(a) Joseph took his pregnant wife, Mary, from Nazareth to Bethlehem in response to the emperor's order concerning the census. In Bethlehem, there was no more room in all the inns and Joseph, therefore, took Mary to a manger where she gave birth to her son, Jesus Christ. Angels of God proclaimed the birth to shepherds who went to the manger and saw the child. After eight days, the child was circumcised and named Jesus.
He was duly brought to the temple in Jerusalem for the rite of purification (of the mother) during which the appropriate sacrifice was offered. In the temple was a devout or righteous man, Simeon, to whom it was revealed that he would not see death until he had seen Christ. When the parents of Jesus came into the temple, Simeon took Jesus in his hands and blessed God. Then he said the "Nunc Dimittis", praising God for his glory which he was vouchsafed to behold. He prophesied that Jesus was set for the rise and fall of Israel but that a sword would pierce through many souls. The parents marvelled at all that Simeon said about the child, but kept it all in mind. There was also an old (widowed) prophetess, Anna, who came into the temple at that moment and gave thanks to God for the child, Jesus.

(b) Reasons for the rituals of circumcision and the temple presentation are:
(i) As a Jew by birth, Jesus was by law expected to be circumcised on the eighth day.
(ii) This was in accordance with the covenant entered into by God and Abraham or a physical symbol of the covenant.
(iii) It was also a Mosaic stipulation that a Jewish son who opened his mother's womb must be presented to God in the temple.
(iv) Sacrifices of purification (for the mother) were to accompany this with a concessional provision for poor parents, of two turtle doves or two pigeons instead of the usual sheep or goat (Lev. 12 Vs 8)