Posted on 12/06/2006 6:25:26 AM PST by Risha
bump
THere's oodles of false presumption here.
The 25th of Kislev, the Jewish month most closely approximating December, was celebrated as the day that the Spirit of God came to live in the Temple once again (after the desecration by the Selucids).
Saturnalia was not on the 25th, until after Christianity.
Out of curiosity, if these pagan religions were so thoughtful and advanced (and had such cool traditions) - why did they die out?
Actually, if you haven't heard this, you probably live under a rock in the middle of Afghanistan. EVERYONE in America has, at one time or another, been subject to some self righteous jackass explaining that Christmas is meaningless because other cultures liked to have mid-winter parties, too.
Give it a frikkin' rest.
Further.. It is a historical fact that Jesus was killed on March 25. Ancient Jews and ancient Christians believed great prophets were usually killed on the anniversary of their conception, so much so that Catholics still refer to the date of a saint's death as their "heavenly birthday." A perfect nine months after March 25th... is December 25th.
And a Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Our cultural symbols are used within the context of our culture. Other contexts are irrelevant and meaningless.
So yes, Merry Christmas. :-)
Yes, all the PAGAN stories appear at this time of the year to REMIND all of us Christian just how PAGAN our holiday is.
I don't care WHEN Christ was born but the fact that we CELEBRATE HIS birth is what is important to me.
His birth is acknowledged world-wide whether or not you are a Christian.
And all the Pagan references will never deter our homage to Him.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
If there is any doubt that Christianity uses the date of Christ's death to suppose the date of his birth, the Eastern Orthodox calendar's date of Christmas, January 6, is precisely nine months after their calculation of the date of Christ's death.
LOL! I'll never look at missletoe (sp?) the same again.
Now, where is some that I can stand under....
:-)
Yeah? So?
The fact that "pagan" ritual is incorporated into our traditions is what, exactly?
Personally I think its great...a connection with a long distant past that has evolved.
This is nothing new. The origin of the celebration of Christmas as the birth of Christ was in fact the church taking a widely celebrated pagan holiday and making a holy observance out of it.
While many of the original traditions were of pagan origin, they were modified into what they have become today as symbols of various elements of Christ's birth.
So, yes I wish you a Merry Christmas.
They became Muslims.
Just make damned sure there are lots of presents under the CHRISTMAS TREE!
I understand there is a lot of debate about this, but I really don't care. It's a good time of year (anytime really)to remember the Savior and it's a fun time for kids of all ages.
Give it a rest and have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
SZ
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Seriously, just how many years DOES it take for a holiday to stand on it's own?
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Take any Comp Religion 101 class at your local CC to get your answer. There is nothing new or in correct in any of this. People have always used old traditions as a basis for new ones.
There is no pagan origin of Christmas. Christmas is a religious holiday commemorating the birth of Christ. All the glitter is pagan. "Christmas" trees, tinsel, snowflakes, are not Christian and have nothing to do with Christmas. They come at the same time and are thus confused by little minds with the religious holiday.
Same for Easter and bunnies, eggs, baskets.
Don't care.
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