10 Historical Lies You Totally Fell For

The birth of the baby Jesus is a tale as old as time. The story of a boy destined to become the prophet of the Christian faith that billions across the world look to as their guide is etched in the minds of anyone who attended a Christian primary school. The story that is perhaps most well-known is the nativity, with a cattle shed in Bethlehem, Israel serving as the location for his birth.

December 25 is the date we celebrate as the formal day of celebration, sharing good tidings and drinks aplenty before watching Grandma fall asleep to Songs of Praise. It's the peak of the cold winter months, as the opening act of spring reintroduces us to sunlight.

It is here, however, in the springtime, that Jesus is actually believed to have been born. As noted in Luke 2:1, the reason for Mary and Joseph's travel to Bethlehem was the conducting of a Roman census, a method of keeping track of the ever-growing population. The harsh temperatures that were felt in the winter months meant censuses simply weren't carried out at that time.

We will, obviously, continue to celebrate Jesus' birth in December, yet this is not true.