Christmas News

Thanks for visiting and welcome to our site!
We hope you will find the Christmas News information that you seek.
We welcome you to browse our website to see if there is something in particular you are looking for.

We”ve included some information on each page for your reading.

We are all used to seeing nativity scenes at Christmas, wise men or Kings giving the newborn baby Jesus three little gifts. The incorrect myths about this incident are 1. There were three. (Fact: The number is not mentioned but they usually traveled in large numbers.) 2. They were wise men. (Fact: The main Bible versions translate the same word as “astrologers” in the book of Daniel and as “sorcerer” in Acts.) 3. They went to the manger when Jesus was a baby. (Fact: They went to the house when Jesus was just under 2 years old.) 4. They were kings. (Fact: They were not.) 5. The star they followed was bright. (Fact: The New Testament does not say this.) Note the word “house”. This was just under two years after Jesus’ birth, which is why Herod decreed that all male children under the age of two be put to death..

“Wise men” is the way several Bible versions chose to translate “Magoi” (the plural of Magos). Magos is a Mede word simply meaning “Priest”. The Magoi were originally involved in spiritism before the Zoroastrian religion found its way to Persia. Magoi had been established over the state religion of Persia by Darius the Great – a secular as well as religious post. They became the priestly caste of the Persian Empire. Throughout the Persian Empire, the Magoi were the official spiritual advisors to the Persian king. Persia had no state religion. The Magoi always led the processions when the army marched out, and sacrificed one horse a month to the spirit of Cyrus. One Magos had the permanent job of looking after (both in a spiritual and physical sense) the tomb of Cyrus of Great. By Jesus’ time, the Persian Empire had long been gone, conquered by Alexander the Great. Alexander’s successors had taken over the various parts of the Old Persian Empire. The Macedonians left the conquered people their own religion and customs, and merely imposed a superficial administration. By the time of Jesus’ birth, the Magoi may have been the official spiritual advisors to the Seleucid state.

Magoi were astronomers, astrologers, dream interpreters and spellcasters. In fact, Daniel 5:11 tells us that one of the titles given to Daniel was “Chief of the Magoi”. Herodotos tells us that the Magoi were interpreters of dreams and visions. He names the Magoi as one of the Median tribes. Herodotos states that sacrifices could not be performed unless a Magos was present, and speaks of their sorcery and spells.

It was customary for the Magoi to travel with oriental luxury and a large entourage, which included cavalry for protection. The myth of the number “three” (which does not appear in any Bible version) is far from the truth – they rarely traveled in such small numbers. Arnibious described the Magoi as “certain fortune-telling vagrant seers, who persuade the rich that they have power with the gods, by means of charms and sacrifices… on familiar terms with evil powers, and thus able to accomplish whatever is within these spirits’ power.” Tertullian wrote, “We know the mutual alliance of magic and astrology. The interpreters of the stars, thus were the first….to present him gifts.” Justin and Origen described the Magoi as “astrologers”. It is also recorded that in 66 AD an embassy of Parthian Magoi paid homage to Nero at Naples. Strabo notes that the Magoi formed the upper house of the council of the Megistanes, whose duties included the election of the king of the Parthian empire.

Dr. Ann Nyland is an ancient Greek language scholar and lexicographer known as the translator of The Source New Testament available at http://www.smithandstirling.com

Her research field is word meaning from New Testament times.

How can an athiest/agnostic volunteer for work on Christmas?

Every year, Christmas Day, I see on the news that a congregation of Jews are volunteering at a local hospital/other place that needs to be open, so Christians can have the day off.

If you live in the USA, visit “HandOn Network” on the Internet (www.handsonnetwork.org). It has 252 volunteer center affiliates across the country. Some centers will offer volunteer projects on Christmas Day.

Look up the volunteer center in or near your town. Visit the local HandsOn affiliate’s website. For example, its Hands On Orlando in Central Florida. Atheists, Humanists, Freethinkers, etc. are always welcome. Everyone in fact is welcome!

Check out its volunteer project calendar. During any given month there are usually dozens of really excellent volunteer opportunities that you can join: everything from improving a public park to a birthday party for homeless children at a shelter.

Another great place to shop for Christmas News products is Amazon. They have more than just books!

Wilton Good News Stork Flying with Baby Cake Pan (502-3851, 1983) The contouring of the pan outlines the form and provides a generous backing to hold the cake. Crafted of quality aluminum, this bakeware heats evenly and keeps interiors moist while allowing surfaces to gently brown. Lightweight yet durable, it also retains its shape and transfers detailing clearly to the food surface. When the party is over, the pan cleans easily so there’s less time spent in the…

Wilton Montgomery Moose Good News / Roller Skate / Cake Pan (2105-1968, 1985) Get Along Gang $25.00 The contouring of the pan outlines the form and provides a generous backing to hold the cake. Crafted of quality aluminum, this bakeware heats evenly and keeps interiors moist while allowing surfaces to gently brown. Lightweight yet durable, it also retains its shape and transfers detailing clearly to the food surface. When the party is over, the pan cleans easily so there’s less time spent in the…

HOUS2A-00120 Photo Mugs Christmas edition of the Illustrated London News, 1888. Color lithograph….

Original UK Version Episode 1 Part One [HD] $2.99 …

Newsies (Collector’s Edition) $14.99 Except for feature-length animation, the musical has gone the way of the dinosaur. The Walt Disney company took a stab at reviving the live-action musical in 1992 with Newsies, a throwback picture with a curious subject. In 1899, the pint-sized newsboys delivering the New York papers go on strike against the unfair practices of news magnates Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. The product…

Saturday Night Live: The Complete Fourth Season, 1978-1979 $10.30 All 20 episodes of the fourth season are collected in a seven-disc set. Includes appearances by the Coneheads, the Blues Brothers, the Olympia Cafe, Father Guido Sarducci, and Mr. Bill; Michael Palin, Carrie Fisher, Walter Matthau, Margot Kidder, Milton Berle, and Steve Martin are among the guest hosts; musical guests include The Rolling Stones, Devo, The Doobie Brothers, Talking Heads, James Tayl…

Belated Christmas News Crew Card 5 x 7 inch premium quality folded paper greeting card. Find Christmas cards for everyone on your list at Greeting Card Universe. Whether for one person or the whole family, a paper card will make your Christmas memorable this year. Let Greeting Card Universe help you find the best Christmas card this year. This paper card includes the following themes: belated Christmas, holiday, and holidays. Hum…

Fat Cat – Risque Weekly World News Birthday Greeting Card $2.95 This card was dreamed up by NobleWorks, The Humor Company. NobleWorks Inc. is a print-on-demand company offering hilarious, funny, naughty, scandalous, and always awesome greeting cards. We feature funny Christmas cards, funny birthday cards, naughty Christmas cards, naughty birthday cards, and plenty of everything in between. We work with artists and cartoonists like Dan Collins, Dan Reynolds, Ti…

Funny Merry Christmas Card Bat Boy Bites Santa Humor Greeting Weekly World News Funny Merry Christmas Card Bat Boy Bites Santa Humor Greeting Weekly World News…

Someone To Watch Over Me $3.87 BOYLE SUSAN SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME…