The tree of Jesse is, essentially, Jesus’ family tree. It’s the depiction of Christ’s ancestry in the form of a tree, where each branch represents a Biblical story or a figure. In fact, the modern family trees originated from the tree of Jesse. In medieval times, noble families adopted the tradition of portraying their family… […]
In pagan times a winter celebration relieved the tedium of dull, cold winter days. And that tradition continues with the twelve days after Christmas. It lasts between Christmas Day and the Eve of Epiphany on January 5. Many Christians see this as a time for giving – a gift for every day will bring good… […]
Unfortunately, not many Americans today know the meaning of Candlemas as it isn’t as commercialized as Christmas or Easter. The holiday is derived from the Gospel of Luke and commemorates Mary’s purification and Christ’s presentation at the Temple. Mary wasn’t the only woman to undergo purification after giving birth – it was an ancient Jewish… […]
In the Bible, the nativity story isn’t presented in a well-structured manner but scattered across two Gospels which have many factual discrepancies. Scholars still introduce their theories regarding the details of Jesus’ birth and the characters involved in the story, and theologists provide new interpretations of the accounts dozens of centuries later. Most importantly, despite… […]
Advent tradition is an ancient one, dating back to the fifth century. It didn’t originate from the Bible, though, but was invented by a Bishop from Tours. Furthermore, the custom wasn’t widely accepted in Europe until many centuries after the practice was adopted in France. Lighting up candles placed in a wreath isn’t the only… […]
As Epiphany ends the Twelve Days of Christmas cycle, it’s celebrated on January 6 in the Catholic church. Orthodox Christians, who still follow the Gregorian calendar, celebrate it on January 19. The Bible states that Wise Men came to visit baby Jesus in Bethlehem from far lands in the east following a prophecy. They brought… […]
The Star of Bethlehem phenomenon is a never-ending topic for historical, astronomical, and theological debate. But, unfortunately, some factors indicate the Star of Bethlehem never existed, and the entire story about the Magi is fiction. Scientists, however, suggest that the appearance of the star in the sky could be related to an actual astronomical event.… […]
Christmas Lyn