Ecrasez L'infame

If Jesus was born around the winter solstice, then when would he have been conceived? My, my - what a coincidence.

BadBadBad

Thanks everyone. It's very interesting to know the history behind this.

gstafleu

As Roger pointed out, the "messyness" of the date comes from attempts to reconcile both Lunar and Solar calendars. The date ends up being somewhere in the vicinity of the vernal equinox, i.e. the day on which the length of night equals the length of day. After that the day is longer. So this date symbolizes a victory of light over darkness. Now think what Jesus' resurrection after being crucified symbolizes, and you'll see why Easter ends up in the vicinity of the vernal equinox.

The vernal equinox is celebrated in lots of ways by lots of cultures, just do a google and you'll see.

Gerard Stafleu

Cege

Even though Christmas as a holiday was set close to the winter solstice, the month (much less the day) that Jesus was born is unknown, and most probably not in the month of December.

Ecrasez L'infame

Well, of course. But we're in myth-world here. It doesn't matter when these things actually happened, or even if they did. All that's important is that people think they did. So, in myth-world: if Jesus was born on the winter solstice, then he was conceived around the spring equinox. In fact, allowing for the fertile period in the female 28-day "lunar" cycle, which is about a week after menstruation...

... no, that way lies madness.

jeremyp

Just a slight pedantic quibble. The "Passover" or "Pesach" is a week long festival. In Matt. Mark and Luke, the Last Supper is the "Passover Seder" which takes place on the first day of Passover in the evening (not forgetting that the day starts around sunset). The arrest, trial and crucifixion all occur on the first day of Passover (15th of the Jewish month Nisan). In John, the Last Supper, arrest, trial and crucifixion all actually occur on the 14th Nisan - the day before the first day of Passover. John draws a parallel between Jesus and the Passover lamb which is sacrificed on the 14th and eaten in the Pasover Seder (so I am told).

The big problem with the synoptic timing is, of course, that there is no way a trial before the Sanhedrin could occur on the first day of Passover.

Cege

Do you mean that the events couldn't all have occured within the hours available in the first day of Passover?

jeremyp

No. The first day of Passover was a major holiday and the same rule to do no work applied as for the Sabbath.

Cege

Thanks for that answer. In what body of writing/law was the 1st day set as a major holiday and the rule written to observe it as a Sabbath?

Agemegos

Yes. According to John 19:14 Jesus was executed on the of preparation for the Passover, while according to Mark 14:12 Jesus celebrated the Feast of the Passover with his disciples ('The Last Supper') and was executed the following day.