Seasons Greetings

For those of you who celebrate the Christmas holiday. What is your favorite part of the season?

Tell us some of the traditions you and your family practices around this time of year. If you don't celebrate Christmas, what exactly do you celebrate that is like this holiday?

The Winter Season? Snow? Snow? Ha-ha. Ha-ha-ha. Giggle, chortle, TerishD falls over laughing. Excuse me, no snow here.

Christmas Tree? Yeah, those are nice.

Beautiful Lights? Yeah, those are nice as well.

Religious Celebrations? Had my annual argument with the Jehovah Witnesses today. They don't worship Christmas for various reasons. I tell them that EVERY facet of the life of Christ needs to be celebrated - and that means his birth as well. Now, they can pick the day (so it has no bad connotation), they can pick the method (so it has no bad conotations), and I will celebrate with them. As happens every Christmas, they decline. Makes me wonder how pro-Christ they are.

Family? Yeah, it is nice, but also bothersome - well, in a nice way.

Movies? NO!!!

The secrets are my favorite. Not knowing what is really in the presents under the tree. Knowing that they are not bad secrets, but good things are being hidden from you I find to be so much fun. I keep telling children that if you look for trouble, you will find it. Christmas is one time of the year that you can look for good things, and know that they are waiting for you to open them.

I like just everything about Christmas. I love the decoration you see in stores, streets and in front of houses. And what would Christmas be without a tree? A real one of course. Nothing looks better then a real Christmas tree in your living room. Coming in the door, or out of a room in the morning and smelling the pines is something you just have to experience. And don't forget decorating the tree, love to do that.

I never had a Christmas like that since I'm in America though. We had a tree and that was it. Here we decorate the inside and outside of the house, which totally brings me in Christmas mood. I also love getting presents for my beloved ones. The excitement on their faces when they open it is just wonderful.

And oh my oh my, always remember the Christmas movies and the Christmas songs. Oh yeah how I love them. Movies from "I'll be home for Christmas" to "The Polar Express" and even cartoons like "Mickey's Christmas" is what I love to see on TV during the Christmas season.

And what would be better then snow on Christmas day!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!

My favorite part of Christmas is listening to all the other wise smart people insist they know the exact date of Christ's birth and it just happens to line up almost perfectly with the old Pagan winter holidays and they actually have the nerve to get offended when folks who actually are Pagan and understand the meaning behind all the trees and pretty lights insist upon having their practices and belief shown a tad bit of consideration and respect... Oh, and stories about people being trampled to death or shot over a sale on some television or toy or other bit of non-sense that's not only not worth dying over/going to jail but they'd likely lose interest in about a day and a half after they get it.

It all really confirms my lack of faith in the collective intelligence of humanity and reminds me of the dangers of going along with something just because everyone else says it's the "right" thing.

So, no there is no holiday I celebrate that is like Christmas... and I'm so glad of it.

I put the season winter.
Cause I like to watch as the world becomes quiet and the world is covered by a thick blanket of white snow.
As if the sky is saying stay warm ground below.
Though in California you don't get snow, I miss snow.

HYdraMStar wrote:

My favorite part of Christmas is listening to all the other wise smart people insist they know the exact date of Christ's birth and it just happens to line up almost perfectly with the old Pagan winter holidays and they actually have the nerve to get offended when folks who actually are Pagan and understand the meaning behind all the trees and pretty lights insist upon having their practices and belief shown a tad bit of consideration and respect...

Umm the story behind those lights and trees, is "they sell good" and that is about it.

Same with the big fat guy in a red suit, it sells. End of story.

If you want to pretend that there is more to it then that, I suppose you could, but you would be fooling yourself.

Just like I suppose you could try to input some spiritual meaning into it as well, but that burden would be entirely upon you.

Sure, I know, I know all about how the RCC kept the same holidays and similar festivities the Roman Pagan's followed to make the conversion easier for them. But that is about the have all end all of the influence. Just like atheist getting days off from work during the work week, is that a tribute to the Christian belief? You better believe it! Are you influenced by the belief because you get the day off? (I think you know the answer to that question).

So here is the deal, would you convert to Atheism if it meant loosing those days off from work? As well as needing to work all "religious" Holidays?

The 40 hour work week was established by Henry Ford to maintain workers, and has no religious implications, so I suppose it would be the same hours each week, just spanned over 7 days as opposed to 5.

