But what about the 1800s piqued American interest in the holiday? It should read :
Sorry about the double post. That was a good catch Chuck. You should be an editor for the History Channel website. :-)
There’s every reason to believe that Christ was born at the time of Tabernacles. That would place his CONCEPTION at roughly the time of the current Christmas. It would also mean that the early Christians were celebrating the INCARNATION (rightfully)... the coming of the light into the world....at about the end of our Julian year.
I’ve read recently that the Christian celebration pre-dated the emperor’s emphasis on the Saturnalia and that it was an insignificant date that he pushed in an effort to slow down the Christian trend that was taking place in the empire.
I’ve recently read it, but I don’t have time at the moment to go get the details. I’ll get back with you.
There’s every reason to believe that Christ was born at the time of Tabernacles. That would place his CONCEPTION at roughly the time of the current Christmas. It would also mean that the early Christians were celebrating the INCARNATION (rightfully)... the coming of the light into the world....at about the end of our Julian year.
I’ve read recently that the Christian celebration pre-dated the emperor’s emphasis on the Saturnalia and that the saturnalia was an insignificant date that the emperor pushed in an effort to slow down the Christian trend that was taking place in the empire.
I’ve recently read it, but I don’t have time at the moment to go get the details. I’ll get back with you.