How much do you know about Christmas?
On this special episode of The Catholic Talk Show, Ryan Scheel, Father Rich Pagano, and Ryan Dellacrosse discuss “5 Things You Didn’t Know About Christmas.” Let’s unwrap them together!
What year was Jesus actually born?
Scheel says this question still puzzles historians and theologians alike to this day!
“Most will say that Jesus was either born in the year 6 or 7 B.C., or the year Herod would have died in 1 B.C., which would put the birth of Jesus in the year 2 B.C.”
What was the real Star of Bethlehem?
Every Christmas tree tops off with a star, meant to be reminiscent of the Star of Bethlehem. But what was it, really?
The guys explore the fascinating theory of a rare astronomical event that illuminated the universe and heralded the birth of Christ.
“There’s this star formation that happens so infrequently that multiple planets lined up within a single point in the sky, which made this to astrologers a really rare occurrence,” Scheel says.
Where is the relic of the Manger?
A piece of history connecting us directly to the Nativity, “the manger of Jesus is in Rome. It’s the wood from that manger, called the relic of the Holy Crib,” says Scheel.
Which saint created the first Nativity Scene?
Scheel explains St. Francis of Assisi set up the first nativity scene in 1223 because “he wanted to bring history and the Nativity to people’s minds and shift the focus of Christmas from gift-giving and materialism to the worship of Christ.”
When does Christmas actually end?
Contrary to popular belief, Christmas isn’t over on Dec. 26.
“The end of Christmas is traditionally marked by Candlemas, which falls on February 2nd, aligning with the Jewish tradition where a woman would be purified after childbirth,” Scheel explains.
Did you know any of these? Watch below:
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What did you think of this special Christmas episode?