So, you might still convert, but it would influence your decision, if not at first, then over time.

Well, anyway, the RCC was seeking mas conversion so ease was the predominant thing (After all, you said this enough times "people are stupid", so you need to cater to that), so they kept the fun festivities and such and gave them a Christian purpose. Anyway, the events or effects were not done in tribute to the "belief" or nature of the pagan ritual, and their is none now.

It was kept because it was "fun" and that is the have all, end all, of why we have any of that... It sells.

In 400 AD it sold conversions, today it sells product.

I suppose Pagan's might be duped into believing that any of this is tribute to their o;d beliefs, but that is like believing that Santa Claus is tribute to the mythology of Elves.

You end up looking rather foolish.

So in the real nature of the Holiday I say! Go! Eat! Buy! and Enjoy yourself! That why we celebrate it in the first place, it is (supposed to be) FUN!

(Oh and a buy lots and lots of stuff)

Urs wrote:

HYdraMStar wrote:

My favorite part of Christmas is listening to all the other wise smart people insist they know the exact date of Christ's birth and it just happens to line up almost perfectly with the old Pagan winter holidays and they actually have the nerve to get offended when folks who actually are Pagan and understand the meaning behind all the trees and pretty lights insist upon having their practices and belief shown a tad bit of consideration and respect...

Umm the story behind those lights and trees, is "they sell good" and that is about it.

Same with the big fat guy in a red suit, it sells. End of story.

If you want to pretend that there is more to it then that, I suppose you could, but you would be fooling yourself.

Just like I suppose you could try to input some spiritual meaning into it as well, but that burden would be entirely upon you.

Sure, I know, I know all about how the RCC kept the same holidays and similar festivities the Roman Pagan's followed to make the conversion easier for them. But that is about the have all end all of the influence. Just like atheist getting days off from work during the work week, is that a tribute to the Christian belief? You better believe it! Are you influenced by the belief because you get the day off? (I think you know the answer to that question).

So here is the deal, would you convert to Atheism if it meant loosing those days off from work? As well as needing to work all "religious" Holidays?

The 40 hour work week was established by Henry Ford to maintain workers, and has no religious implications, so I suppose it would be the same hours each week, just spanned over 7 days as opposed to 5.

So, you might still convert, but it would influence your decision, if not at first, then over time.

Well, anyway, the RCC was seeking mas conversion so ease was the predominant thing (After all, you said this enough times "people are stupid", so you need to cater to that), so they kept the fun festivities and such and gave them a Christian purpose. Anyway, the events or effects were not done in tribute to the "belief" or nature of the pagan ritual, and their is none now.

It was kept because it was "fun" and that is the have all, end all, of why we have any of that... It sells.

In 400 AD it sold conversions, today it sells product.

I suppose you could try and input some spiritual purpose or deep meaning into it, well, burden would be entirely upon you. I suppose Pagan's might be duped into believing that any of this is tribute to their o;d beliefs, but that is like believing that Santa Claus is tribute to the mythology of Elves.

You'd only be fooling yourself.

Well that isn't a fun way to live life. I mean I don't buy into the idea of Santa Claus makes toys and everything.
But I like to think there is a sense of magical essence throughout the world. Santa Claus may not exist,truth is its just your parents, but there is a sense of magic in the air during the winter seasons.
Maybe the real Santa Claus doesn't go down chimneys, maybe the real Santa Claus is the snow, the lights, the trees, and the over all happy feeling people feel. Maybe Santa Claus is the magic of happiness.
I don't like to look at my world as a place not filled with mystery or magic. I like to think nature in itself is somewhat magical and maybe there is a bit of magic in the seasons.
Present bearing Santa Claus may not exist, but surely Santa Claus that is the snow and the lights and the feelings. The Santa Claus that bears you the world may exist.

Urs wrote:

HYdraMStar wrote:

My favorite part of Christmas is listening to all the other wise smart people insist they know the exact date of Christ's birth and it just happens to line up almost perfectly with the old Pagan winter holidays and they actually have the nerve to get offended when folks who actually are Pagan and understand the meaning behind all the trees and pretty lights insist upon having their practices and belief shown a tad bit of consideration and respect...

Umm the story behind those lights and trees, is "they sell good" and that is about it.

Same with the big fat guy in a red suit, it sells. End of story.

If you want to pretend that there is more to it then that, I suppose you could, but you would be fooling yourself.

