The Holy Innocents: The First Martyrs for Christ
After the Magi let it slip that they were looking for the newborn King of the Jews, the tyrant King...
Gunther Simmermacher
Christmas Traditions in 3 Countries
GERMANY The BUZZ: In Germany, Santa Claus visits twice: on December 6 in the form of St Nicholas, who places...
The Story behind ‘Away in a Manger’
Günther Simmermacher’s biography of a Christmas carol – Everybody knows the carol “Away In A Manger”, but nobody knows who wrote...
The Big Christmas Quiz
1. Which city is furthest from Bethlehem? a) Cairo b) Jerusalem c) Nazareth 2. Which South African archbishop was born...
History in Colour: Christmas in New York, 1910
A snapshot from the past, colourised exclusively for The Southern Cross Children in New York City go window-shopping as Christmas...
Jesus, born in a cave in about 4 BC
Debate continues about when Jesus was born and whether Bethlehem was the actual birthplace. Still, some sense can be made...
Did the Church ‘steal’ Christmas from pagans?
Question: According to my priest, December 25 is not the birthday of Our Lord Jesus, and the Church simply turned...
Shrines around the World: Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Las Lajas, Colombia
Where’s that: The sanctuary of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Las Lajas is located in a canyon of...
White Christmas in Summer?
Dear Reader, Every year, many Christians sound the alarm that the feast of the Nativity has been hijacked by commercial...
