What inspired #JavierGarciaLemus to paint the #Annunciation? Doing homage to the Lady who saved him from death in the sea at 16 y/o. Sinking into the depths, knowing he was drowning, he prayed “Mary help me!” Suddenly her silhouette brightened the darkness & he shot up out of the sea. https://dailymeditationswithmatthewfox.org/2025/03/26/the-annunciation-one-artists-take-on-the-times-we-live-in/
The Annunciation is one of the very first feasts observed by the early Church. It was widely held that Jesus Christ was crucified on the day of the Annunciation, and they calculated that that had occurred on March 25 that year.
Originally, the Nativity, visit of the Magi, and Baptism were all celebrated on January 6. When it was decided to break Nativity into its own feast, they added nine months to the preexisting Annunciation date in order to arrive at December 25.
That puts paid to the Saturnalia/Christmas myth.
