The Star, the magical symbol of Christmas
Selon les théologiens, l’Étoile qu’ont suivi les Rois-Mages venus de l’Orient n’apparaît que pour mieux « signer » la naissance de l’enfant-Christ. D’après le Nouveau Testament de la Bible (Matth. II, 2), ces trois rois : Melchior, Balthazar et Gaspard, apportèrent en cadeaux à l’Enfant Jesus l’or, l’encens et la myrrhe. Chaque personnage est aussi lié à un symbole de la Kabbale : la myrrhe à Binah, l’éternité; l’or à Tiphéreth, la lumière; et l’encens à Hessed, la dévotion.
The star that appeared to the Magi and the shepherds and led these monarchs to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, provides material for many conjectures. Some ancient authors believed that it was a new star, created by God to announce to men the coming of the Messiah. Others affirmed that it was a kind of comet that appeared extraordinarily in the air. Still others suggested that it was an angel clothed in a luminous body, in the form of a star, which, by its movement directed towards Judea, would arouse in the Magi the desire to follow it and to seek what it indicated. Several Fathers of the Christian Church supported this opinion, based on the fact that this star appeared intelligent and reasonable, appearing and disappearing, stopping and advancing as it was necessary to lead the Magi to the right place.
There is still no consensus on the exact time when the star actually appeared to the Magi. Many believe that it appeared two years before the birth of Jesus Christ, and that the Magi set out as soon as it appeared. Others want to believe that it only rose at the time of Jesus' birth; still others place the Magi's arrival 13 days after his birth. We have a choice...
Mais, au fond, qu’importe son origine, l’étoile reste un symbole lumineux qui ajoute à la magie de Christmas. Aussi, dans plus d’une famille, on ne songerait jamais à décorer le sapin des Fêtes sans coiffer son sommet d’une brillante étoile.
