Are Virtual Birthdays Real?

As everyone knows, Christmas is Jesus' birthday. And, as not quite everyone knows, Christmas is not Jesus' birthday. In Palestine, as in Switzerland, you don't send the sheep up on the Alps 'in the bleak midwinter' (not that winter in Palestine is that bleak). So, if the shepherd's were out in the fields, Jesus' real birthday could not have been in December. However, since no one knew exactly when Jesus was born, a long time ago the Church had a good idea: to celebrate Jesus' 'official birthday' at the winter solstice - the time when the light starts to return to the earth; and that is what we have done ever since. Nowadays, instead of speaking of an 'official birthday' when there is some reason to celebrate a birthday on a more convenient date than the 'real' one, we might well use computer-speak and call it a 'virtual' birthday. So, December 25 is Jesus' virtual birthday - a convenient time (and perhaps even a helpful time) to celebrate that day.

There is, however, a different way of understanding a 'virtual' birthday: as not quite a real birthday celebration. That may well be the case at Christmas too. At real birthday parties we go to spend time with the person whose birthday it is as they are now, and seldom if ever ask to see pictures of their babyhood. At Christmas we spend a lot of time singing about angels, Bethlehem, magi, & shepherds; but very little time concentrating on the risen King of the universe. At real birthday parties we bring presents to the person whose birthday it is. At Christmas we give presents to each other.

Of course Christmas would not be a 'proper' Christmas without a nativity play (with a lot of historical mistakes automatically built in), and lots of carols (complete with frost, snow, ice, and other inaccuracies). Of course Christmas would not be a 'proper' Christmas without candlelight, Christmas trees, bells, and all the other pagan symbols that have been added over the years.

But, wouldn't it be good if everyone added two more points?