Show rist Birthday By SUSAN RATHER Christmas is of the many holidays which could theoretically be celebrated any day of the a combination of and convenience has secured it in its place on THE GOSPELS say nothing about the date of Christ's If the apostles celebrated the n of such has been The mention of a celebration was written around the year It an Egyptian holiday held on 6 in memory of Christ's we-would still be celebrating in January if it for the influence of a On the Julian the of December coincided with winter Beginning on that date each the amount of daylight in a day Pre-Christ pagans thought the commemorated the nativity of the Scholars believe they celebrated the nativity by honoring the image of an infant representing the LEADERS of the Christian church were aware of the pagan sun Many of their members were participating in the image and other pagan festivities honoring the Apparently the leaders thought it would be well to capitalize on the popularity of the festivals by moving Christmas to December the feast commemorating the manifestation of was retained on The official date for remembering the nativity of Christ became The twelve days of Christmas were those between the two Christians were urged to celebrate the not on account of the but on account of He who made the ANOTHER view of whom the first Christmas happened is held by members of the Chuch of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day They generally believe the true birthday of Christ was April the and others go along with the traditional holiday date even though it i probably has no correspond- j ence with the original na- i j i l i |