Quote from Daily Mail :

It may not be too late to send the presents back, as astronomers have calculated that Christmas should not be celebrated on December 25 - but on June 17 instead.
Researchers tracked the appearance of the 'Christmas star', which the Bible states three wise men followed to find Jesus.
Australian stargazer Dave Reneke used complex computer software to chart the exact positions of all celestial bodies and map the night sky as it would have appeared over the Holy Land more than 2,000 years ago.
He discovered that a bright star really did appear over Bethlehem 2,000 years ago - but pinpointed the date of Christ's birth as June 17, and not December 25.
Scientists claim the Christmas star was most likely a magnificent conjunction of the planets Venus and Jupiter, which were so close together they would have shone unusually brightly as a single 'beacon of light' which appeared suddenly.
Mr Reneke says the wise men probably interpreted it as the sign they had been waiting for, and they followed the 'star' to Christ's birthplace in a stable in Bethlehem, as described in the Bible.

Generally accepted research has placed the nativity to somewhere between 3BC and 1AD.
Using the St Matthew's Gospel as a reference point, Mr Reneke pinpointed the planetary conjunction, which appeared in the constellation of Leo, to the exact date of June 17 in the year 2BC.
Mr Reneke, who is editor of Sky and Space magazine, said: 'We have software that can recreate the night sky exactly as it was at any point in the last several thousand years.
'Venus and Jupiter became very close in the the year 2BC and they would have appeared to be one bright beacon of light.
'We are not saying this was definitely the Christmas star - but it is the strongest explanation for it of any I have seen so far.

'Astronomy is such a precise science, we can plot exactly where the planets were, and it certainly seems this is the fabled Christmas star. There's no other explanation that so closely matches the facts we have from the time.
'This could well have been what the three wise men interpreted as a sign. They could easily have mistaken it for one bright star.'
He added: 'December is an arbitrary date we have accepted but it doesn't really mean that is when it happened.
'This is not an attempt to decry religion. It's really backing it up as it shows there really was a bright object appearing in the East at the right time.
'Often when we mix science with religion in this kind of forum, it can upset people. In this case, I think this could serve to reinforce people's faith.'
Previous theories have speculated that the star was a supernova (exploding star) or even a comet.
But Mr Reneke says that by narrowing the date down, the technology has provided the most compelling explanation yet.

A leading theory behind why December 25 was chosen as the date to celebrate Christ's birth, was that it was selected by the church as it aligned closely with a major pagan festival, which allowed the church to claim a new celebration for Christianity.

However, if the findings are correct, it would mean a change from Christmas cards featuring traditional snowy scenes to sunny beach views in June.

Source

Well the Turkey should be done by June I suppose.

Quite sad really. Not that the date is wrong, but that some bloke actually sat and worked it out.

Quote from spiderbait90 :

Quite sad really. Not that the date is wrong, but that some bloke actually sat and worked it out.

Maybe he did to piss off Jesus lovers?

Quote from deggis :

Maybe he did to piss off Jesus lovers?

Who I doubt care (I certainly don't) as the day is symbolic anyway... also, the fact that the event didn't occur in December has been known for years... Working it out exactly does strike me as a little pointless, though.

Has anybody informed Boney M?

it doesnt matter what time of year it is, we still need an excuse for everyone to spend $h**loads of money on stuff we dont really need.

I doupt anyone is willing to change the day of Christmas even with proof that it isn't on the 25th of december. PLUS, since its on the 25th we get 2 weeks of break because of the new years as well. If it was in June, it's the summer break anyways... I like it better like this.

Quote from deggis :

Maybe he did to piss off Jesus lovers?

Oh Jebus lovers know the date is wrong, Christians chose 25th of December because it is the same date as a Pagan celebration, naturally Christians not liking this stole the date in an attempt to phase out Paganism.

Hmm, won't make a difference, I like the date as it is now
(Tho I'm not christian)

Doesn't everyone know this? Well actually I thought it was June the 16th but anyway . I am a christian anyway.

Christmas is inspiring. Next year I'm going to join the festivities by stripping as many people of their money as I possibly can. Now that's true Christmas spirit!

Look out for my new book: "Joseph, Father or Pimp?". Only $9.95.

And stay tuned for the sequel due next Chrissie. The working title is "Marketing the Martyr-ing" and it comes with a ten point December retail market analysis booklet called "Santa's Cross". The booklet will hit the shelves for $114.96 and the main 730 page volume will be thrown in for free (but only if you order now!).

:wmann3:

Quote from JamesF1 :

the day is symbolic

Of what?

Of being around the winter solstice. Christians chose the times of their major celebrations to coincide with and belittle the Pagan celebrations held at the same time. Ostara (which has a remarkable resemblance to the word 'Easter') and Yule.

