The true meaning of christmas...

[PSUstoekl]

"Yule is a winter festival associated with the winter solstice celebrated in northern Europe since ancient times. Its Christianized form is called "Christmas", which is essentially the symbolism and traditions of Yule with the Christian story of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth superimposed upon it. Yule traditions include decorating a fir or spruce tree, burning a Yule log, the hanging of mistletoe and holly, giving gifts, and general celebration and merriment."

Hm.

Wikipedia

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Isn't that special!

 

[Moonbeam]

I think the true meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of a human being who took on consciously, the job of dying on the cross so that millions of other souls could realize that their self hate is a lie and that God is there in all our hearts. It is a celebration, I think, of a man whose love was so great he died so you could live and love instead.

 

[blackangst1]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I think the true meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of a human being who took on consciously, the job of dying on the cross so that millions of other souls could realize that their self hate is a lie and that God is there in all our hearts. It is a celebration, I think, of a man whose love was so great he died so you could live and love instead.

Moonie....I think you get it.

 

[jhu]

santa... hmmm... santa. let's move this letter here and this over here and what do we get? hmmm... perhaps... SATAN?!?!?!!!

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: jhu
santa... hmmm... santa. let's move this letter here and this over here and what do we get? hmmm... perhaps... SATAN?!?!?!!!

Long time no see. Merry Merry Christmas to you, you devil.

 

[PSUstoekl]

Originally posted by: jhu
santa... hmmm... santa. let's move this letter here and this over here and what do we get? hmmm... perhaps... SATAN?!?!?!!!

My mind is officially blown... this whole Santa thing was a trojan horse set up by the devil worshippers! How could I have been fooled...

That said, Merry Christmas to all!

 

[Slew Foot]

Buy shit and save the economy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jhu]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Long time no see. Merry Merry Christmas to you, you devil.

you too you crazy clown!

 

[WHAMPOM]

Originally posted by: PSUstoekl
"Yule is a winter festival associated with the winter solstice celebrated in northern Europe since ancient times. Its Christianized form is called "Christmas", which is essentially the symbolism and traditions of Yule with the Christian story of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth superimposed upon it. Yule traditions include decorating a fir or spruce tree, burning a Yule log, the hanging of mistletoe and holly, giving gifts, and general celebration and merriment."

Hm.

Wikipedia

End of year retail sales?

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: WHAMPOM

Originally posted by: PSUstoekl
"Yule is a winter festival associated with the winter solstice celebrated in northern Europe since ancient times. Its Christianized form is called "Christmas", which is essentially the symbolism and traditions of Yule with the Christian story of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth superimposed upon it. Yule traditions include decorating a fir or spruce tree, burning a Yule log, the hanging of mistletoe and holly, giving gifts, and general celebration and merriment."

Hm.

Wikipedia

End of year retail sales?

Yes, we peons owe it to the big corporations to go out and run up our credit to buy stuff we don't really need, just to improve their bottom lines...:roll:

Merry Merchant's Holiday!

 

[PSUstoekl]

Ride the wave, Boomer. Just give in, you know it's a soothing wave. A little whorish maybe, but soothing.

 

[Siddhartha]

The stories that Matthew and Luke provide about Jesus's birth are efforts to satisfy Hebrew prophecies, for example birth in Bethlehem, and to closely align Jesus with Moses. Going by Luke's story the birth happened in the spring.

As mentioned above the Christians co-opted pagan traditions by having December 25th as Jesus's birthday.

What gets me is that people are willing to fight over Christmas.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: WHAMPOM

Originally posted by: PSUstoekl
"Yule is a winter festival associated with the winter solstice celebrated in northern Europe since ancient times. Its Christianized form is called "Christmas", which is essentially the symbolism and traditions of Yule with the Christian story of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth superimposed upon it. Yule traditions include decorating a fir or spruce tree, burning a Yule log, the hanging of mistletoe and holly, giving gifts, and general celebration and merriment."

Hm.

Wikipedia

End of year retail sales?

Yes, we peons owe it to the big corporations to go out and run up our credit to buy stuff we don't really need, just to improve their bottom lines...:roll:

Merry Merchant's Holiday!

Then stop buying already.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Vic

Then stop buying already.

We more or less have. Gifts for the grandkids, gift cards for our kids, and that's about it. (granted, my wife and I just got home from a nice week in Maui, which was OUR X-mas, and we buy whatever we want during the year, so x-mas doesn't mean that much to us.) No more lavish X-mas or birthdays for the grandkids or our kids...keep it nice and simple...with a limited budget. (that has more to do with the grandkids' dad than anything else, but we've NEVER financed the gifts anyway...if we can't pay for them, they don't get them.
NONE of those $500 game consoles, or other spendy-trendy gifts from us old folks...Let their father foot the bill for those things. (as if he would...half the time he won't even buy food for the kids...but he always has beer...fucking asshole)

/me isn't a fan of the Merchant's Holiday...spend-spend-spend.

