Originally posted by demonseedno, it isn't. it is celebrated on/around the same date, and shares some similarities in the way it is celebrated, but that does not amount to identity. clearly, the concept of christmas is the celebration of the birth of the son of the christian god, whereas the pagan festival celebrated around the same time is conceptually very distinct.
That's okay because Christmas is technically a Pagan festival.
Originally posted by Iron MonkeyPlus Solstice was three days ago.
no, it isn't. it is celebrated on/around the same date, and shares some similarities in the way it is celebrated, but that does not amount to identity. clearly, the concept of christmas is the celebration of the birth of the son of the christian god, whereas the pagan festival celebrated around the same time is conceptually very distinct.
Merry Christmas to all! See you in a couple days!
Originally posted by pawnhandlerMerry Christmas from all of us in Pennyslvania, see you in 2008! My christmas was especially good this year, I obtained employment in a situation where I thought myself unemployable and go from a 160 mile commute from my former job which is now part time 2 days a week with no benefits to starting a new one Jan 3 only 20 miles away and full benefits! Good way to start a new year!
Plus Solstice was three days ago.
Merry Christmas to all! See you in a couple days!
Originally posted by Iron MonkeyI would say it's neither purely Christian nor purely Pagan. It's a blend of several religions, traditions and cultures. It also depends on the country, region, and individual choices what blend you get and where the main emphasis lies. Obviously, for most Christians the main emphasis lies on the birth of Jesus, but most of them still integrate other aspects into their celebration as well. On the other hand, many non-Christians include Christian aspects into their version of the holiday (which, by the way, is still called "jul", i.e. "Yule", in Norway, even by Christians).
no, it isn't. it is celebrated on/around the same date, and shares some similarities in the way it is celebrated, but that does not amount to identity. clearly, the concept of christmas is the celebration of the birth of the son of the christian god, whereas the pagan festival celebrated around the same time is conceptually very distinct.
Originally posted by Iron MonkeyIt's origins are Pagan. The date is a Pagan festival and has nothing to do with the birth of Christ.
no, it isn't. it is celebrated on/around the same date, and shares some similarities in the way it is celebrated, but that does not amount to identity. clearly, the concept of christmas is the celebration of the birth of the son of the christian god, whereas the pagan festival celebrated around the same time is conceptually very distinct.
I would say that's it's neither Pagan nor religious now but the culmination of a year of consumerism.
I have been reading some of your posts, you're really dull. Would you consider making them more lively? If it takes ME to tell you it shows how dull you are.
I keep hearing people talk about the consumerism of Christmas, and for those who celebrate "secular Christmas" and those who are only around such people, it's understandable that you think that's what it's turned into. However there are still a very large number of people who see it as a religious holiday and a very important one at that. Some go so far as to put up *annoying* reminders such as signs declaring that *Jesus is the reason for the season,* *put Christ back in Christmas,* etc. They might seem invisible if they're not the sort of people you tend to hang out with, but believe me there are multitudes of them.
Let me share my Christmas e-mail with you (censored version, but you can be sure I made the uncensored version as clear as humanly possible):
Friends, family, countrymen, non-countrymen, colleagues and people I barely know...
Once again that time of year is upon us,
Like a full moon over Transalvania, Like the presents of Christmas past gathering dust in your open cupboards,
As sure as fairy tales come true and as certain as Jesus was born in a bloody manger...
Yup. It's The time of year when people like to send pieces of carton with imagineless monologue to each other,
The season to be jolly and coincidently, and quite poetically, commit suicide in,
The month to stuff your face silly and give to Oxfam (NOVIB for the Dutch amongst you),
The weeks in which we take a moment to think about the good things we have to be thankful for:
Global warming, spending billions on jet fighters and realising that humans are the only creatures in the world which actually...
Wipe their own arses.
So let me leave you in no doubt, what-so-ever, that this mail is sent to over 50 unlucky people besides your unspecial self!
Let me remind you that I have less Christmas spirit than Scrooge on a vodka binge and King Herod on speed; combined.
And please let me make it clear to all concerned that you're on my Christmas list until the day I die.
That being said,
Happy ****ing Christmas then!
Yours abiding,
Mark
Originally posted by shavixmirThat's just so ... heartfelt!
Let me share my Christmas e-mail with you (censored version, but you can be sure I made the uncensored version as clear as humanly possible):
Friends, family, countrymen, non-countrymen, colleagues and people I barely know...
Once again that time of year is upon us,
Like a full moon over Transalvania, Like the presents of Christmas past gatherin ...[text shortened]... y I die.
That being said,
Happy ****ing Christmas then!
Yours abiding,
Mark