Merry Christmas

[RobP]

Merry Christmas everyone!

[ShadowZA]

Merry Christmas to all from Cape Town.
:dothewave:

[Alaric]

Merry Christmas , Happy Channukah , Fantastic Festivus , whatever ya' got-Enjoy It!

[Glenee]

MERRY CHRISTMAS

[Relentless]

Merry Christmas with one minute left

[Miyuki]

X-mas (Jul) is not a Christian holiday; it is a Nordic midwinter non-Christian fest. Therefore, everyone regardless of religion can celebrate it also including me.

[wettou]

X-mas (Jul) is not a Christian holiday; it is a Nordic midwinter non-Christian fest. Therefore, everyone regardless of religion can celebrate it also including me.

Christmas (IPA: /krɪsməs/), also referred to as Christmas Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that honors the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.[2][3] The day marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days.[4] The nativity of Jesus, which is the basis for the anno Domini system of dating, is thought to have occurred between 7 and 2 BC.[5] December 25 is not thought to be Jesus' actual date of birth, and the date may have been chosen to correspond with either a Roman festival,[6] or with the winter solstice.[7];x(

[beden1]

Christmas (IPA: /krɪsməs/), also referred to as Christmas Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that honors the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.[2][3] The day marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days.[4] The nativity of Jesus, which is the basis for the anno Domini system of dating, is thought to have occurred between 7 and 2 BC.[5] December 25 is not thought to be Jesus' actual date of birth, and the date may have been chosen to correspond with either a Roman festival,[6] or with the winter solstice.[7];x(

Thank you for this information, and Merry Christmas to all Christians who are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. :T

[impala454]

Thank you for this information, and Merry Christmas to all Christians who are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. :T

Amen! :B

[bigburner]

If you undertake further research in Wikipedia, which is where wettou obtained his information, you will find that there is a Nordic connection with Christmas - albeit somewhat obscure (in the spirit of Christmas and goodwill between all nations I'm looking for a win-win here...).

Santa Claus is also known as Saint Nicholas in some countries. In Nordic countries the figure of Saint Nicholas was blended with local folklore, based on pagan imagery. The original bringer of gifts at Christmas time in those countries was the Yule Goat, a somewhat startling figure with horns.

In the 1840s however, an elf in Nordic folklore called Tomte or Nisse started to deliver the Christmas presents in Denmark. The Tomte was portrayed as a short, bearded man dressed in gray clothes and a red hat. This new version of the age-old folkloric creature was obviously inspired by the Santa Claus traditions that were now spreading to Scandinavia. By the end of the 19th century this tradition had also spread to Norway and Sweden, replacing the Yule Goat. The same thing happened in Finland, but there the more human figure retained the Yule Goat name. But even though the tradition of the Yule Goat as a bringer of presents is now all but extinct, a straw goat is still a common Christmas decoration in all of Scandinavia.

So "God Jul" (Merry Christmas) as they say in Norway and Sweden, or "Hyvää Joulua" in Finland.

Nigel.

[Russ L]

Hey don't forget the Celtic contribution. Go Wales! We moved our Winter Solstice celebrations from the 21st to the 25th just to keep those Christians happy. Although they weren't too happy when we brought mistletoe with us that made those who passed under it more...robust shall we say.

[Miyuki]

Jesus was born during spring, 5 BC.

X-mas originates from Jul and the Roman pagan festival that occurred 24th and 25th of December. Those pagan fests include giving gifts, dressing tree, Tomte, Tomte nissar (junior and smaller Tomte), goats, special food and those objects have nothing to do with Christianity. Santa Claus (Jultomten) is a Nordic figure that uses a Nordic style sled pulled by reindeers only found in northern Europe. Jul is associated with heavy snow and very cold weather with Jultomten dressed to endure artic climates. Jul was changed to X-mas and the celebration of the birth of Jesus from 6/7 of January to 24/25　of December in an attempt to overshadow the celebration of Jul.

In Japan, X-mas is becoming very popular and Japanese believe that it’s from Finland/ Scandinavia. Japan is a non-Christian society with a great deal of tolerance toward other religions and as a result, the ministry of education is going to teach this as a non-Chrisitan Nordic and Roman pagan fest not very different from Shinto. This may also be the direction of other non-Christian countries such as South East Asia, China, India, Pakistan, Middle-East are going to take.

Of course, some minor Christian elements have been added to JUL, but I don’t like the way Christians monopolize this as theirs. In northern Europe, Jul is still used and I hope that the word X-mas will be changed back to Jul globally so that EVERYONE regardless of religion will be able to share the joy of this lovely midwinter fest for world peace to prevail.

Happy Jul

[beden1]

Jesus was born during spring, 5 BC.

