, blisters, itching or burning sensations, and occasionally even bleeding under the skin. These symptoms can occur within minutes of exposure to sunlight or be delayed as long as two days after exposure.

What causes sun allergies is not yet known, but scientists have theorized that a hereditary factor could be to blame. The allergy is triggered by a chemical change in skin cells struck by sunlight. The immune system then fails to recognize those cells as belonging to the body and attacks them as if they were foreign invading cells.

Unfortunately, people who suffer from a sun allergy may have no choice but to severely limit their time in the sun. They may also work hard to cover up with clothing and sunscreen when they are going to catch some rays.[5]

5Metals
Metal Hypersensitivity

Many people experience allergic responses when they come into contact with specific metals. Estimates suggest that up to 15 percent of the population could be affected. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, redness, and itching at the site of contact. More seriously, metal hypersensitivity can also present itself as a range of chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome.

By far, the metal most responsible for metal sensitivity is nickel—approximately 17 percent of women and 3 percent of men are thought to suffer from this allergy. It is estimated that 1–3 percent of the population is affected by allergic reactions to cobalt and chromium. Likewise, allergic responses have been documented as a result of contact with titanium and copper.

These allergic reactions take place when the body begins to identify metal ions as foreign bodies and activates the immune system to defend against the threat.

A metal allergy can be highly inconvenient in everyday life. Many cosmetic products contain traces of metals which can set off a reaction. Jewelry, watches, and coins are also known culprits. Older intrauterine devices (IUDs) were manufactured from copper and have previously caused hypersensitivities as have many medical implants such as pacemakers, rods, pins, and plates used to repair injuries.

These reactions can be serious because the allergens have been inside the body for a prolonged period of time.[6]

4Semen
Human Seminal Plasma Hypersensitivity

Yes, this is a serious allergy, not an excuse to avoid intimacy! It is estimated that 40,000 women in the United States are affected by this condition. Men are also able to manifest an allergy to their own semen, but it is unknown how often this happens.

Symptoms include redness, soreness, hives, itching, and burning sensations. Women who have a semen allergy may produce antibodies which attack sperm cells and prevent pregnancy. The reaction is caused by an immune response against a specific protein present in the liquid portion of semen. So it does not prevent women from getting pregnant through artificial insemination.

Diagnosis of a semen allergy is actually quite simple. If a condom is used and the symptoms stop, the cause of the reaction has effectively been identified. Treatments include a series of shots with increasing concentrations of seminal fluids to desensitize the person experiencing the reaction. Alternatively, for those who dislike needles, condoms will effectively prevent symptoms.[7]

3Plastics

Allergic reactions to plastics are not common but certainly not unheard of. They come under the subheading of contact urticaria, or allergic reactions from contact. Several chemicals present or used in the production of plastics can be to blame, including polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), butylhydroxytoluene (BHT), and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP).[8]

Symptoms of an allergic reaction to plastic are redness, itching, and swelling at the location of contact. Treatments include topical steroids and antihistamines.

2Wood

Given the hundreds of different species of trees in the world, wood seems like a strange allergy. However, this type of allergy seems to be no secret among woodworkers across the world. Many databases are dedicated to listing species, possible reactions, areas of the body affected, and the potency of the possible reaction.

Reactions to various species include skin irritations, sneezing, nosebleeds, vomiting, and even nasopharyngeal cancer. Most at risk are people who are working with wood or in situations where sawdust may be inhaled (as particles may enter the body through the airways).

Of course, just because one species of wood has been known to cause symptoms in the past does not mean that everyone will suffer the same reaction. Likewise, having an allergic response to one species of wood does not mean that an individual is at risk of a reaction to wood from all tree species.[9]

1Touch
Dermatographic Urticaria

Dermatographic urticaria (aka dermographism) is an allergic response to the touching of the skin. Dermographism means “writing on the skin,” as only a firm stroke is needed to elicit redness and then wheals on the skin of individuals with this allergy. Some people with this condition experience itching in addition to the redness and welts on their skin.

The exact mechanisms which cause dermographism are still unknown, although the immune system is obviously involved. It is most common in young adults and does not affect any gender or race at greater frequencies. However, women who are pregnant or beginning menopause are known to have an increased incidence of this allergy.

Fortunately, most patients with dermographism are otherwise quite healthy. For many patients, symptoms decrease over time and may eventually disappear. Until then, antihistamines can be used to help control symptoms.

This 1 Amazing Health Benefit of Coconut Vinegar Is a Total Game Changer

The extreme popularity of coconut oil has skyrocketed in recent years. And while some of its benefits have been exaggerated or misrepresented, there’s no denying that coconut oil has some serious health properties. And since we’ve also seen an increase in the consumption of coconut milk and coconut water, many in the natural health field have been wondering what’s next. And now they know.

What is coconut vinegar? 

Coconut vinegar may sound like something made up, but it’s real — and it’s the hipper version of apple cider vinegar. A popular acidic condiment in Southeast Asia and some parts of India, coconut vinegar is a natural substance produced from fermentable coconut sap and the oxidation of ethanol into acetic acid. And yes, it’s good for you.

How is it made? 

Coconut vinegar doesn’t come from the white-flesh tropical fruit we’re accustomed to. It’s created from the sap of coconut blossoms and aged for about a year. During that aging process, the sap naturally ferments, which preserves many of its enzymes and nutrients.

The next apple cider vinegar? 

Even though it’s anything but new, coconut vinegar is sometimes called “the new apple cider vinegar.” However, you should make room for both in your pantry — both vinegars have been referenced in studies that date back to Hippocrates, according to the founder of NAO Nutrition. They can be used in similar ways, and they both live up to their hype.

However, coconut vinegar does have one advantage over apple cider vinegar, and it’s a total game-changer.

 The new probiotic on the block 

Coconut vinegar is being called the new probiotic superfood. Since coconut vinegar is a naturally fermented food, it contains probiotics, which support gut health and digestion. Like all natural vinegars, coconut vinegar also has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, which helps fight illness and infection. Sometime as simple as adding coconut vinegar to your diet can work wonders on your health and wellness.

Other health properties of coconut vinegar 

Of course, probiotics aren’t the only reason you should be cooking with coconut vinegar. It is low on the glycemic index, meaning it’s great for controlling your blood sugar and a great option for diabetics. It’s also rich in minerals, especially potassium.

Coconut sap contains all nine essential amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins, which are part of every living cell in the body. Some amino acids help repair tissue, others serve as neurotransmitters to the brain.

How to use coconut vinegar 

Coconut vinegar has a slightly sweet taste, so you can add a little to your tea or water just like you would apple cider vinegar. But the main method of ingestion is to whisk it into dressing or use it in marinades and sauces. Whatever you do, don’t just chug it like a shot — it can irritate your throat and harm your teeth enamel because of its acidity.

Don’t ditch your apple cider vinegar 

Good news: Apple cider vinegar and coconut vinegar can live together in harmony in your kitchen. While apple cider vinegar is not a probiotic,  raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar is fermented apples, which contain pectin that will help your digestion. Pectin is a natural prebiotic carbohydrate, which paves the way for your probiotics to do their jobs. The two vinegars have many similar health benefits, and you’ll be doing yourself a favor if you enjoy both.

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