Lots of snow and pine trees in the Middle-East, right?

Ah yes, that's right. Nothing to do with Christ at all then. So it's symbolic of something entirely non-Christian. As such the Church will fully approve of cancelling it, or pretending it has anything to do with the birth of a random baby who got some friends to write a book about him.

Also, tell everyone you know not to buy presents for you, and do not buy them for other people. Don't send cards. Perhaps have the family round for the day, but no more.

It's not 'green' to celebrate Christmas.
It's not 'religious' to celebrate Christmas.
It's 'racist' (Jesus is depicted as white, and none of the people in the traditional (but fictional) nativity scene are coloured).
Nobody can afford it anyway in a recession.
It IS purely a commercial event designed to get as much money from gullible people as the shops/companies can.

Don't support it.

Quote from Dajmin :

Lots of snow and pine trees in the Middle-East, right?

There was, just that Global warming hit there the hardest first.

The 25th December is the date of some pagan festival type thing anyway. this has been known for years

Who gives a toss what date it is...the inherent selfishness disguised as altruism when someone gives a gift does my head in anyway.

Quote from spiderbait90 :

Quite sad really. Not that the date is wrong, but that some bloke actually sat and worked it out.

Was thinking the same thing - But Christmas is too embedded in our lifes to magically change the date. It's like saying you were born 6 months earlier.

Quote from tristancliffe :

Ah yes, that's right. Nothing to do with Christ at all then. So it's symbolic of something entirely non-Christian. As such the Church will fully approve of cancelling it, or pretending it has anything to do with the birth of a random baby who got some friends to write a book about him.

+1

Quote from tristancliffe :

Also, tell everyone you know not to buy presents for you, and do not buy them for other people. Don't send cards. Perhaps have the family round for the day, but no more.

Don't support it.

My thoughts exactly. I despise Christmas.

Buy your family good gifts for their birthdays, not for some false "holiday".

Whats wrong with rampant comercialism?! You filthy socialists! (Its a JOKE, no infraction please).

I don't mind it so long as they make a ban on christmas music tapes.

Around June 17th is about the time the christmas adverts start on the TV around here, and also the Avon person drops the christmas catalogue on the doorstep, so I wouldn't notice the difference.

I like the idea of a Christmas BBQ, those in the Southern Hemisphere have had their christmas in mid summer for too long, now its our turn.

I also like the idea of getting my christmas and birthday monies within several days.

Its seems people are doing more and more pointless things to get some column inches.

Oh you gone done mentioned the Christmas songs now. Heaven help you. Where's the inevitable Cliff Richard album when you need it? :sadbanana

I have no problem getting 10 days off work, going to spend time with my family, having a good couple of meals, and sharing a single thoughtful, but not necessarily expensive gift with each of my immediate family. I generally don't buy cards, have never decorated my own house, or pay any attention to it until Christmas Eve. The downsides, as far as I'm concerned, are the masses of shoppers crowding everywhere, and the charity people that spring up everywhere, wanting some of your Christmas spirit. That and the Fenwick's window in town, which I make a point to never go past.

Quote from P5YcHoM4N :

Oh Jebus lovers know the date is wrong, Christians chose 25th of December because it is the same date as a Pagan celebration, naturally Christians not liking this stole the date in an attempt to phase out Paganism.

True indeed. Funny how nobody's making a fuss about how the date that Easter is celebrated changes a little every year, chasing the pagan festival of "Eostre". Christians didn't even bother to change the name! LOL! Easter bunny, the egg hunt, hot cross buns.. nowt to do with Christianity.

There's loads of pagan symbolism in Christianity.. if Christians think the gargoyles on churches are a Christian symbol they can guess again.

Quote from Bob Smith :

I have no problem getting 10 days off work, going to spend time with my family, having a good couple of meals, and sharing a single thoughtful, but not necessarily expensive gift with each of my immediate family. I generally don't buy cards, have never decorated my own house, or pay any attention to it until Christmas Eve. The downsides, as far as I'm concerned, are the masses of shoppers crowding everywhere, and the charity people that spring up everywhere, wanting some of your Christmas spirit. That and the Fenwick's window in town, which I make a point to never go past.

Do you ever leave milk out for Santa's reigndeer?

But those bloody charity people are annoying - We already donate more than asked and we're still being harrased and asked for more (and those damn TV adverts >_<)

well the lie is obvious:

the calendar starts when jesus was bron the 1st of january, but actually he was also born on 25st of december

but well if you believe he was bron from a virgin or get burnt why would you question this little lie

Ohnoes, he's back! (lerts I mean, not Jesus)