Christmas???

[glynndah]

I have friends, no, acquaintances, really, who get very upset when someone wishes them "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" instead of "Merry Christmas" because, of course, Christmas is the only real holiday. I have no problem with whichever one I get. I accept it with the spirit in which it was bestowed.

 

[JagFarlane]

-sigh- Ah, yes, Christmas....the retailers favorite day, which gives them Black Friday [Black Friday, for those of you who don't know, originates its name because accountants used to keep ledgers in handwriting, and wrote negatives in red. Its called Black Friday because thats the day accountants generally were able to write in black ink, indicating making a profit for the year]. And so they push the envelope, who can really blame them? They're there to make money.
As such they've made Thanksgiving no more than a footnote, and are en route to making Halloween the same as well.
I have some issues with it, a lot of them are personally, mainly family clamoring for my leave time during the holidays. -sigh- This will make the 5th Christmas that I've spent running around [spent the one in '03 in bootcamp] between divorced parents and seeing my grandparents. Finally just dealing with it this year, and getting a damned hotel room, otherwise visiting mom has meant sleeping on a damned air mattress that deflates halfway through the night, and waking on the floor.
Bleh...

 

[R. Richard]

I'll stick with Happy Holidays, thank you very much.

From Wiki:
There is a theory that Christians in the fourth century assigned December 25 (the Winter Solstice on the Julian calendar) as Christ's birthday (and thus Christmas) because pagans already observed this day as a holiday. As the dates of Saturnalia are not precisely coincident with Christmas, a more refined argument is that Christmas was set on the feast of Sol Invictus, which was on December 25, and which had supplanted Saturnalia. However, with many of the traditions of Saturnalia incorporated into Sol Invictus, it is possible that some of those traditions were also carried forward as a part of the Christian holiday.

 

[kromen]

Fir trees are being set up across the street as I type.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

What is this "Christmas" thing that everyone keeps referring to? It's Festivus for the rest of us!

 

[Selena_Kitt]

I'm done Christmas shopping for the kids. All online. I have to finish shopping for hubbie this weekend (again... online) and then I'm done altogether. Everything's already wrapped and packed away until xmas eve.

You couldn't drag me to a mall this time of year. *shudder* The kids go "see Santa" at a free local gathering where they can make ornaments and stuff.

We don't put up the tree until after Thanksgiving though.

 

[sr71plt]

I'm done Christmas shopping for the kids. All online. I have to finish shopping for hubbie this weekend (again... online) and then I'm done altogether. Everything's already wrapped and packed away until xmas eve.

You couldn't drag me to a mall this time of year. *shudder* The kids go "see Santa" at a free local gathering where they can make ornaments and stuff.

We don't put up the tree until after Thanksgiving though.

This might actually be a good year to cruise the mall--quite likely a lot fewer people. We took a road trip taking us through D.C. last weekend, and we were amazed how clear the roads were of traffic.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

This might actually be a good year to cruise the mall--quite likely a lot fewer people. We took a road trip taking us through D.C. last weekend, and we were amazed how clear the roads were of traffic.

I honestly haven't been inside a mall in ten years. I have no doubt they will be far less crowded this year. Maybe I will venture to our local one... they do have a very huge, very cool carousel for the kiddos... I've thought about taking them, but the crowds give me hives...

 

[Liar]

From Wiki:
There is a theory that Christians in the fourth century assigned December 25 (the Winter Solstice on the Julian calendar) as Christ's birthday (and thus Christmas) because pagans already observed this day as a holiday.

In Scandinavia, it's a recorded historical event. When Ansgar, the man who Christened the Swedish and Danish vikings, came to Götaland (southen Sweden today), he saw that the biggest feast of the year by far was the Winter Solstice, and decided that this should also be the day we celebrate the Lord. His decree is written on a runestone.

In Götaland, the solstice event was celebrated for two days, starting on the night before the actual solstice night with the mother of all parties, and then on the 25th, when everyone was hung over and docile, there was a day of fasting, rituals and sacrifices to the gods.

Which is why we Swedes to this day have our main Christmas events on the 24th instead of the 25th.

 

[kromen]

Even though i don't celebrate, I actually liked the Christmas season when my family was stationed in Germany. I got buzzed on Gluwein; Sinter (sic) Klaus had a sidekick named Schwarze Pete that chased the bad kids during the parade. That's what we need over here, somebody to pick up Santa's slack and give a good ass kicking to those brats that kick your chair on airplanes, run around in restaurants, and throw the mother of all tantrums whenever they get in the mood.

 

[R. Richard]

In Scandinavia, it's a recorded historical event. When Ansgar, the man who Christened the Swedish and Danish vikings, came to Götaland (southen Sweden today), he saw that the biggest feast of the year by far was the Winter Solstice, and decided that this should also be the day we celebrate the Lord. His decree is written on a runestone.

In Götaland, the solstice event was celebrated for two days, starting on the night before the actual solstice night with the mother of all parties, and then on the 25th, when everyone was hung over and docile, there was a day of fasting, rituals and sacrifices to the gods.

Which is why we Swedes to this day have our main Christmas events on the 24th instead of the 25th.

Just in case anyone doesn't know, December 25th is very probably NOT the birthday of Christ. It's said that the early Christians celebrated Christ's birth on that day because the Romans were celebrating and hopefuly were too busy to search the catacombs for Christians.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Just in case anyone doesn't know, December 25th is very probably NOT the birthday of Christ. It's said that the early Christians celebrated Christ's birth on that day because the Romans were celebrating and hopefuly were too busy to search the catacombs for Christians.

It's true. No way Jesus was a Capricorn.

 

[kimbalee]

What is this "Christmas" thing that everyone keeps referring to? It's Festivus for the rest of us!

Thee, you crack me up!

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Thee, you crack me up!

Well that's good. Other wise I would have to rely on my good looks

And it's about time someone noticed that and responded