Christmas Myths part two -- Was Jesus a Capricorn?

Okay, pardon the astrology reference in the title---no one get over-sensitive about it.

So let's tackle the when Jesus was born issue--here are some resources and information I found out about it--but it was doubtful it was on Dec. 25. Most likely, it was in fall, because the shepherds had animals out in the open. However, it could have also been a mild winter.

Here are some comments on the subject.
, J. Hampton Keathley on Bible.org takes a different view:

One of the main objections [to the December birthdate] has been that sheep were usually taken into enclosures from November through March and were not out in the fields at night. However, this is not as conclusive as it sounds for the following reasons: (a) It could have been a mild winter. (b) It is not at all certain that sheep were always brought into enclosures during the winter months. (c) It is true that during the winter months sheep were brought in from the wilderness, but remember, Luke tells us the shepherds were near Bethlehem rather than in the wilderness. This indicates, if anything, the nativity was in the winter months. (d) The Mishnah tells us the shepherds around Bethlehem were outside all year and those worthy of the Passover were nearby in the fields at least 30 days before the feast which could be as early as February (one of the coldest, rainiest months of the year). So December is a very reasonable date.

He also quotes James Kelso, an archaeologist who spent a number of years living in Palestine, on this issue stating:

"The best season for the shepherds of Bethlehem is the winter when heavy rains bring up a luscious crop of new grass. After the rains the once-barren, brown desert earth is suddenly a field of brilliant green. One year when excavating at New Testament Jericho, I lived in Jerusalem and drove through this area twice every day. At one single point along the road, I could see at times as many as five shepherds with their flocks on one hillside. One shepherd stayed with his flock at the same point for three weeks, so lush was the grass. But as soon as the rains stopped in the spring, the land quickly took on its normal desert look once again"

I tend to file this under it is not as important WHEN we celebrate Christmas, but HOW we celebrate it. Are we lost in commercialization or do we approach it with charity, reverence and joy?

A few more quiz questions" 

The sign the shepherds were to look for in identifying Jesus was:

a.   a Christmas tree

b.   Three wise men

c.   A baby lying in an animal feed trough

The answer is: c

--------

And now to the Wise Men.... 

The “star in the East” was seen by

a.  The shepherds

b.   Three kings from the Orient

c.    Astrologers living in Persia

The answer is C—astrologers living in Persia.

So, even though I'll be the first to admit that I love the  carol "We three kings of  Orient  are" [especially this really cool piano arrangement I have of it] they were actually  magi.

My understanding is that magi were also academics,  scholars,  and astronomers [in addition to astrologers--- many folks get the two mixed up] . 

The wise men came to visit Jesus:

a.  While Jesus was lying in the manger

b.  Just after the shepherds returned to the fields

c.   In the house where Joseph and Mary were staying

The answer is c – in the house where Joseph and Mary were staying.

The wise men weren't there the night Jesus was born. Of course, I still have them  in my Nativity scene.

And dude, does anyone know why  Nativity scenes have two white and one black wise men? Granted, we don't know the ethnicity of them, but I just think it's interesting that it's two white and one black in almost every display I see...what's up with that?