Actually, the King James bible (ca 1611) is the "traditional" English version most of us think of, and while it is beautifully written, was done in a purposely "antique" style even then!

The events described in the scriptures would have been originally spoken in Aramaic [and I don't think "The Holly & the Ivy" would scan well in Aramaic, or even Greek or Latin, quite frankly! Now "Rudolph...", THAT would be a different story ;~)! ].

Jesus was borrn during lambing time, when "shepherds keep watch over their flocks by night", so it was certainly springtime. But those early Church fathers were nothing if not clever & cunning in adapting the new religious observances to old customs: people have always had some sort of mid-winter festival, so they just changed its name!

Pax, D.