Raquel is questing! Episode 1/25

Welcome to our Christmas adventure, going back in time over 2000 years to the start of the "reason for the season"! Help yourself to a biscuit or two, and the Narrator will be here very shortly!

Raquel is questing! Episode 2/25

Welcome, Raquel, come and join the other pets! Please help yourself to a hot drink and cookies. We will be going on our amazing trip very soon!

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Enter the door of the magic dolls' house for a journey back in time! I will be the Narrator of what you see along the way.

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What do you picture when you hear of Arabia? Perhaps their herbs and spices, in active use in the Middle East since the dawn of humanity, not just in cooking and for perfumes. For example, traditional herbal medicines were made using chamomile, aniseed, black seed, sage, thyme and pomegranate, amongst many other plants and seeds. Arabia was active in the spice trade, too, growing many rare spices and importing cinnamon from Sri Lanka. Cinnamon was very expensive – reportedly costing five times the price of silver! – and could only be purchased by the very richest in society.
Can you imagine Christmas today without the comforting aroma of cinnamon drinks, biscuits, cakes and toppings?

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In ancient Arabia, mathematics, science (as understood at the time), plus astrology, astronomy and current affairs were studied together and they all went hand in hand with each other. The Greek word “magi” shows us that these men plotted the course of the stars and monitored them assiduously. Today they would be known as either astrologers or as astronomers. Astrology was treated more like a science than the quasi-fortune telling modern aspect of astrology. The people of the time believed that the stars revealed truths about human life and history, and could provide pre-emptive information (in other words, people could be forewarned of impending negative events and change their behaviour accordingly). They studied movements of heavenly objects to gain insight into how their world worked.

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The Magi were most likely employed at the Royal Court as part of the King’s special advisory body of wise men, astrologers and interpreters of omens. Do you remember the story of Pharaoh in Genesis 41, in the time of Joseph? When he couldn’t make sense of his strange dream about fat cows and gaunt cows, plump and withered ears of corn, he summoned magi and wise men from across Egypt and commanded them to interpret his dream – in this case none of them was successful. Cue Joseph!

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The Magi had found an unusual new star in the sky, and knew that it told of the birth of a special king in Israel. They would have known about the prophecies of a future special Jewish Saviour (also known as the Messiah) from when the Jews had been held captive in ancient Babylon several centuries before.
The star of Bethlehem element of the Christmas tale has been taken seriously by professional astronomers such as Dr David Hughes, of Sheffield University, who has published and lectured widely on the subject. The Star is doubtless one of the best-loved parts of the Christmas narrative.

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The preparations were made for a long journey. Contrary to popular conception, people from Arabia did not commonly ride camels, but instead travelled on fleet Arabian horses. Camels were used as pack animals for provisions and extra clothing for the journey, plus the gifts intended for the newborn King.

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It was a long journey of several hundred miles, and typically the caravan of laden camels, horses and riders would cover around twenty miles (32km) a day. Eventually, however, they arrived in Jerusalem.

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Why did the Magi arrive first in Jerusalem instead of going to Bethlehem? Simply because they took it for granted that this great king would come from the existing royal family who already lived in the capital city.

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King Herod greeted the Magi, and provided his influential and learned visitors with refreshments and an opportunity to rest. We don't know what was said in their discussions about the reason for the visit, but doubtless the Magi were greatly taken aback to learn that there was no newborn baby in the palace, destined to rule in the future!
As his guests were eventually about to depart, Herod detained them for a minute. "When you have found the baby King of the Jews," he said, "send me word, so that I may also come and worship him."
Of course, as we know, King Herod had something completely different in mind!

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Herod is best known to Christians for the Slaughter of the Innocents mentioned in Matthew’s Gospel. However, he is now credited as having had at least some positive effects on Jews and Judaism in his 33-year reign. He was an excellent administrator and was responsible for some major building projects including the rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem, and other public works, such as several aqueducts. He also had a massive fortress constructed on a large hill. Known as The Herodium, it was a little like this one in Scotland's capital. Brrrr, it's a lot colder here than in Jerusalem, though!

