According to the Bible and to Holy Tradition, Jesus was born in
the city of Bethlehem in a cave, surrounded by farm animals and
shepherds. The baby Jesus was born into a manger from the Virgin
Mary, assisted by her husband St. Joseph. St. Joseph and the
Theotokos were forced to travel due to a Roman census; the odd
location of the birth was the result of the refusal of a nearby
inn to accommodate the expecting couple (Luke 2:1-20). Though
three magi from the East are commonly depicted as visiting
during the event itself (or, in Roman Catholic tradition, twelve
days thereafter), the Bible records the coming of an unspecified
number of wise men as being a few years after Jesus' birth (see
Matthew 2). In either case, these magi came bearing gifts of
gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matt 2:11). In the hymnography
for the feast, these gifts are interpreted to signify Christ's
royalty, divinity, and suffering. Though Jesus' birth is
celebrated on December 25, most scholars agree that it is
unlikely he was actually bo