A massive crowd of mostly barefoot Filipino Catholics is joining an annual procession of a centuries-old statue of Jesus ...

Early Christian sources differ on how many Magi visited the infant Jesus, and whether they were kings at all. "The Magi Journeying" by James Tissot. Tradition has landed on three wise men for the ...

Robyn J. Whitaker does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond ...

When Herod was first appointed, he was evicted by a rival ruler supported by the Parthians (Rome’s enemy) who was loved by many local people. Herod was attacked by those people just near Bethlehem.

Thanks to the likes of decorative holiday manger scenes, Hollywood movies, and elementary school reenactments, the nativity story is now so ingrained in many of our minds that we could probably recite ...

Professor Emerita of Christian Origins and Second Temple Judaism, and Honorary Professor of the Australian Catholic University, King's College London; Australian Catholic University Joan Taylor has ...

Ancient scribes often calculated Christ’s birth as falling in early spring. "A Roman Feast (Saturnalia)" by Roberto Bompiani, currently at the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles. The ancient empire had ...

The exact date of Jesus's birth is unknown, though it is estimated to have been in the spring between 6 and 4 B.C. Christians began celebrating Christmas on December 25 in the 4th century, possibly to ...

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Christmas is a Christian holiday that observes the ...