X-mas originates from Jul and the Roman pagan festival that occurred 24th and 25th of December. Those pagan fests include giving gifts, dressing tree, Tomte, Tomte nissar (junior and smaller Tomte), goats, special food and those objects have nothing to do with Christianity. Santa Claus (Jultomten) is a Nordic figure that uses a Nordic style sled pulled by reindeers only found in northern Europe. Jul is associated with heavy snow and very cold weather with Jultomten dressed to endure artic climates. Jul was changed to X-mas and the celebration of the birth of Jesus from 6/7 of January to 24/25　of December in an attempt to overshadow the celebration of Jul.

In Japan, X-mas is becoming very popular and Japanese believe that it’s from Finland/ Scandinavia. Japan is a non-Christian society with a great deal of tolerance toward other religions and as a result, the ministry of education is going to teach this as a non-Chrisitan Nordic and Roman pagan fest not very different from Shinto. This may also be the direction of other non-Christian countries such as South East Asia, China, India, Pakistan, Middle-East are going to take.

Of course, some minor Christian elements have been added to JUL, but I don’t like the way Christians monopolize this as theirs. In northern Europe, Jul is still used and I hope that the word X-mas will be changed back to Jul globally so that EVERYONE regardless of religion will be able to share the joy of this lovely midwinter fest for world peace to prevail.

Happy Jul

Jesus was born 5 years before his birth??? BC means before the birth of Christ.

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ - Christ Mas. Pagan celebrations, or winter fests that include the celabratory figure of Santa Claus, have nothing to do with the Christian faith, and the core meaning of celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ the Savior during Christmas.

Christmas Story: General Introduction
The Christmas story is the story of the birth of Jesus Christ in the town of Bethlehem, Israel. Jesus "Christ" is known as the founder or central figure of "Christianity." Christmas is a Christian holiday on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus. Ancient Romans also commemorated Jesus' birth by marking a division of the calendar still in use today. The years before Jesus' birth are marked as B.C. (Before Christ), and the years after Jesus' birth are marked A.D. (Anno Domini, which means, in the year of our Lord).

[Opus007]

The true meaning of Christmas has been taken out the true meaning .I find it appalling that we have gone from saying Merry Christmas to Happy Holidays so as not to offend anyone.So I say Merry Christmas to all.......
And now back to my music and good cheer.

[Russ L]

The most recent scholarship has the birthdate at 7 B.C.E. (Source: Bible, New Revised Standard Version) They couldn't keep the year at 1 AD without adding 7 years to our present date. :?? And changing alot of history books

[Miyuki]

Jesus was born 5 years before his birth??? BC means before the birth of Christ.

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ - Christ Mas. Pagan celebrations, or winter fests that include the celabratory figure of Santa Claus, have nothing to do with the Christian faith, and the core meaning of celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ the Savior during Christmas.

Christmas Story: General Introduction
The Christmas story is the story of the birth of Jesus Christ in the town of Bethlehem, Israel. Jesus "Christ" is known as the founder or central figure of "Christianity." Christmas is a Christian holiday on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus. Ancient Romans also commemorated Jesus' birth by marking a division of the calendar still in use today. The years before Jesus' birth are marked as B.C. (Before Christ), and the years after Jesus' birth are marked A.D. (Anno Domini, which means, in the year of our Lord).

I am confused. :??

The King, who killed everyone between the age 0 and 2 because of the news of the birth of Jesus, died 4 BC. Logically, Jesus must have been born before BC 4. And researchers claim that he was born during spring.

[Russ L]

Japan is a non-Christian society with a great deal of tolerance toward other religions and as a result, the ministry of education is going to teach this as a non-Chrisitan Nordic and Roman pagan fest not very different from Shinto.

Westerners would do well looking into Shinto. It is very similar to Celtic beliefs in its reverence of nature. The Kami are not just deities of heaven and earth (including nature gods like the Celts) but are anything considered out of the ordinary, anything which possessed superior power and inspired awe. I suppose thats the reason Shinto is so accepting of special celebrations, special places, special people and special beliefs from around the world. A beautiful religion. 8) Its fortunate that Buddhism and Shinto were able to get along when Buddhism came to Japan.

[Russ L]

I am confused. :??

The King, who killed everyone between the age 0 and 2 because of the news of the birth of Jesus, died 4 BC. Logically, Jesus must have been born before BC 4. And researchers claim that he was born during spring.

The biblical scholars keep changing the date. Anywhere between 7 B.C.E. and 10 A.D. is the range for the birthdate of Jesus.

[P-Dub]

The original post was very simple and well intentioned.

Why must it move off on this tangent? Wait, don't answer that.

This thread will remain open until the new year.

Guess who will have the last post?

[PewterTA]

Where are you guys getting all this CRAP?!??!?

Everyone knows it's all about Santa and presents!!!!! :P

[Alaric]

I'm certainly no scholar on the subject , but , isn't "Christmas" a bastardization of Christ's Mass? I thought that the word itself pretty much defined the celebration?

Hey , Pewter , :T