In the Gospels called Luke and Matthew, the angel Gabriel tells two Jewish ladies, post-menopausal Elizabeth and virgin Mary, that they will become pregnant despite obstacles. Their sons, John and Jesus, were worshipped from birth onward: John as a baptizer and Jesus as a healer. How did Christians get from this story to the elaborate shopping, decorating and feasting rituals of Christmas 2023? Peter Scales, a member of our congregation since 2004, loves the humanistic, pagan and historic rituals surrounding the darkest nights of the year.
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