A real celebration of Christmas!

_Z_

_Z_

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A real celebration of Christmas!



This year as my children are already knee deep in toys etc. I have decided to give only a few presents, to symbolise the act of Christ’s charity. For me Christmas is a festival that has been celebrated for millennia as the winter solstice – I will celebrate it as both this and in reverence of Christ – Christ-mass. I want to celebrate it as a union of people, I will go out with my children and at times without, simply to enjoy the spirit of it [I hope it is still there] and the feast! So I am sorry yon capitalists, I will not partake of your debauchery this time or next!

My daughter bronwyn is playing Mary in this years school play, :) even though I am a druid I think Christmas can be a universal celebration. I find more joy in the way we celebrate it than the stark commercialism we are driven towards!



What do you think?

Can anyone of any religion celebrate it? I am sure most cultures have some kind of winter solstice!

 
Kindest Regards, Z!
even though I am a druid I think Christmas can be a universal celebration. I find more joy in the way we celebrate it than the stark commercialism we are driven towards! ... Can anyone of any religion celebrate it? I am sure most cultures have some kind of winter solstice!
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I am not quite sure what to make of this, considering it is placed in the Monotheism section. We already started a comparative thread regarding Christmas, complete with crass commercialism, Santa Claus, Winter Soltices, Mummers and Wild Men. Oh, and Satan too. If that is what you are leaning towards, I think that thread may be better suited to your request.

On the chance that you are asking if anyone can celebrate the birth of Christ, the teacher we know as Jesus, I suppose that depends on what his life and teaching really means to you. If his life and teachings have a genuine purpose and meaning in your life, then I would say "sure, go right ahead!"

If his life and teachings hold no meaning for you, then I would say "what is the point in honoring his birth then?" It would sort of be the spiritual equivalent of a Christian keeping a black sabbath, don't you think?

Shalom

Here is the link to the other thread:
http://www.comparative-religion.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3858
 
Oh I didn’t realise there was another thread! I didn’t see it! :rolleyes:

I was more questioning the commercialism and comparing the ancient solstice celebration.



Ah well, someone delete this thread then!

 
If his life and teachings hold no meaning for you, then I would say "what is the point in honoring his birth then?" It would sort of be the spiritual equivalent of a Christian keeping a black sabbath, don't you think?
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yikes... I'd say that most that celebrate Xmas in the US have very little to do with Christianity. Yes we know all the tradition and date is a sham...and the crassness of the whole operation...tis what it replaced, and excuse to party. Even midnight mass is an event. And many this year will be totally interesting as around Christmas churches generally have record numbers but as it falls on a Sunday...it will be a weak turnout...people would rather play around the secular tree.

And if we were to deny people celebrating based on "If his life and teachings have a genuine purpose and meaning in your life, then I would say "sure, go right ahead!" I dare say that would even cut it down even more...

I say the doors are open, Jesus would welcome anyone on his birthday, including the tax collector and the pharisees....

namaste,
 
I like Jesus the man tis’ all, and I celebrate winter solstice. I just hate the commercialism – goddamn it even started before Halloween this year. I hope Jesus wouldn’t mind even a druid celebrating his birthday. It is a questionable thing though for me, with all the history between us and Christians – perhaps next year I will just celebrate solstice, it is hard when it comes to school and children as they don’t understand, imagine if I told my daughter not to be in nativity play! It wouldn’t be fair. But others at school question if she should be in it especially as Mary, there are many jealous little Christian girls who know our family are pagan [well that’s how they see it].:(



Z
 
Kindest Regards!

I feel a need to clarify.

There seems to be two Christmasses, and they are often intermingled, particularly in a culture like that of the US (even more so I would think in Britain). There is the "traditional" Christmas of the pagan solstice, I say traditional because it dates very far into antiquity, and it includes Santa Claus. And there is the Christ Mass, in recognition of the birth of the Christian savior.

Which is why my post was divided, the one part in recognition of the first, the other part in recognition of the second.

If you are comfortable with your daughter acting the part of Mary on stage in a school play, and she is equally comfortable, then go ahead. I see no problem.

But to confuse the recognition of the birth of Christ with commercialism, in my opinion, isn't quite fair or correct. Indeed, the commercialism is far more closely associated with the "Santa" factor than it ever was with the Christ child, regardless of the name of the holiday.
 
I have no problem nor does my daughter, but other Christian girls and their parents do! I would not confuse commercialism with the traditions; it is far from Christian after all [the commercialism that is]. It is difficult when children are involved as they naturally want to be part of it.



