Quite right. I agree whole-heartedly with you. Interestingly, Christmas was not really celebrated in Christianity more than 100 years ago. My family does not really celebrate it for the reason you mentioned. The Saturnalia aspect is really the basis for it. A number of years ago, I recalled doing research trying to pin point when Jesus was actually born. We know from the bible that, “Mary gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night” (Luke 2:7-8).
But shepherds were not in the fields during December. In the book of Luke, it suggests that Jesus may have been born in summer or early fall. In December, Judea is cold and rainy, so it is likely the shepherds would have sought shelter for their flocks at night. The weather would not have permitted shepherds watching over their flocks in the field at night.
There's other clues, but for a definitive date is unfortunately un-determinant. For me it isn't really important, it is His resurrection that matters most.
Quite right. I agree whole-heartedly with you. Interestingly, Christmas was not really celebrated in Christianity more than 100 years ago. My family does not really celebrate it for the reason you mentioned. The Saturnalia aspect is really the basis for it. A number of years ago, I recalled doing research trying to pin point when Jesus was actually born. We know from the bible that, “Mary gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night” (Luke 2:7-8).
But shepherds were not in the fields during December. In the book of Luke, it suggests that Jesus may have been born in summer or early fall. In December, Judea is cold and rainy, so it is likely the shepherds would have sought shelter for their flocks at night. The weather would not have permitted shepherds watching over their flocks in the field at night.
There's other clues, but for a definitive date is unfortunately un-determinant. For me it isn't really important, it is His resurrection that matters most.