Just like I suppose you could try to input some spiritual meaning into it as well, but that burden would be entirely upon you.

Sure, I know, I know all about how the RCC kept the same holidays and similar festivities the Roman Pagan's followed to make the conversion easier for them. But that is about the have all end all of the influence. Just like atheist getting days off from work during the work week, is that a tribute to the Christian belief? You better believe it! Are you influenced by the belief because you get the day off? (I think you know the answer to that question).

So here is the deal, would you convert to Atheism if it meant loosing those days off from work? As well as needing to work all "religious" Holidays?

The 40 hour work week was established by Henry Ford to maintain workers, and has no religious implications, so I suppose it would be the same hours each week, just spanned over 7 days as opposed to 5.

So, you might still convert, but it would influence your decision, if not at first, then over time.

Well, anyway, the RCC was seeking mas conversion so ease was the predominant thing (After all, you said this enough times "people are stupid", so you need to cater to that), so they kept the fun festivities and such and gave them a Christian purpose. Anyway, the events or effects were not done in tribute to the "belief" or nature of the pagan ritual, and their is none now.

It was kept because it was "fun" and that is the have all, end all, of why we have any of that... It sells.

In 400 AD it sold conversions, today it sells product.

I suppose Pagan's might be duped into believing that any of this is tribute to their o;d beliefs, but that is like believing that Santa Claus is tribute to the mythology of Elves.

You end up looking rather foolish.

So in the real nature of the Holiday I say! Go! Eat! Buy! and Enjoy yourself! That why we celebrate it in the first place, it is (supposed to be) FUN!

(Oh and a buy lots and lots of stuff)

Urs, I don't know that you meant to, but you basically just agreed with what I was saying, except you seemed to miss my point that I was talking exclusively about are the sort of folks that literally believe Christmas day to be the date of Jesus's birth and have utterly no idea how trees and lights ever came into.

And just to be clear, I think it's all meaningless at this point and that's why I take no part in it what so ever. But I still find it highly amusing when some Christians get all beside themselves because some government building put up a Christmas display along side a Pagan or even Jewish one. I mean if they want to be mad at someone they should be mad at the forefathers of their faith for taking the easy route and going with as you so rightly put it what sold.

And you are absolutely 100% right, the RCC and the like cater to the stupidest element in humanity... Never thought I'd see the day a self-proclaimed Christian admitted to that fact. Must be some sort of Christmas miracle.

HYdraMStar wrote:

So in the real nature of the Holiday I say! Go! Eat! Buy! and Enjoy yourself! That why we celebrate it in the first place, it is (supposed to be) FUN!

(Oh and a buy lots and lots of stuff)

Urs, I don't know that you meant to, but you basically just agreed with what I was saying, except you seemed to miss my point that I was talking exclusively about are the sort of folks that literally believe Christmas day to be the date of Jesus's birth and have utterly no idea how trees and lights ever came into.[/quote]

It's as good a day as any, when you think about it.

Quote :

And just to be clear, I think it's all meaningless at this point and that's why I take no part in it what so ever. But I still find it highly amusing when some Christians get all beside themselves because some government building put up a Christmas display along side a Pagan or even Jewish one. I mean if they want to be mad at someone they should be mad at the forefathers of their faith for taking the easy route and going with as you so rightly put it what sold.

But the Jewish and Pagan's have nothing to do with Christmas in America, or Christmas as it is today, they have contributed nothing meaningful to date.

It was, and will always be, a product of Christians celebrating one of their holidays, and only Christians.

Quote :

And you are absolutely 100% right, the RCC and the like cater to the stupidest element in humanity... Never thought I'd see the day a self-proclaimed Christian admitted to that fact. Must be some sort of Christmas miracle.

Well the RCC, along with, oh, every government, public school system, public building, commercial business, and pretty much everything else has to cater to the lowest level of intellect.

It is just the nature of "dealing with the masses"

Wow, some interesting post here!

Whether or not it is the exact day Jesuse was born, it is the date that we Christians Celebrate the birth.

Spending time with family, enjoying seeing the children's eyes light up looking at the Christmas decorations, (yes, the natvity scene too), the meal we join together making; each fixing their favorite tranditional food from when they were growing up.

We get to spend time with family we don't get to see often because of distance or other circumstance. The granddaughters hugs when we drive up to their house...making memories that will stay with me forever!