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The Wise Men and their retinue continued their journey. Guided by the star, they were eventually led to the baby Jesus. Christmas Day used to be celebrated on 6 January, the Feast of the Epiphany – also known in German-speaking countries as Dreikönigstag, or Three Kings' Day – to celebrate how a star led the Magi to visit the Christ child. 'Epiphany' is from the Greek 'to reveal', as it is when the baby Jesus was 'revealed' to the world. This is why people sometimes say they've had an epiphany when they've just realised something significant.

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They found Mary and Joseph lovingly tending their firstborn son. The erudite and richly dressed Magi must have appeared very impressive figures as they gathered in the humble dwelling of the carpenter and his young wife. The wise men bestowed different gifts upon Jesus: gold, frankincense and myrrh, all of which Christians believe have especial significance.

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Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign
Then, as now, gold represented wealth and power. It is associated with kings, and Christians believe that Jesus is the King of Kings.

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Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a Deity nigh
Prayer and praising, all men raising
Worship Him, God most high.
Frankincense was used both as a perfume and as incense in religious worship, and is said to show that people would worship Jesus.

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Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in a stone-cold tomb.
Myrrh was used as a perfume, anointing oil, medicinal tonic, and as a key ingredient in the mixture of spices used in the embalming process, possibly foreshadowing Jesus’ death (John 19:39: Nicodemus also came with about 30 kg of spices made from myrrh and aloes. This was the same Nicodemus who had visited Jesus one night.) Christians believe that the gift of myrrh showed that Jesus would suffer and die. In Mark 15:23, Jesus is offered wine with myrrh as an analgesic before his crucifixion, but He refused it. Myrrh would also be used in oil used for anointing kings, which has significance as the Magi had come to seek out the King of the Jews.

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The gifts are also all things that come from east of Israel in Arabia.
Both frankincense and myrrh are derived from the gummy sap that oozes out of the Boswellia and Commiphora trees, respectively, when their bark is cut. The leaking resin is allowed to harden and scraped off the trunk in tear-shaped droplets resembling candied pineapple; it may then be used in its dried form or steamed to yield essential oils.

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Their mission accomplished, and their animals well rested, the Magi packed all their belongings up again and prepared for their long homeward journey.
And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. (Matthew 2:12)

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Jesus left no material possessions behind after his death. His legacy, however, was his Word, or teaching, and his following (a few hundred people). Christmas is a time when we enjoy bestowing gifts on others; it is when we pray for peace on earth and goodwill to all men; we strive to love our neighbour as ourselves; and it is also a time of joy and hope for the future.

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Just how far did the Three Wise Men travel in order to meet the newborn King? Estimates vary according to how "the East" is interpreted, but it would have been at least 400 miles (640km) and could have been around 1700 miles (2735km)! If the distance was nearer the former, then the trip would have been accomplished in a few weeks or perhaps a month. The latter distance, however, given the route the Wise Men would have to have taken, and the state of many roads of the time, would have taken much, much longer meaning Jesus might have been around 18 months or two years old and living in a proper house with his parents by the time they arrived.

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This is the time of year when many countries celebrate Christmas with Nativity plays, where the old, old story is re-enacted by young children. If you attend a Nativity play in the next few weeks, picture Mary, very near her time, and her husband Joseph arriving at a stable, perhaps similar to this wooden barn, to await the miraculous birth. Were they visited there by the Three Wise Men? Very possibly!

But here our tour ends for today and it's time to return to our everyday lives.

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Help yourself to milk and iced biscuits and relax after your long journey to ancient Arabia, Judaea and back!

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It's now time for me to go back into the magic dolls' house and move on. Farewell, everyone! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

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Raquel, thank you for accompanying us on our journey back over 2000 years. We hope you enjoyed the event, and here's a special gift for Christmas!
Raquel has completed the quest! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also take part!