The War on Christmas.

Snort.

He's saying the Hispanic vote will become overwhelming and they are homophobic and christianityophilic.


So, we're gonna lose.

You do know that Luther (as well as other reformers) 'created' Christmas Eve as the secular part, with presents etc - opposed to the Christian Christmas the following two days? (And opposed to the traditional "gift-presenting" of the Catholics: December 6 [St. Niclas] resp. January 6 [Epiphany].)

It's all intertwined, tko.

The point is. It's interesting what we AREN'T talking about. The so called culture "War on Christmas" has almost become a part of the holidays itself. I think that maybe people are so sobered by real problems in the world that they don't care to be the asshole to make mountains out of molehills.

It's not just the religious either. I've heard zero on the secular front about this too. It's kind of like a stalemate. Whoever makes the first move is the asshole in this case.

I'll just have to watch FOX news (in moderation of course) around Thanksgiving and see what gems they parade around for ratings.

T
K
O

Y'know, now that I think about it, I haven't heard too many Xmas carols being played as background music in some of the stores I've been in. They usually start right after Halloween. What's up with that?

O'Reilly has already begun with a short segment last week.

i can't wait for the syracuse NPR station to broadcast the annual two-hour "christmas jazz" special .
it's the finest jazz there is ! i've taped several of them over the years and by december i'll be ready to hear my kind of christmas music .
of course , there is also my favourite spike jones christmas cd - my kind of christmas music - courtesy of ehbeth .
so let the good times roll - as long as it's jazz !
hbg

I make a point of walking out of stores that are playing Christmas music before I'm ready for it. This year that could mean New Year's. It means I can't go to any malls - so it's all to the good.

Same thing with radio stations. Had to switch the car radio 3 times this morning before I found a station that wasn't carrying on about Christmas. blecccch

http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/

The holiday itself is ancient, and sacred to many ethnic groups of the northern temperate zone, as being the "death" of the old year, premonitory of the birth of a new year.

The particular date, December 25th, was, in the Roman Empire, the dies natalis solis invicti, the "birthday of the unconquered [alternatively, the unconquerable] sun [god]." The "sun god" in question was attributed to several different existant sun god cults, but probably the most significant was the cult of Mithras, which was almost universally observed in the legions, and which had therefore become very popular in imperial society outside the military. All of this occurred well before christianity became widespread and popular. If the adoption of this as the "birthday" of the putative Jesus were an attempt to ingratiate the cult with the followers of Mithras, it was probably largely a failure. What written records survive suggest that the legionaries viewed christianity with contempt, as a "slave religion," for people too weak or too cowardly to take their own fate in their hands, and instead dreaming of "pie in the sky by and by when you die."

The attributes which we associate with this holiday are almost all exclusively relicts of "pagan" practises which pre-date the spread of christianity in Europe. Mistletoe was sacred to the Druids, and two enemies meeting under mistletoe (it is a parasitic plant which grows on the boughs of trees) were constrained to set aside their antipathy and to go peacefully their separate ways. Although it is unlikely that this literally happened, Druids would arrange such a meeting for symbolic purposes, in the hope of forestalling potentially ruinous feuds. Kissing under the mistletoes is a remnant of those beliefs.

Christmas trees, invariably evergreens, are the relicts of the evergreen boughs with which both Germanic and Celtic people decorated their homes at the approach of the winter solstice. The evergreen represented the promise of nature which would renew itself after every winter--this was very significant because winter was a time when people and the few chosen livestock just barely survived--many people and animals died in winter despite the best efforts of the family or community.

Burning the yule log was a tradition among Germanic and Celtic tribes as well, regardless of what name they used for the symbolic fire. The idea was to burn a huge log (which was continually renewed, if necessary) to keep light and warmth in the world, as the sun "died" and was "reborn." The symbolic fire would be kept alight (sometimes for ten days or longer) until the noticeably shortening days had begun noticeably to lengthen (near the end of December, as we understand the calendar). To celebrate the by then sure, certain return of the sun, people would exchange gifts.

The entire holiday idea is a load of claptrap. What we have for a Christmas holiday is an amalgam, a mish-mash of ancient "pagan" traditions. Anyone who believes that the putative Jesus was actually born on December 25ht, and that somehow this makes this holiday "sacred" is indulging a religious superstition which others have a right to reject, and to reject publicly. At the same time, people of no particular religious fervor have as much right to regale themselves with the relicts of ancient holiday traditions.

http://www.gazette.com/news/focus_43586___article.html/lays_eliminationg.html





Cycloptichorn

That was cute . . .

cyclo
I know. Just wrote about it on my blog. Truly heart-warming.

You are so venomous sometimes Set (and yet lovable) - If anything you should feel sorry for people who still think that is Jesus' actual Birthday. Those of us who like to honor Christmas as a celebration in memory of that should be able to do so without being bashed for it...just as those who want to celebrate it another way should be able to do so without being bashed for it.

But unfortunately we live in a world that feels that it has to belittle and make others feel stupid for believing a certain way - that is most people these days - whether Christian, Atheist - whatever - many folks believe that they have to be right and will make others feel that they are totally and completely ridiculous for believing that way. It seems to me that the basis of this is insecurity...but whatever - I do believe that we should let up on each other a bit and enjoy the season however we feel led. I guess that means I have to let the Eeyores and Grinches of the world pooh pooh it all...such a shame.

I would like to believe that most people who crusade so avidly about things that do not really matter have their hearts in the right place - though excluding others and the way they believe will eventually bite them on the butt - at least that is what I think. It is a hard thing reconciling our need to be right in our beliefs and accepting others beliefs that they are right about theirs.

I have come to understand something since being on A2K - and that is that I do not have to be right or belittle in order to feel good about my own beliefs...and I do not have to allow others make me feel stupid because I believe the way I do. This is a good thing!

I like having Christ in my Christmas - but it does not mean I am offended when I hear someone wish me Happy Holidays or even Happy Hannukkah...nor will I not go to a store because they have taken on my preferred phrasing. But I don't want to have to step on egg shells because I accidentally say it to someone who doesn't believe the same way I do either. I am a reasonably thoughtful person - but making me overthink things by being so P.C. I am scared to offend is no fun either. I hope that I take each good wish for what it really is - and that is that I am enjoying the season.

I believe that all Christmas traditions should be stamped out except for that one where if you dangle mistletoe above your crotch, women have to give you oral pleasure.

What's in it for them?

You'll have to ask them that question. Or, if you're really curious...

<dangling mistletoe off belt buckle>

Bad Kicky! Stop that!

don't hold your breath there sweety.

Oh come on, don't be such a Scrooge!

You might inquire as to why he's chosen a twig of mistlelittletoe