Christmas

== Nativity ==
{{Main|Nativity of Jesus}}
[[File:Gerard van Honthorst - Adoration of the Shepherds (1622).jpg|thumb|right|''Adoration of the Shepherds'' (1622) by [[Gerard van Honthorst]] depicts the nativity of Jesus]]

The gospels of [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] and [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] describe Jesus as being born in [[Bethlehem]] to the [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Virgin Mary]]. In the Gospel of Luke, Joseph and Mary travel from [[Nazareth]] to Bethlehem in order to be counted for a census, and Jesus is born there and placed in a [[manger]].<ref name="rees">{{cite web |last1=Rees |first1=Neil |title=Christmas – the original story |url=https://www.christiantoday.com/article/christmas.the.original.story/141137.htm |website=Christian Today |access-date=December 15, 2023 |language=en |date=December 10, 2023}}</ref> Angels proclaim him a savior for all people, and three shepherds come to adore him. In the Gospel of Matthew, by contrast, three magi follow a [[Star of Bethlehem|star]] to Bethlehem to bring gifts to Jesus, born the [[Jesus, King of the Jews|king of the Jews]]. [[Herod the Great|King Herod]] orders the [[Massacre of the Innocents|massacre of all the boys]] less than two years old in Bethlehem, but the family flees to Egypt and later returns to Nazareth.<ref name="ng-biblical">{{cite web |last1=Piñero |first1=Antonio |title=Biblical stories of Jesus' birth reveal intriguing clues about his times |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2021/12/biblical-stories-of-jesus-birth-reveal-intriguing-clues-about-his-times |website=National Geographic |access-date=December 15, 2023 |language=en-gb |date=December 16, 2021}}</ref>