In this holiday episode of History for Cocktail Parties, hack historians James Ottley and Thornton Kennedy explore the historical roots of the Christmas story, peeling back the layers behind one of the most familiar narratives in Western civilization. The hosts examine the arrival of the Magi and the meaning behind their famous gifts, the political and logistical implications of the Roman census, and the very real fear sparked in Jerusalem by rumors of a newborn king. Along the way, they unpack King Herod’s reaction, the importance of Bethlehem, and the mystery of the star that guided travelers across the ancient world.