What part of GIFTS of the MAGI don’t you people understand??? THAT;S why we give Presents....to HONOR the RECIPIENT!! Lights for the STAR, etc....it’s NOT PAGAN, bro.
By the time the Magi reached Jerusalem it was much later. Perhaps two years [Matthew 2:7] based upon the information Herod received [Matthew 2:16].
The custom of giving gifts to a King....or Head of State was established protocol long before the birth of Our Saviour. The fact that the Magi presented gifts to Him had absolutely nothing to do with His being born.....but the fact He would be King....according to prophecy.
THAT;S why we give Presents....to HONOR the RECIPIENT!! Lights for the STAR, etc....it’s NOT PAGAN, bro.
Gift giving during the Saturnalia observance had been customary long before the birth of Our Lord.
Well, the magi gave gifts to a young Christ because he was the soon to be King. From Barnes Commentary:
They presented unto him gifts - These were presented to him as King of the Jews, because they supposed he was to be a distinguished prince and conqueror. It was customary in the East to show respect for persons of distinction by making presents or offerings of this kind. See Gen_32:14; Gen_43:11; 1Sa_10:27; 1Ki_10:2; Psa_72:10-15. This custom is still common in the East, and it is everywhere there unusual to approach a person of distinguished rank without a valuable present.
There was no injunction by Christ to give presents to each other to observe his birth.
A strong case can be made that this tradition grew out of the pagan holiday of Saturnalia
: The Roman's celebrated their god Saturn. Their festival was called Saturnalia which began the middle of December and ended January 1st. With cries of "Jo Saturnalia!" the celebration would include masquerades in the streets, big festive meals, visiting friends, and the exchange of good-luck gifts called Strenae (lucky fruits).