Now that Christmas Day is over it will soon be time to pack away the reindeer and snowmen, Santa figures and penguins and anything else that has now become associated with Christmas for another twelve months.

Despite the usage of pagan evergreens such as holly and mistletoe, the Yule Log named after the Norse god Jul and the ubiquitous decorated pine tree in every home, the claim is made that these are all ways in which to celebrate the birth of the King of kings. Some folks escape the mayhem and go abroad to sunnier climes for their Christmas holidays, but then complain that it doesn’t seem like Christmas because it’s not cold enough and there is no snow.

Actually, there would have been no snow in Bethlehem when Jesus was born either.

More Bible scholars concur that it was more likely that Jesus would have been born in September or October time.

There are many anomalies associated with Christmas, such as the wise men not being present at the birth as is often depicted in Nativity scenes.

In fact, they came much later when Jesus is described as being a “young child”.

It also does not say that there were three wise men, although they brought three kinds of gifts, and they were never described as kings.

There is a growing consensus that “Jesus is the reason for the season” and many Churches want to “put Christ back into Christmas.” The question is, if this is the wrong date, would Jesus want to celebrate it at all?

Colin Nevin, Rathgill Park, Bangor, Co Down.