The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1958-01-03
Christ Was Not Born on December 2sfh-
Read This And See If You Can Tell If
Anyone Is Wrong About Old Christmas
MANY Dates Have Been Observed Christmas Customs
are Composites From Many Lands Many Religious
Leaders. Here Are Some of the Facts in The Case
By TOM MCKNIGHT in the Mooresville Tribune.

He was regarded as the patron
saint of the seafaring, of scholars,
Of virgins and of children. And he
was a very charitable person, ac-
cording to research for the 1857
"Star of Bethlehem" program at
the Morehead Planetariurn in
Chapel Hill.
On one occasion st. Nicholas
learned that certain poor man
needed a dowry in order to marry
his three daughters properly. So
he is said to have thrown a bag of
coin through the window on three
successive evenings, thus providing
dowry for each child.
When he was detected, he beg
ged the poor man not to reveal
his identity. In this way st. Mich
olas became the man of gifts, the
st. Nicholas who on Christmas Eve
provides bags of presents for ev-
cry child.
The word "Santa Claus" comes
to us from the early erroneous
spelling of st. Nicholas name by
the Dutch.
Who Were the Magi?
The name "magi" was given *,
the learned and priestly class of
ancient Media and Persia, who
originally worshipped a god of evil.
But Zoroaster, founder of the Per-
so-Iranian national Religion, for
babe devil worship and the magi
changed their worship to god of
good. They were teachers and phil
osophers as well as priests.
The Wise Men of the East, who
were guided by the Star to the
manger where Jesus was born,
were magi.
1t is popularity supposed that
there were three of them, although
the number is not mentioned in the
Bible. Their names have been given
as Caspar, Melchoir and Raltasar..
During the Middle Ages, it was
claimed that their bones had been
preserved in the Cathedral of Co
logne, and they became celebrated
as the Three Kings of Cologne.
Gradually in Media and Persia,
the Magi degenerated from being
the highest caste to the rank Of.
jugglers and fortune tellers and
quacks. And that is where the word
magician comes from.
Mistletoe And Holly
The mistletoe is actually a para
site but has long been held in re-
spect as a traditional Christmas
decoration.
Researchers for "Star of Bethle-
hem" at the Morehead Planetar-
ium in Chapel Hill have found 4
tradition, long current in England
that the nlistletoe was once fair
tree in the forest. But from its
wood was made the cross upon
which Christ was crucifed In con
sequence of its having been put to
such use, the mistletoe was ours
ed and thenceforth lived as an in
significant and parasitic plant.
Holly, however, was found to
have little, if any, legendary con-
nection with Christmas. It's posi-
bic that some people have seen the
word holy in the word holly. Yet,
the bright green leaves and red
berries make it wonderful for dec
Grafton.
Early References To Christmas
The significant silence of the
Scripture has left us without even
the slightest date for fixing the
day Of our Lords birth. II Is not
at all remarkable that in this. as in
many other instances, the ingenui-
ty OF man has essayed to supple
ment the oversight on the part az
Divine Wisdom. But isn't it strange
that, while authorities on such mat
tiers differ greatly as to the date.
with great unanimity they agree
that it is NOT December Is?
And yet, nearly the whole world
has settled upon that date.
Researchers for "Star Of Bethle-
hem," now being presented at tie
Morehead Planetarium in Chanel
Hill have found that the earliest
reference to Christmas was made
by Clement of Alexandra, in az
zoos AID. About that time Christ
mas was not generally observed
and among those who did observe.
it, there was already d difference
OF date, some observing Nav %.
Others April goth. Clement disaD-
proved of the observance and even
rebuked those who inquired into
the year and day of Christ's birth
Chrysostom, whose name trans
lated means the golden nnouthell',
and is a memorial Of his eloouence.
stated in a sermon preached De.
cember IS, $3.50 AID. that Christ
mas was introduced into Syria only
40 years before.
When the festival was first re.
ognized in the Roman Cath1l;c
Church, there was q difference Is.
tween t and the Greek church Is