The pop-culture version of the Christmas story is that Jesus was born in Bethlehem at night under a star, aThe pop-culture version of the Christmas story is that Jesus was born in Bethlehem at night under a star, and three wise men (the Magi) showed up and gave him a bunch of gifts. Then, immediately that same night, they fled to Egypt to escape a city-wide infanticide initiated by the regional ruler, King Herod. This is an oversimplification, and it is not accurate.