Does make more sense for Sukkot. Everything in His timing so there must have been something significant to the date of Jesus birth. Who knows? Simchat Torah would be nice especially as you stated, JOY OF THE WORD.It seems to jibe. I like that and never heard that suggestion before. I wonder if we'll ever get the dates before we see Him face to face.
Pontius, when he took over int he region, sent very trusted soldiers to live among the Jews, to learn their religion and customs. These were not spies, they did not try to hide their aqllegiance to Rome. But they did submerse themselves in Judaism as best they could I suppose. Cornelius may have been one of those soldiers, and he may have been present at the crucifixion. I’m working on a fiction piece which has Cornelius at the center of the story and his conenctions to certain members of the Sanhedrin.