In a message dated 12/19/2002 9:28:27 AM Eastern Standard Time,
labehotiere@wanadoo.fr writes:
> "I would like to know what other cultures do at solstice."
>
> One thing another culture at the WINTER solstice is to celebrate the birth
> of Christ. No one knows when that is supposed to have taken place.
> However, the Bible states that shepherds at the time were attending their
> flocks. In and around Bethlehem, however, flocks at the end of December
> were penned up in caves----caves that initially were houses and then had
> extensions built on out in front. So the sheep were penned up with the
> people living in the extensions until the sheep were taken out again in the
> spring. The caves were cleaned up and became rooms again. That is one
> explanation for Christ being born in a manger.
>
[ Excess quotations omitted. ]
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