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| Christmas Carnivals » Christmas Stars |
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Christmas Star |
One of the most important and famous symbols of Christmas is the Christmas Star. The Star of Christmas has been part of human imagination for the past 2000 years. You can find this star atop Christmas trees, cards, cribs and in homes and streets during the Christmas season. The star is not only an ornament but is also a symbol of hope and happiness. As you decorate your homes and trees, think about the sparkling star which led the magi to baby Jesus. In the Bible, the Gospel of Matthew tells us about the Christmas Star and the birth of Jesus.
The story of the Christmas Star
The star is also known as the Star of Bethlehem. Jesus was born during King Herod’s rule in the region of Judea. According to Christian tradition, it led the Three Wise Men also known as the Magi and the Three Kings to Bethlehem, to the birthplace of Jesus. The magi were men from the east and came to worship Christ, the King of the Jews. The names of the Three Wise Men have been traditionally fixed as Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar.
Roman Emperor Augustus decreed a census to be taken around this time. Everyone had to go to the city of their ancestors’ origin for the census. Jesus’ parents had to go to Bethlehem from Nazareth since they were descendants of King David.
After Jesus’ birth, the Magi followed the Christmas Star from the east to Jerusalem. There they enquired about the birth of the ‘King of the Jew’. King Herod after hearing this became disturbed as he felt his authority was in danger. He called his chief priests and teachers of the law to tell him the place of the child’s birth. They said it is Bethlehem in Judea as what the prophets had written.
Herod now secretly asked the Magi about the timing of the star’s appearance. He asked them to search and tell him after finding the child so that he can go to worship him. They went on their journey led by the star ahead. The Christmas Star stopped over the place where Jesus was born in the city.
They came to a stable where the Magi found the child Jesus with his mother Mary and father Joseph along with some shepherds. They bowed down and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod and returned through another route to their country. Later when Herod came to know he has been tricked, he ordered the execution of all male children of age 2 and under in Bethlehem. This came to be known as the Massacre of Innocents.
Throughout the centuries, people wanted to find about the actual Christmas Star. They wanted to find about it through astronomical observations. For finding it, the correct date or the year of the Jesus’ birth was determined to be 3 B.C. and 1 A.D. There have been numerous suggestions about the Christmas Star. Some of these are –
It was a super-nova or an exploding star. But by ancient sources the only super-novae recorded were at 134 BCE and 173 CE.
It was a comet – But since these were considered harbingers of doom, the star was unlikely a comet.
Unusual configuration of planets – There had been a series of rare planetary conjunctions or groupings during 3 B.C. and 2 B.C. A number of celestial events occurred in 3 B.C. On the 1st of August, Jupiter rose helically in the rays of dawn. Jupiter and Venus came very close together in the sunrise on 13 August. Mercury came out of the sun’s glare on the 18th. Venus and mercury stood one third degree apart in Leo on September 1st.
There was an astrological significance in these events. So, Jupiter, the King planet left the Father of the Gods, the Sun to be together with Venus, the Virgin Mother in the constellation of Leo which is associated with the tribe of Judah in Israel. Further, the Messenger of the Gods, Mercury came from the presence of the Sun and stood with Venus in the light of dawn.
There was a spectacular pairing of Jupiter and Venus in August in the constellation Leo. This constellation was associated with the destiny of the Jewish people by ancient astrologers. Jupiter passed by the star Regulus in Leo three times between September 3 B.C. and June 2 B.C. Astrologers considered Jupiter as the kingly planet while Regulus as the ‘king star.’ But on June 17, 2 B.C. a remarkable event occurred when Jupiter and Venus both quite bright, came very close to each other and looked like a single star.
Therefore this planetary event is widely considered to be the Christmas Star.
Christmas Star in the Christmas season
You can see this famous star in all shapes and sizes in shops selling Christmas decorations. Children love making paper stars and hang it on windows or doors. The best part is when decorating the Christmas tree. The final part in decoration of the tree is to put the Christmas Star on top. So start decorating your tree first, each branch with balls, bells, small stars, tinsels, candy, gifts, baubles, and lights. After you have put cotton to resemble snow you can finally put the star atop. This can be done together with children and near ones. The star along with the fully decked Christmas tree looks spectacular. You can also find lighted Christmas Stars to hang up outside or in your house.
In various countries Christmas markets are organized. Here, you can buy stars in various styles too. There are glittered Christmas star, lighted ones, paper Christmas star and even crystal ones. Many houses and churches have the lighted star hanging. It symbolizes the light of the world or Christ himself. Many streets, shopping malls are decorated with oversize stars. Thus, even twenty centuries later the light of the star has not diminished. Every year the Star of Bethlehem reminds us of that magical night and gives mankind hope and happiness.
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