The solstice celebration goes back further than Stonehenge imo.


thanx and much respect

Z
 
I say amen to your daughter playing Mary. It is as fitting for a pagan as it is for a Jew, but surely shouldn't be played by a Christian because NOBODY in that play was!! Including Jesus, many around the inn could have been pagan, most were Jews and those three wise men, Hindi!

If Christians had a lick of sense they would correct the faux pax from years past, let the Santa Holiday be what it is, and stand the commercialists on their ears by celebrating his birth in June with, acts of kindness, gifts for the needing, giving only to those outside of your family and friends, committing to service work throughout the year and not on any given day...That would be in his spirit. Of course could our economies stand it??

namaste,
 
_Z_ said:
A real celebration of Christmas!






What do you think?

Can anyone of any religion celebrate it? I am sure most cultures have some kind of winter solstice!
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here is what i think. a real celebration for Christmas is when God made Jesus in the womb of Mary to come & redeem us & bring those who love him eternal life & show us- if we try, by loving God & loving our neighbor, we can have peace on earth.

besides that (cause i am religioned out this year), i think you should get me something for Christmas.

so far i am getting a red stang, a trip to the bible land, my own daytona race track, my deepest inner desire fulfilled & I already have lots of socks.
so Z, what are you getting me?:)
a real big present? LOL
 
wil said:
I say amen to your daughter playing Mary. It is as fitting for a pagan as it is for a Jew, but surely shouldn't be played by a Christian because NOBODY in that play was!! Including Jesus, many around the inn could have been pagan, most were Jews and those three wise men, Hindi!

If Christians had a lick of sense they would correct the faux pax from years past, let the Santa Holiday be what it is, and stand the commercialists on their ears by celebrating his birth in June with, acts of kindness, gifts for the needing, giving only to those outside of your family and friends, committing to service work throughout the year and not on any given day...That would be in his spirit. Of course could our economies stand it??

namaste,
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that wont get it either because you would end up with 2 christmas' holidays. similiar to valentines day & sweetest day. (retail is not going to lose out either way, if they can help it) OTH- retail does the same thing to every holiday, not just Christmas.
then they would have to change all the lyrics to all the carols, especially the winter/cold ones.
i would have to say bahumbug to one of them.:)
 
Kindest Regards, wil!

and those three wise men, Hindi!
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Interesting, I had never heard this before. I was led to believe they were, or at the very least one of them was, Chaldean / Babylonian. Kinda moot anyway, if we're going to get real. They didn't show up until Jesus was 2 years old. Can't be too wise, if they were supposed to be there for the birth, and show up two years late! :D (*smart aleck smiley*)
 
They should move christmas to the 29th of February. :rolleyes: Bahhh humbug!!!
 
Bandit,



besides that i think you should get me something for Christmas.



Ha, well I will certainly give you brain ache eh! :p Oh and if you are into astral projection, then how about a visit to the land of a million bi-sexual nyphs! Or is that too pagan for ya :D

All.



If the tree wise men were hindi, then perhaps Jesus was a druid – he seamed to be into all that self sacrifice stuff, only the Romans didn’t build wicker men eh!

Sorry was that a bit over the top. :eek: :eek:
 
All Christian denominations should come together and choose another date for Christmas.
 
juantoo3 said:
Kindest Regards, Tao Equus!

Gotta ask: Sandy Claws, or the misfit manger?
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Oh definitely Sandy......I'm a skinflint scotsman......thought it would have been obvious :p
 
mansio said:
All Christian denominations should come together and choose another date for Christmas.
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no.
i look forward to having christmas eve, christmas day, new years eve & new years day off from work & having them back to back. especially when they fall on mon/tues or thurs/friday. it makes for a nice long weekend, two weeks in a row.
 
_Z_ said:
Bandit,



besides that i think you should get me something for Christmas.



Ha, well I will certainly give you brain ache eh! :p Oh and if you are into astral projection, then how about a visit to the land of a million bi-sexual nyphs! Or is that too pagan for ya :D

All.



If the tree wise men were hindi, then perhaps Jesus was a druid – he seamed to be into all that self sacrifice stuff, only the Romans didn’t build wicker men eh!

Sorry was that a bit over the top. :eek: :eek:
Click to expand...

i like the pagan stuff. the christmas tree especially but for me, it has its own meaning distinct from Jesus.

i think i am getting you a winning lottery ticket. $96 million!
 
Oh yes please – a lottery ticket will do nicely thanx!



I’ll send you a wish of your own through the Ether – what ever you want, I kind of blank universal cheque! :)

I hope everyone has a great time with family and freinds!
Z
 
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