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WHEN JOSEPH
MET MARY

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

In today’s newsletter, we examine the unconventional beginnings of Jesus, say bye-bye Tiger King, uncover the mechanics of a polar vortex, see how treetop tours are attracting visitors … and do the latest Nat Geo quiz.

A painting of Mary and Joseph

PAINTING BY RAPHAEL (RAFFAELLO SANZIO OF URBINO, 1483-1520), PINACOTECA DI BRERA, MILAN, ITALY/BRIDGEMAN IMAGES

The Biblical tale of Joseph and Mary is an unconventional one for its time.

The Gospels say Mary produced the son of God by virgin birth, before she moved in with Joseph. That would have meant Mary birthed a child out of wedlock, which was punishable by death.

How did this delicate situation turn into a cornerstone of Christianity, celebrated with tidings of comfort and joy? That’s a question that’s been asked for more than 2,000 years.

Here’s our full story.

Please consider getting our full digital report and magazine by subscribing here.

A painting baby Jesus after his birth

PAINTING VIA ART IMAGES, GETTY IMAGES

From shame to radiance: Mary got pregnant while living in her parents’ home, before her marriage to Joseph was consummated, according to the Gospels. The out-of-wedlock birth, difficult in that era, has been portrayed with radiance in accounts and paintings, such as Raphael’s take on the couple’s marriage (at top) and Guido Reni’s “The Nativity at Night” (above). Read more.

STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

Bye bye Tiger King: U.S. president signs Big Cat Public Safety Act into law

What’s the winter solstice? Is it big for pagans? Your questions, answered Related: The role of Stonehenge

How fentanyl kills—and Narcan saves lives

Loot, plunder, then what? The pubs where pirates partied—and planned their next heists

This man makes armor ... for cats

What’s the polar vortex—and should we worry about it?

How do I know if I have long COVID?

Leave the cookies, Santa: Here’s the best time of the day to eat

Despite the warning, the Titanic was doomed

Napoleon escaped Christmas Eve bombing attempt

Here’s what you need to know about caribou and reindeer

WHERE IN THE WORLD?

A gif of a frog croaking

VIDEO BY @TRIKANSH_SHARMA

Hello ... This variety of a male bullfrog is a little less subtle with the salutations than Adele. It comes out after the rains end, calling loudly to attract females. Where is this boisterous, brightly colored bullfrog from? Click here for the answer.

More unusual mating rituals:
—When mating season arrives, these frogs melt
—This mating ritual ends with a stab to the head
—See: When grey whales get together
—The ‘homewrecker’ penguin

THE NIGHT SKIES

An illustration of seven planets across the sky

ILLUSTRATION BY ANDREW FAZEKAS

Holiday wishes on a star? You’ll get your chance tomorrow night as the annual Ursid meteor shower peaks with five to 15 meteors per hour. With a moonless night, you may see the fainter ones radiating out from near the North Star and its namesake constellation, Ursa Minor, in the high northern sky. Saturday night sky watchers may see the crescent moon form a celestial triangle with Venus and Mercury at dusk. After darkness falls Monday night, viewers with binoculars and telescopes can trace the seven other major planets of the solar system stretched out across the sky (illustrated above). — Andrew Fazekas

11 MUST-SEE STARGAZING EVENTS IN 2023

LAST GLIMPSE

A picture of people crossing a suspended bridge in a jungle

PHOTOGRAPH BY KHAICHUIN SIM, GETTY IMAGES

Walking on high: How can you spot tapirs, tigers, and notoriously shy primates without getting in their way? By looking upon them from the steel structures and swinging bridges of a canopy walk, such as that pictured above in Malaysia’s northern Borneo. The nation has more than a dozen treetop walks, Nat Geo reports.

UP TO THE HIGHEST HEIGHTS

Today’s soundtrack: Mary Don’t You Weep - Prince

This newsletter has been curated and edited by Jen Tse, Sydney Combs, and David Beard. Have an idea or a link? We'd love to hear from you at [email protected]. Thanks for reading, and Northern Hemisphere readers, remember: Every day will be longer from now until late June.

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