I saw this posted up else where;
"Why do people take Chist out of Christmas anyways? think 2 of the reasons are (1)there scared they will affend people but dont realize that you are affending Christians and (2) they dont know how to respond to Jesus Christ. I just want to c what u guys think"
And I responded Thus;
3. There are more holiday's out there than just Christmas.
and in fact Christmas is a New Invention, the earliest known celebrations of Christmas according to the Catholic Encyclopedia was in the 6th century C.E. And the feast Day was moved to December 25th by one of the early Popes and an Roman Emperor, in attempt to fill a void and get the population to convert to Christianity because there was already Pagan Festivals celebrated at this time the Roman Saturnalia, and later on the Feast to Sol Invictus - The Unconquered Sun. December 25th was also said to be the Birth date of Mithra a Persian God, worshipped by Soldiers and Statesmen and upper class business people.
according to the website ChristianAnswers.net - The bible does not specifically mention when Christ was born, but it is suggessted it was sometime in late spring or Autumn, as the Shepards were in the fields watching thier flocks - and in December the fields in that time period and geographical area would be unproductive.
and Up until the 6th century, Early Christians celebrated the birth of Christ, at various points in time, some celebrated it in January as part of Epiphany.
Also, besides the Pagan Festivals to the gods, December 21st-25th is also the Winter Solstice when the sun is as its lowest point, and around December 25th was when the early people were able to tell the different position of the sun.
(Oh, and let's not forget the Influence of the Northern European/Nordic Festivities of Yule on our Modern Christmas Season---though that is neither here nor there.)
So Maybe, people don't celebrate Jesus' birth at Christmas/Yule/Saturnalia/Winter Solstice time because they realize Jesus wasnt born in December...and the date was only moved to December in attempt to Christianize the Soslstice Festivities centuries after Christ was said to have existed.
Just a Thought maybe.
But, Still if you want to stick to your traditions and celebrate Jesus' birthday on not his birthday...that is certainly your right and im not gonna stop you. in fact I'll do you one better - Merry Christmas!
I just hope that you extend the same courtesy to me, and not presume that I celebrate Christmas in the same way you do, and respect my right to honor this season for the original intended purpose and not the later invention of the birth of the Christ Child, Thank you.
----------So, Was my response diplomatic, and respectful? do you think it will be recieved well? or am I a raging liberal Bah humbugger?You decide, comment and weigh in with your own thoughts.
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 34
ha ha
*blah typos - original comment removed and reposted*
Merry Mass of Christ
riven upon the four-fold way
cut into deity and man
on the crossroads
at the witching hour.
Sing praise of all things holy
Make us see and feel the pain
the horror of wrenching heart
from soul. Of blithely obliging
demonic Angel Fate
that each generation may descend
into fiery pits of degradation
reaching, reaching
into and out of the story, the path.
If Christ is love,
if love is what we worship, eyes closed
in holy communion,
what keeps us riven
on the crossroads?
What keeps us from reaching out
to bind each other's wounds?
(c) December 10, 2006 Laurie Corzett/libramoon
Seriously? Has someone come into your home or your church to do this censoring?
Seriously? Has someone come into your home or your church to do this censoring? "
Sandy Knauer, Dec 6, 2008, 11:22pm EST
Heh, Sandy, I like your style kid.
I am "Gathering For Yule/Solstice/Christmas" After all :-D
You said, "I just hope that you extend the same courtesy to me, and not presume that I celebrate Christmas in the same way you do, and respect my right to honor this season for the original intended purpose and not the later invention of the birth of the Christ Child, Thank you."
So how do you celebrate Roman Saturnalia?
Oh, and happy Roman Saturnalia, by the way.
at this time, I choose to see the "re-born" sun/god as an archetype for all the gods said to have been born at this time of year and have associations with the sun; Saturn, Helios, Mithra, Thor, and the Christ Child etc.
so while, I take my old world holiday, I use the modern adaptation, and I still honor the modern "Christmas" the tradition of the birth of the Christ Child, I just tend to do it on the Winter Solstice, as well as honoring the birth of all the "sun" gods. so instead of a birthday for one newborn god/child of light I just assume have a party for all of them.
does that make sense?
Thanks for the comment.
Bronners is open 364 days a year and is the size of several football fields-- peddling all the CHRISTmas merchandise you could imagine from glowing trees to ornaments to cards, etc, etc. And even though 90% of the ornaments are made in China, the owner reassures you they are crafted by Christian Chinamen.
Did I mention their wide variety of Jewish Christmas tree ornaments?
Looking for the elusive "Santa with rifle" figure? They got it.
Good to know there is a place dedicated to preserving the rich and unchanging tradition of His birth (so much so, they've trademarked it!)