In view of the discussion on timing of Census taking in the years close to Jesus birth, I note that it appears that He might have been born in 8BC. How would that affect the timing of the course of Abijah and the birth of John Baptist? I suspect that we have long doubted the actual counting of AD years as being inaccurate. Perhaps the years should have been counted from the Crucifixion, that might have been more accurate. Thankfully I am long adjusted to ignoring Christmas, but would like to have some idea of which month the Lord was born. I have no doubt that it was on one of the significant Feast Days, I cannot believe that God the Father would have permitted this even to fall on an unimportant day. Such a shame that the rejoicing at His birth seems so strictly avoided by the churches in our tradition, even at a more appropriate season.