Think Outside the Boxes

Religious leaders call the events surrounding Jesus’ birth in the Gospels “the First Christmas.” However, nowhere in the New Testament will you find Jesus’ disciples celebrating his birthday. In fact, the day and month of Jesus’ birth are absent from the Bible—and there is a reason for that. The simple and truthful answer is that first‑century Jews did not celebrate birthdays. The Jewish historian Josephus stated, “Nay, indeed, the law does not permit us to make festivals at the birth of our children and thereby afford occasion of drinking to excess” (Josephus, translated by W. Whiston, Against Apion, Book II, Chapter 26). Encyclopedia Judaica is equally direct on this topic: “The celebration of birthdays is unknown in traditional Jewish ritual.” Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that Joseph and Mary, who were Jews, would not have celebrated their children’s birthdays. It is also reasonable to believe that Jesus would not have celebrated birthdays and would not have desired his ow...