The Christmas Story

Just some questions for all you good Christians out there for this time of year.

Okay not Christmas-ey; but Evan Almighty was on so firstly -

How many of each animal did Noah take aboard the Ark?

Now a couple of Christmas ones -

In what building was Jesus born?

and finally -

How many kings visited Jesus at his birth?

So I'm betting you've said - Two of each animal; a cattle shed (lowly or otherwise) and three. Are you sure?

Answers - Genesis 7:1-3

The LORD then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. ² Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, ³ and also seven pairs of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth.

The Nativity story only appears in Matthew and Luke and just enough to fill a page worth so

Matthew 2:11

¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him.

 Luke 2:7

⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 

So in a manger in a house (or building) so got to be a cattle shed with a manger. Um well it was an inn, now this is speculation on my part, but wouldn't a inn be more likely to have a stable which would also have a manger? Either way it's not specified.

On to the number of kings - none, zero, zilch

Matthew 2:1

¹ After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem

 Or wise men - not kings; nor from the Orient though possibly from the orient which meant east.

Ah well at least we've proper Christmas stuff such as mistletoe (Druidic), holly and ivy (pagan Germanic) the tree and decorations (also pagan Germanic) the Christmas pudding (pagan); the exchanging of gifts (pagan); the singing (pagan Germanic); the mince pies (banned since Cromwell), and the Christmas cards (English 19th C).

So Merry Modern Pagan Festival to you all ;-)