What is the Christmas story? The real meaning behind Christmas and why we celebrate it on 25th December

Christmas means different things to us all, but there was a place it all started

Rather than being the helpful shepherds described, the men meeting the holy family were just as likely to fight as make a deal (Image: Archive Photos Creative)


The true meaning of Christmas. It's a phrase that gets thrown around this time of year, but what does it mean?

Christmas is a time for gifts, family and parties, and turkey with all the trimmings, but it's also about a story that's age old.

Many of us were brought up with the traditional tale - you know the one, Jesus born on Christmas day in a stable before shepherds and three wise men visit. It's a scene shown in nativity scenes across the world.

But is that what happened? What is the true story of Christmas?

Experts - as well as the Gospel of Matthew and Luke in the Bible - actually tell a different story to our normal nativity scene.

What's the origin of the story?

For many the story of Christmas is in the Bible. The Gospel of Matthew talks about Three Wise Men and the Star of Bethlehem, whereas the Gospel of Luke talks about the lowly shepherds that visited the baby Jesus in the stable because all the inns were full.

We all know the story.

Mary was visited by the Angel Gabriel who told her she was going to give birth to the Son of God.

Not long after a census was called. King Herod wanted everyone to travel to their hometown so they could be counted. Mary, engaged to Joseph, headed to Bethlehem. We're told she was heavily pregnant, and when they got to the town there was no room at any inn. One innkeeper took pity and offered them a stable where Mary gave birth.

The traditional image is of baby Jesus lying in a manger surrounded by shepherds, oxen, asses, and three Wise men.

But Pope Benedict XVI himself said there's little truth in that image - at least the animals would not have been there. The ox comes and ass comes from early Christian comments that even animals recognised the Son of God.

When did the Star appear?

It's not as simple as you'd think. Matthew says the Wise Men saw a bright light and by following it found Jesus.

One theory is it was a nova, or an explosion of a white dwarf star - one was recorded by Chinese astrologers in 5BC.

Another theory is it was the planet Jupiter, which would've appeared to be drifting west from September in 3 BC until the next May....like the song "westward leading".

Astronomer John Mosley of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles has theorised the Star was actually Jupiter and Venus converging. It took place on June 17 in 2 BC.

"The two planets had merged into one single gleaming object in the direction of Jerusalem as seen in Persia," he said.

Who were the three Wise Men?

Three Wise Men (Image: Getty Images)

Back to Matthew again, where he says they came from the East. He called them "Magi" which is a term used to refer to the priestly caste of Zoroastrianism, a monotheistic Persian religion who seek guidance in the stars. Sort of like olden day astronomers.

The idea they were a trio and that they were kings came much later, when they were identified as Balthazar, Melchior, and Caspar, kings of Arabia, Persia, and India.

Scholars say this was added into the story to show that Christianity was about all peoples being recognized by God. One from each different country.

There's actually an 8th-century text which is claimed to be the Magi's own version of events . A dozen religious mystics traveled, probably from China, to Bethlehem. It's the most complete version of events we have.
Did they visit right away?

Nope. In the Bible it says when they got there he was a "young child". Many take this to mean time had passed, perhaps a year at least. This is also why Christians celebrate Epiphany on January 6 - to mark the day the Wise Men arrived - separate to the birth of Jesus, on Christmas.

Where was Jesus actually born?

(Image: iStockphoto)

Most experts agree he was born in Bethlehem, just perhaps not in a stable.

The Gospel of Luke calls it a manger, a place where they stayed when there was no room at the inn.

The word "inn" is a mistranslation though, and actually is the Greek term for "spare room". When you consider that most people had animals in the house back then, not in separate buildings, it's unlikely Jesus was born in a stable.

Jesus was most likely born in the main living room of a poor house.

When was Jesus Christ born?

It wasn't 2017 years ago, or on 25th December. The clue is in the stories about his birth. Matthew says Jesus was born in the final years of the rule of King Herod, who died in 4BC. Christ as probably born less than two years before that, meaning he was born in 5 or 6BC.

Why was December 25 chosen?

The Roman Catholic Church chose the date in the 4th century as it was already a pagan feast day.

To know the actual date of Jesus' birth we'd have to look at when the Star of Bethlehem appeared.
Does it matter that we have a 'different' nativity story?

To Christians no. The pope has said before it's not meant to be a history or an exhaustive account.