Star of Bethlehem is a phenomenon registered in the Christian tradition that would have marked the birth of Jesus Christ, indicating to the Three Kings the exact location of where the promised Messiah would be.
The story of the star of Bethlehem, also known as christmas star, is told in the Christian Holy Bible in the Gospel of St. Matthew: “Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For from the east we saw his star and came to worship him" (Matthew 2:1-2).
This passage from the Gospel of Matthew tells the story of the journey taken by "three wise men of the east", who spotted an unusual star in the sky and, after a few months of observing it, began to follow it.
The star received the name "Star of Bethlehem" for having led the magicians to the small village of Bethlehem, supposedly birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth, the promised "King of the Jews" of the prophecies of era.
The wise men - Belchior, Balthazar and Gaspar - according to Christian legend, offered Jesus three gifts: incense, gold and myrrh.
Incense represents faith, helping to keep the baby safe; gold represents wealth, symbolizing the degree of heavenly royalty and divine protection; on the other hand, myrrh was offered in order to clean the newborn, as myrrh oil has antiseptic properties.
Throughout history, several theories have emerged in an attempt to scientifically explain which astronomical phenomenon would have given rise to the Star of Bethlehem. The surveys, based on biblical scriptures and historical accounts, help to build closer proximity to the exact period that Jesus Christ was supposed to have been born.
Popular tradition believes that the star of Bethlehem was a comet, being imaged in nativity scenes and images of the birth of Christ with a huge tail.
One of the first studies on the star of Bethlehem, made by the French priest Albert Lagrange, suggests that the phenomenon would be Halley's comet approaching Earth. However, later studies claim that it would be impossible, as Halley would have passed close to the planet around 12 BC. C, long before the supposed period in which Christ would have been born (between 7 a. C and 2 a. Ç).
Other studies say that the star of Bethlehem would have been the consequence of the effect of a rare phenomenon of conjunction between the planets Jupiter and Saturn with the star regulus, considered the largest of the constellation of Leo. The approach of these celestial bodies in the firmament would have produced a very intense luminous effect.
Currently, in the western world, the star of Bethlehem has a very strong symbolism at Christmas, being reproduced in nativity scenes and Christmas trees. Christmas, which goes back to the scenario of how the birth of Jesus Christ would have been, with the presence of the Virgin Mary, Joseph and the three kings wizards.
See also the meanings of Star and Star of David.
