6. Joseph: husband of Mary, professional shepherd.
5. Someone received twelve drummers, eleven pipers, etc. for Christmas, and loved it all so much that she wrote a song about it.
Actually, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is about spiritual gifts, not material presents. What would you do with those ten lords leaping around your house, anyway? Read the full story here.
4. Angels look like either naked babies or winged ladies in dresses.
I grew up in a home where we placed an angel on top of our Christmas tree. It was the most beautiful, delicate doll... that I wasn't allowed to play with (too fragile). She had long, blonde hair; perfect, porcelain skin; and a shiny, white, satin dress. I'd cluster the other angel ornaments near the top of the tree - cute, glittery angels.
However, the angels described in scripture seem more like fiery, dangerous warriors. In many instances of an angel appearing to people, the angel has to calm them down, saying, "Don't be afraid!" Apparently, angels are pretty terrifying! Matthew describes the one guarding Jesus' empty tomb as having an "appearance like lightening." The cherubim in Genesis 3 guard the entrance to Eden with a flaming sword. The seraphim in Isaiah 6 have six wings each, and fly around shouting about how holy God is. Wow. These heavenly creatures sound a lot more exciting than naked-baby cherubs with chubby, pink cheeks!
3. The Magi showed up the day Jesus was born.
Matthew 2:1 - "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem." Verse 11 actually says they went into the house to worship Him - so the Magi never actually hung out in the barn with the holy family) After this, Herod ordered all male children age two and under to be killed. (Joseph led his family to Egypt to hide out for a while).
2. Three Wise Men came to visit baby Jesus.
The Biblical account's inclusion of the Magi's three gifts for the Christ-child has led us to believe that there were three wise men. Additionally, the well-known carol "We Three Kings" re-enforces this view by its language: each man brings one gift. "Born a King on Bethlehem's plain; gold I bring to crown Him again," "Frankincense to offer have I," "Myrrh is mine..."
However, the Biblical story of Christmas and Epiphany doesn't actually give a number of wise men, only the number of gifts. It could actually have been two men carrying three gifts, or four men, or twenty.
1. Santa Claus.
There's been a myth going around, saying that parents are the ones leaving presents under Christmas trees on December 24th. Isn't that ridiculous? I personally think it's just absurd to assume parents would be interested in building dozens of toys, wrapping them all perfectly, and stacking them in the living room in the middle of the night. Don't you agree? I can't imagine leaving that great a job of gift-giving to anyone but Santa himself. You can watch this documentary for more information.
If you have any additional observations about the holidays, I'd love to hear them - please comment! I hope your Christmas is joyful, and I leave you to enjoy this video (Michael Caine's finest performance):
2 comments:
I like to think that there were four wise guys, one real cheep. Also, researching the original meaning to the song "The twelve days of Christmas" and now knowing that it was an evangelism tool written because of persecution, I am much more glad to sing it. I am impressed over and over by what my brothers and sisters in Christ in the past have done for our amazing God, and how they were able to reach the lost through any and every means, even before the inter webs...
It certainly is amazing!
And yes... I wouldn't be surprised if it were two wise guys that chipped in to purchase one gift. Frankincense and gold ain't cheap!
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