Bah Humbug!

GBE · Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 6:30 pm Post subject: Bah Humbug!

Ok, so, this isn't an anti-Christmas thread, but it got you all looking.. Twisted Evil

Anyways, I just wanted to ask a simple question, since these sell like hotcakes... Surprised

Wy do YOU celebrate Christmas, if you do at all..? I know what Christmas is supposed to be about, but that doesn't necessarily dictate any actions taken. So, why exactly do you celebrate Christmas..?

Kat_05 · Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 10:19 pm Post subject:

Grandma was Catholic -therefore Christmas stands.

What Grandma says goes, past that it's a kind of family tradition. Besides, someone has to make a celebration to compete with those pagans and their Yule!

((OOC: Just kidding!
*runs from her various rl pagan friends))

-Think on this:
Jesus is thought to have been born in Spring or Early Summer. Why celebrate in Winter?
The church outlawed mistletoe because of it's pagan symbolisim, and declared Holly a suitable replacement. Did it work?

TiChei · White Belt Old Friend Posts: 63

Why do I celebrate christmas? I'm Catholic (Not strongly, infact in the loosest possible meaning) and it is a Catholic tradition simple.

And it's my personal belief that we celebrate christmas in winter because if we didn't it would be too close to Easter and then we wouldn't have a control over the whole year with holidays every so often, but mainly in one area of the year.

And the holly thing worked for me at least, I've got holly everywhere...it hurts.

MDude · White Belt Old Friend Evil Council Member Posts: 341

Some reason or another. Because my family is vaugely Christian, presents are fun, and we need something to do during the winter break?

LordPsycho · Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2006 8:17 pm Post subject:

I (speaking as Rodney), am a devout Christian, and try to celebrate it not by the whole "Christmas trees Oh my God what did you get me" type of secular Christmas made so by Corporate America (who, believe it or not, really did invent Santa as we know him today), but by remembering what it is really about, which is remembering and observing the birth of Jesus Christ

Which would be much easier if it were some time in the summer, which is when the shepards would have had their sheep in the fields (part of the traditional Nativity story).

Cloud · Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 11:31 am Post subject:

Mostly Christmas is celebrated in our house hold to spend time with our family that we won't necessarily see a lot of. That's how I see it anyway since none of us are really religious. We used to go to church when we were younger but as we all grew up we lost interest.

((I don't know if this is true but Santa used to wear green until Coca Cola got a hold of him. Obviously their corporate colours are red so they changed his clothes to fit this. Can you believe it? Santa is now a part of the Coca Cola company, it wouldn't surprise me if one day his sleigh was powered by the darkened substance itself.))

Somefreakoverthere · Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 2:37 pm Post subject:

((Cloud, be quite! People get nervous went you mention Them -(Why? They put this type of acid used to clear up the road after major accidents in their products.)- ))

I celbrate it since my cousins still belive in Santa, even though Hogswatch is the greatest winter festival of all!

Falhado · Red Belt (Mod) Old Friend Posts: 211

Indeed, Christianiy absorbed what it could not crush. As an example of who should be celebrated on the 25th of December, please read the following article, and you may find yourself suprised: Mithras

What the article does not mention is that Mithras had 12 apostles also, this occuring before the birth of Jesus.

Also, please take into account, however stubborn the beliefs, Jehovas Witnesses have the belief, or at least have made mention that Jesus was born on the 1st of October. However, other religions have refused, or cannot place a date on his birthday.

Also, the dates for the celebration of Jesus' rebirth for Easter and his birthday celebration were in fact decided 500 years after he had died. Odd isn't how these things escape the common teachings of the classrooms and churches.

Not to cast a dim light on any religions, but the failure to teach of ones true history, even in religious texts is a failure to show ones true faith in such teachings. It is why, with my character, I refuse to align myself with one religion in totalitarian form, as many have some short comings, and many have such dark pasts that are still un-apologised for, and there are still problems in comunication between religions, that I did not wish to pitch myself as a foolish character, nor in fact a foolish person.

I hope to only learn what I can, however long it may take, in order to form a reliable judgement. As an answer to the original question, I celebrate Christmas as a celeration of a year past and of my friends, my family and everything that I have achieved.

As a passing note to a year gone by, I forget which religion or culture it was, but they celebrated on the 25th December (possibly the Mithranians) as a celebration of surviving the winter solistice.

Whatever your beliefs however, I hope you all had a well deserved Christmas break, and had a wonderful time.

UncleAsriel · Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 8:32 pm Post subject:

Kat, wasn't the holly oak also linked to pagan roots? Oaks were sacred to the powerful thunder god Thor and were quite often the host for the parasitic mistletoe. Holly's association with this power led it to being the legendary tree from which the True Cross was made. According to folk-tale, all other trees refused to be cut into the wood for the True Cross, and splintered into millions of pieces at the first blow of an ax. The oak, being such a mighty plant, could not break apart so easily, and was thus fashioned into the historical relic. Such an association made it an important Christmas symbol.

In other groovy news from ancient history: if two Scandinavian enemies encountered one another under a mistletoe plant in the forest, they rest a day before engaging in hostilities. Now you know!

Kat_05 · Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 10:14 am Post subject:

You're right on the mistletoe, which also had a strong connection with Frigga. The Church allowed holly because of it's connection with the true cross, which was publicized much further than any relation with Thor. The true cross is claimed by the CHRISTIANS, remember?

Wink

None or your pagan jargon here!

Even though you're right on all counts....

addman · Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 3:25 am Post subject:

Why do I celebrate Christmas? In the spirit it was intended, goodwill to all, it's rewarding to do something nice for the ones close to you once in a while and get them a gift they'd really enjoy, and also it's a good time to bond with family and friends. I'm not a Christian, and I sometimes wonder if I should celebrate Christmas because of it, but then of course, everyone celebrates it regardless of what they believe. Plus, there's nothing wrong with a little festive cheer regardless of what religion you hold or where you are from.

Netdroid9 · Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 7:51 am Post subject:

And why do I celebrate Christmas, even though I'm an Atheist?

'Cause I get free stuff.

Goron40 · Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 7:58 am Post subject:

Leporidae · Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 12:26 pm Post subject:

Let me think here for a bit . . .

It's also a bit confusing for me about why I celebrate Christmas. I happen to be Jewish, but I'm not very religous at all. And neither is my family, frankly. I just consider myself a Jew becuse I'm 1/4 German Jew (And if you count my regular german heritage, I'm 1/2 german) Not to sound greedy, but I think we celebrate christmas becuse it's fun and (possibly) we get stuff Razz

I don't mind so much. The tree is especilly preatty, and so are the christmas lights.

addman · Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 4:19 am Post subject:

Actually, the decoration get on my nerves a bit. They just seem so tacky really, especially the folks who hang lights all around the outside of their house and blind drivers passing by.

By the way, on an unrelated note, when does Lep get her EC belt?