allowed the pagans to claim to be christians and celebrate christmas whilst allowing them to throw in a little pagan ritual (mistletoe anyone? Christmas tree? wreath?)
Cheeze, turn your damper down, neighbor.
- December 25 was choosen b/c it was mistakenly believed that that was the day of the winter solstice(WS); actually WS is on December 23, I believe.
- Nobody knew (or knows) the exact date of Christ's birth. But as good a date as any is the WS, the day when the earth's orbit is such that the days start to become longer and the nights shorter. You know, the triumph of light over darkness.
- Re. the phrase: "..when historians say that Jesus was born...". There were no Biblical historicans in say, oh, the first 19 or so centuries after the birth of Chist to figure that out for the ancients. Our ancestors did the best they could with what they had-- which is the same thing our decendents will be saying about us.
. . .transitions are easier when you take a few beliefs along. . .
. . .as for Lenin's birthday and 'Earth Day'. . .same applies.
. . no conincidences. . .