Seems like every year, there gets to be less and less Christ in X-mas...

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Seems like every year, there gets to be less and less Christ in X-mas...

This is a good thing.

 

[beyoku]

Originally posted by: Siddhartha
The stories that Matthew and Luke provide about Jesus's birth are efforts to satisfy Hebrew prophecies, for example birth in Bethlehem, and to closely align Jesus with Moses. Going by Luke's story the birth happened in the spring.

As mentioned above the Christians co-opted pagan traditions by having December 25th as Jesus's birthday.

What gets me is that people are willing to fight over Christmas.

Aint it sad.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: beyoku

Originally posted by: Siddhartha
The stories that Matthew and Luke provide about Jesus's birth are efforts to satisfy Hebrew prophecies, for example birth in Bethlehem, and to closely align Jesus with Moses. Going by Luke's story the birth happened in the spring.

As mentioned above the Christians co-opted pagan traditions by having December 25th as Jesus's birthday.

What gets me is that people are willing to fight over Christmas.

Aint it sad.

Yeah I'm not even a Christian and I love Christmas, Religious connotations and all.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Kadarin

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Seems like every year, there gets to be less and less Christ in X-mas...

This is a good thing.

Not really. I'm not a huge religious nut, and in fact, consider my self to be more of an agnostic than anything, but if we're going to celebrate a holiday (holy day) that is supposed to be the birth of Christ, (yes, I understand it's NOT really His birthday, but whatcha gonna do?) then there should be more Christ in Christmas and less "Spend, Spend, Spend"

 

[spittledip]

Christianity was established before Christmas was adopted by the Church.. Christmas being a pagan holiday (as also noted by OP link). I don't think God cares about Christmas. Christians should not fight to keep Christmas "Christian" as it is not really Christian to begin with.. and to fight for something like that suggests a misunderstanding of what Christ taught.

Also, upon reading that link, it is disgraceful the way those in power have used and abused Christianity to push their own agendas. I guess that is what makes a politician a politician. Isn't it funny how politicians are exactly the same throughout history?

 

[MadRat]

Originally posted by: Siddhartha
The stories that Matthew and Luke provide about Jesus's birth are efforts to satisfy Hebrew prophecies, for example birth in Bethlehem, and to closely align Jesus with Moses. Going by Luke's story the birth happened in the spring.

As mentioned above the Christians co-opted pagan traditions by having December 25th as Jesus's birthday.

Actually 360 days is the old calendar, the remaining 5 and a quarters days were the calendar adjustment. So the birth of Jesus was chosen on the last day of the old calendar. It was not about paganism, its just that even pagans could lay out accurate calendars. 360 days were the universal calendar across the entire world for quite a big chunk of human history.

And that remaining 5 and a quarters days of the year have always been a "dead week". A lot of societies had all 360 days planned out for them. The extra 5 and a quarters days was time that tradition societies had no use for, therefore it was considered useless.

 

[Thump553]

What does a wikipedia definition of "yule" have to do with "the true meaning of christmas" other than spoiling for yet another religious squabble here? This thread is nonsense (and this is coming from a very lapsed person).

To the OP, and anyone else interested, there was a very interested show on the History Channel last week about the origins of Christmas and differences in celebration. The historic English Christmas, with feasts, puddings, parties, etc. was barred by the Puritans when Oliver Cromwell took power. But they couldn't keep the partying spirit down, and it was eventually restored.

Even if you are non-religious, Christmas is a highlight of the year, a time to get together with family, and get together with friends, eat way too much, participate in consumeristic splurges and generally have fun. I enjoy it immensely.

 

[jonks]

The true meaning of Christmas is...presents. Don't you see? Presents.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHgI0-K0Wn0

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Kadarin

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Seems like every year, there gets to be less and less Christ in X-mas...

This is a good thing.

Not really. I'm not a huge religious nut, and in fact, consider my self to be more of an agnostic than anything, but if we're going to celebrate a holiday (holy day) that is supposed to be the birth of Christ, (yes, I understand it's NOT really His birthday, but whatcha gonna do?) then there should be more Christ in Christmas and less "Spend, Spend, Spend"

You are an agnostic advocating more Christ in Christmas?

You act like there are only two alternatives: A religious holiday vs a materialistic orgy of consumerism. Why not just celebrate the season with family and friends without worrying about either?

 

[piasabird]

Christ was born in April???