A month ago in the French city of Bourges, Kay and I stood in front of a nativity scene in the town’s great, medieval cathedral. There were the figures of Mary, Joseph, the Magi, the shepherds, etc. What was missing on those days before Christmas was the figure of the baby Jesus. Of course, we celebrate the birth of Christ on the 25th of December, so, according to the French, it would be irrational for him to appear before then.