I celebrate Christmas for what it truly is, the celebration of the birth of the Son of God on Earth.
Raucous partying, gluttonous eating and drinking, and gift-giving were traditions of this feast.
Raucous partying, gluttonous eating and drinking, and gift-giving were traditions of this feast.
Indeed. I'm well aware of that. However, December is as good a time as any to celebrate Christ's birth, in my opinion. And yes, I understand that it was originally a pagan feast. As I remember Constantine was the one who united the celebrations, however that is the true meaning of the celebration now, at least in my mind, and therefore that is what I celebrate. There are endless ways of arguing my point of view, but if you disagree, you have a right, and I don't really give a crap what you think I should do on Christmas.
However, December is as good a time as any to celebrate Christ's birth, in my opinion.
So, when do you start Christmas shopping, Some people are insane and start in january, while some are equally insane and start on 23rd of December. I try to shun Christmas altogether because im a scrooge and just figure that every Christmas so far has been an anti-climax so why should the next be different.
Well anyway, what are your views on Christmas in general?
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g199/im_idoru/santa2.gif)
I celebrate Christmas for what it truly is, the celebration of the birth of the Son of God on Earth.
I do have one particular friend who insists on buying me a gift each year, and that just makes me feel crap. I warn him every year that I wont get him one and he still gets me one. Its nice but makes me feel terrible, which he always claims is the opposite of his intention :-\
The one thing I do like is the food...... thats another question. What do you traditionally eat at Christmas?
To me it synbolizes the largest demonstration of peace and good will the world over.
hitancrias, what do you call the festival on the 5th of December?
The Feast of Sinterklaas, or St. Nicholas, is an annual event which has been uniquely Dutch and Flemish for centuries. St. Nicholas' Feast Day, December 6th, is observed in most Roman Catholic countries primarily as a feast for small children. But it is only in the Low Countries - especially in the Netherlands - that the eve of his feast day (December 5th) is celebrated nationwide by young and old, christian and non-christian, and without any religious overtones.
Although Sinterklaas is always portrayed in the vestments of the bishop he once was, his status as a canonized saint has had little to do with the way the Dutch think of him. Rather, he is a kind of benevolent old man, whose feast day is observed by exchanging gifts and making good-natured fun of each other. It so happens that the legend of St. Nicholas is based on historical fact. He did actually exist. He lived from 271 A.D. to December 6th, 342 or 343. His 4th century tomb in the town of Myra, near the city of Anatolia in present-day Turkey, has even been dug up by archaeologists.
I know this isnt new but i still like it :) A great xmass light show, a lot of time and effort.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD8_7c36yfw
When they go to sleep they can put their shoes near the front door, and if they are lucky Sinterklaas or one of his helpers called Zwarte Pieten (Black Peters) has misteriously managed to get a little present in
Thank you for that excellent and informative post hitancrias, I do like to hear about other culture's traditions, only one question:QuoteWhen they go to sleep they can put their shoes near the front door, and if they are lucky Sinterklaas or one of his helpers called Zwarte Pieten (Black Peters) has misteriously managed to get a little present in
How do you fit a PS3 in a shoe ;D
of course the "chocolate letter".
Quoteof course the "chocolate letter".
would you mind explaining that for me, im enjoying learning these things. I suppose I could just look at Wikipedia, but that wouldnt educate others at the same time ;)
I'm not referring to mail,
.getting angry at north american wanna be's who think its winter and hang up snowflake decorations
Quote.getting angry at north american wanna be's who think its winter and hang up snowflake decorations
Northern Hemishpere wanabes in general I would have thought ;)
Hail art supplies! :D