The Star of Bethlehem

The Star of Bethlehem features in the Nativity story, as mentioned in a passage in the Gospel of Matthew. This star is said to have guided the Magi, who had come from the East, to Jerusalem, where they met King Herod of Judea, and to have asked him where the newborn King of the Jews was. They then claimed to have seen his star rise and wanted to find this child to pay homage to him and bring him gifts. According to a verse in the Book of Micah, Herod then directed the Magi to Bethlehem, a village near Jerusalem.

Aussi appelée étoile de Christmas, cet astre n’est toutefois pas mentionné dans l’Évangile selon Luc. Son récit précise plutôt l’apparition d’un ange annonçant la naissance de l’enfant Jesus. Lequel de ces deux évangélistes dit vrai ? Il n’est guère possible de trouver une réponse plausible à cette question, puisque les mémoires de Luc diffèrent presque toujours de ceux rédigés par Mathieu. Bien que ces passages fussent étudiés par de nombreux experts de la Bible, nul n’a pu affirmer la vérité, car à maintes reprises, on constate effectivement plusieurs contradictions entre leurs récits.

In short, whatever the case, the Star of Bethlehem, just as much as the angel who appeared to the Magi, are part of the story of the Bible, and both also constitute a Christmas tradition. Moreover, in memory of this famous star and this angel announcing the good news, the top of Christmas trees is often decorated with either a star or an angel.