Stars and Wisemen

Long before there was a Christmas, stars held importance in ancient religions.

• Babylonians used three stars to represent a god.
• The Egyptians believed that certain gods controlled different stars and constellations.
• The six-pointed Star of David became the symbol of the Hebrew nation.
• The North American Blackfoot Indians believed that every star was at one time a human being.

There also is a legend that on the night Christ was born, a brilliant star appeared in the sky and it was this star that guided the three wisemen to the baby to be known as Jesus. The wise men studied the stars nightly. They noted the constellations in the night sky and watched their movements. This is why when they noticed a large, brilliant star they had never seen before, they knew they should follow it.

What could explain this phenomenon? One scientific explanation for the star is that on that particular night, the planets Saturn and Jupiter were so close together that they could have given the impression of a single large and brilliant star.

The star became a Christmas ornament around the 1840s. Many people use a star on the top of their Christmas tree. If that special star could help the wise men on their journey, then perhaps it helps Santa Claus find your house each Christmas Eve.

History of the Town of
Santa Claus, Indiana
The naming of the town of Santa Claus, Indiana.