Jesus' real birthday was around the 15th day of Tishrei during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot

[Ian David]

Assuming Jesus was an historical figure who actually existed, then this year his birthday was actually September 27th.
http://www.hebcal.com/converter/?gd=25&gm=12&gy=2007&hd=15&hm=Tishrei&hy=5768&h2g=Compute+Gregorian+Date


See:

Since John was born on Passover, the 15th day of Nisan (the 1st Jewish month), Jesus would have been born six months later on the 15th day of Tishri (the 7th Jewish month). The 15th day of the 7th month begins the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:34-35), also known as Sukkot. Jesus was born on the 1st day of the Feast of Tabernacles! In the year 5 B.C.E., this fell in the month of September.

This explains why there was no room at the inn for Joseph and Mary. A multitude of Jewish pilgrims from all over the Middle East had come to Jerusalem to observe the Feast of Tabernacles, as God required (Deu. 16:16). Bethlehem, which was only a few miles outside of Jerusalem, was also overflowing with visitors at this time because of the Feast.

The rest at:
http://users.aristotle.net/~bhuie/birthday.htm


Also see prior threads:

How did Jesus Christ suggest that we celebrate his birthday?
Topic started by Philosoraptor on Nov-15-06 11:27 AM (77 replies)
Last modified by and-justice-for-all on Dec-04-06 06:58 AM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=214&topic_id=96192


Why do Christians hate Jesus? They're ignoring his birthday again!
Topic started by IanDB1 on Oct-05-06 08:34 AM (25 replies)
Last modified by papau on Oct-06-06 09:44 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=214&topic_id=90427


When was Jesus's birthday, really?
Topic started by BurtWorm on Dec-21-04 10:55 AM (113 replies)
Last modified by Petrushka on Dec-23-04 12:15 AM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=214&topic_id=2729


Also:

UPDATE!!!! remember my friend and her christmas party and the fundie
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=2202833

[ClintonTyree]

1. Why do you hate the baby jesus?

And why do you hate christians? Why perpetuate the war on christmas? Why, why, why? ;)

It's just another day for me as well. The story of the historical jesus versus the mythical jesus has become so convoluted it's hilarious, in my opinion. But I guess we should never forget the "reason for the season", right? :)

[Ian David]

2. To celebrate The Birth of Lomein, son of The Flying Spaghetti Monster? n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Way cool info. I always guessed (with little actual info to go on) it was a springtime birth

[rug]

4. And?

[On the Road]

5. This is Very Interesting

I had never heard the story of John's birth brought into it. Birth during a festival with pilgrims makes a lot of sense -- more sense than the story of the censsus.

All this assumes, of course, the accuracy of the underlying stories.

[Igel]

7. But it's not incompatible with the census narrative.

There were three holy days on which each family had to have a male representative offer a sacrifice: The first day of unleavened bread (now subsumed into Passover), Shavuot (parallel to Pentecost), and the Feast of Tabernacles (aka Sukkoth).

One didn't have to stay around for any of them, but since you were to reside at some place other than home for Tabernacles, many did.

If you're going to conduct a census, what better time? Pretty much every family had appointed a representative to be in Jerusalem; poll the reps and you've polled the families. If you like that narrative, that is.

Having every family rep check in with their "home villages" (however it's put in your NT translation of choice) when they have to be travelling anyway isn't just a horrible idea, either, if you prefer this narrative.

Since Joseph's home village was Bethlehem, if the traditional narrative be believed, and since Bethlehem is a few hours' walk from Jerusalem, both are decent explanations in his case.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. This was pointed out years ago

The shepherds--who are in the story to symbolize the idea that God favors the social outcast as much as the socially acceptable person--would not have been watching their flocks outdoors in midwinter. Check out the temperatures for Jerusalem on Yahoo weather. It gets down into the thirties Fahrenheit at night.