Suggesting Jesus was born in December by considering Levitical Shepherds

The argument for Levitical shepherds being in the fields all year round is based on the fact that, according to the Law of Moses, the priests of the Israelites were required to offer animal sacrifices at the Temple in Jerusalem on a regular basis. These sacrifices included burnt offerings, grain offerings, and sin offerings, as well as the offering of lambs as peace offerings.

It is believed that Levitical shepherds, who were responsible for providing the animals for these sacrifices, would have been in the fields all year round, raising the lambs that were to be offered at the Temple. These lambs were considered to be sacred, and they were to be raised in a clean and pure manner, according to the requirements of the Law.

Therefore, some people argue that it is possible that Levitical shepherds could have been in the fields at the time of Jesus' birth, even if it was during the winter months, because they would have been raising sacrificial lambs all year round. According to this view, the shepherds mentioned in the Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 2:8-20) could have been Levitical shepherds, rather than ordinary shepherds who were only in the fields during the warmer months.

It's important to note that the Bible does not specify the occupation or status of the shepherds mentioned in the Christmas story, and different interpretations of the text have been offered by scholars over the years. The argument for Levitical shepherds being in the fields all year round is one interpretation, but it is not the only one.

Comparing Lent to Advent

Lent and Advent are two liturgical seasons observed by many Christian churches. Lent is a period of fasting, repentance, and spiritual discipline in the run-up to Easter, while Advent is a time of preparation and expectation leading up to Christmas.

Mardi Gras, also known as "Fat Tuesday," is a carnival celebration that takes place the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of the Lenten season. Mardi Gras is often associated with excess and indulgence and is seen as a way to "use up" rich foods and other indulgences before the period of fasting and self-denial that begins on Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is particularly associated with the city of New Orleans, where it is celebrated with parades, music, and other festivities.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts for 40 days, not counting Sundays, which are considered "mini-Easters" and are not included in the count. The 40 days of Lent are meant to be a time of reflection and spiritual discipline, and to symbolize the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting and being tempted by Satan.

One of the most notable traditions of Ash Wednesday is the practice of marking believers' foreheads with ashes in the shape of a cross. The ashes are typically made by burning palm branches from the previous year's Palm Sunday celebrations, which commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

The use of ashes as a sign of repentance and humility has a long history in the Bible. In the Old Testament, ashes were often used as a symbol of mourning, repentance, and humility. For example, in the book of Job, it says "I put on sackcloth and covered myself with ashes" (Job 42:6). In the New Testament, Jesus tells his followers to "repent and believe the good news" (Mark 1:15), and the use of ashes on Ash Wednesday is seen as a tangible way for believers to express their repentance and willingness to turn from their sin and follow Jesus.

The imposition of ashes on the forehead is typically accompanied by the words "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" or "Repent and believe in the Gospel." These words serve as a reminder of our human frailty and mortality, and of the need to turn away from sin and turn towards God.

The purpose of Lent is to prepare Christians for Easter, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. It is a time to focus on spiritual growth, self-examination, and repentance. Many Christians observe Lent by fasting, praying, and giving up certain pleasures or indulgences as a way to draw closer to God.

Advent, on the other hand, begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and lasts for four weeks. It is a time of preparation and expectation, as Christians await the celebration of the birth of Jesus. During Advent, many people use an Advent calendar, which is a calendar with small doors that are opened each day in the run-up to Christmas, with a small treat or activity inside. Some Advent calendars also include candles, with one being lit each week. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent, and are often associated with the themes of hope, love, joy, and peace.

The purpose of Advent is to prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. It is a time to reflect on the significance of the Incarnation, the belief that Jesus, the Son of God, became human and was born in the form of a baby. Advent is also a time to focus on the coming of Jesus as the King and Judge, and to prepare for his second coming at the end of time. Many Christians observe Advent by lighting candles, praying, and engaging in acts of service and charitable giving.

The origins of Lent and Advent can be traced back to the early centuries of Christianity. Lent has its roots in the ancient practice of preparing new believers for baptism through a period of fasting, prayer, and instruction. Advent, on the other hand, developed as a way to mark the period of waiting and preparation leading up to the celebration of Christmas. Both Lent and Advent were formalized as liturgical seasons in the 5th century.

The two liturgical seasons are observed by many Christian churches. Lent is a period of 40 days of fasting, repentance, and spiritual discipline in the run-up to Easter, while Advent is a time of preparation and expectation leading up to Christmas. Mardi Gras, also known as "Fat Tuesday," is a carnival celebration that takes place the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of the Lenten season. Advent is marked by the use of an Advent calendar, with one candle being lit each week, representing the themes of hope, love, joy, and peace. The purpose of Lent is to prepare Christians for Easter, while the purpose of Advent is to prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus.

The 12 Days of Christmas from December 25 to January 6

 Christmas is typically celebrated on December 25 by most Christian churches worldwide, including Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox churches. This date was chosen in the 4th century by the church to coincide with the Roman festival of Saturnalia, which was a popular pagan festival celebrated around the same time of the year. By co-opting the date of a well-established pagan festival, the church hoped to make it easier for people to adopt the Christian celebration of Christmas.

However, some churches, particularly Eastern Orthodox churches, continue to follow the Julian calendar, which is currently 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar used by most of the Western world. According to the Julian calendar, December 25 corresponds to January 7 in the Gregorian calendar. As a result, Eastern Orthodox churches, such as the Greek Orthodox Church, the Russian Orthodox Church, and the Coptic Orthodox Church, celebrate Christmas on January 7 instead of December 25.

Additionally, the 12 Days of Christmas are the period that in Christian theology marks the span between the birth of Christ and the coming of the Magi, the three wise men. They begin on December 25th and end on January 5th, the eve of the Epiphany. The song 'The 12 Days of Christmas' is a popular English Christmas carol that enumerates a series of increasingly grand gifts given on each of the twelve days of Christmas, starting on December 25th, with the final day being January 5th. The song is not religious in nature but it was used by the Church as a way of remembering and celebrating the 12 days of Christmas and what each day represents.

In summary, most churches celebrate Christmas on December 25th, but some Eastern Orthodox churches follow the Julian calendar and celebrate it on January 7th. The 12 Days of Christmas are also known as the "Twelve Days of Yuletide" and they are the period of celebrating Christmas, starting on December 25th and ending on January 5th.