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Post by daitheplant on Nov 25, 2015 21:02:13 GMT
Andrew, I get the impression, that, like me, you are a cynic.   |
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Post by Geranium on Nov 26, 2015 6:22:30 GMT
I am not very bothered about the exact date that Jesus was born, daitheplant - the fact remains that Christmas is a Christian Festival which has been hi-jacked for commercial reasons and that grieves me. However, be that as it may, I and millions of other Christians celebrate His birth on 25th December. You see, I am standing up to be counted!  In my schools, we always had a 'proper' Nativity play. |
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Post by Cherry on Nov 26, 2015 8:05:25 GMT
I think the calendar changed and this is why we celebrate the birth of Christ when we do. I would have to read up on my history. I get upset at the abbreviated Xmas which takes Christ out of Christmas. I don't like Santa Clause either. I always called him Father Christmas.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2015 11:19:04 GMT
If the Queen can have two birthdays, so can Jesus 
The December date is symbolic. It doesn't matter when He was actually born, and it doesn't matter whether you believe He existed or not. Jesus is said to have brought light to people, and around 25th Dec the days start to lengthen ... it's symbolic.
I understand that a Christian Nativity play may 'offend' some people, but they should be more tolerant - like they expect us to be towards them !
I also hate the name 'Santa' ... and 'Daddy Christmas' which my anglicised cousins in Swansea called him.  We were Welsh and called him Sion Corn (pronounced Shone Corrrrn and it comes from 'Sion' - a Welsh version of John or Johnny, and Corn - the Welsh word for a chimney pot ... 'Johnny Chimney Pot' ) |
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Post by roofgardener on Nov 26, 2015 12:07:22 GMT
Is that where the legend of him climbing down the chimney comes from, @hywel ?
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Post by sweetpea on Nov 26, 2015 13:14:26 GMT
As a Northern heathen I enjoy Christmas which is odd considering I don't believe in all the superstitious claptrap that surrounds it any more than I believe there are fairies at the bottom of the garden. Having said that, then good luck to all those that think a prayer or two will make everything ok. I for one will not subscribe to a belief in a supernatural being who will permit the atrocities done in his name throughout the ages. Jesus was/is a real historical figure but I think that Dynamo the magician could have managed to influence the people around him just as well. Even in modern times there are creeds/sects which exert tremendous sway over their adherents even to the point of mass suicide. Remember Jonestown? I abhor the commercialism that has crept in to modern life, much of it imported from that other land of morons, the USA. By all means subscribe to the ethos of Christianity as I try and sometimes fail to do but it is down to us humans not superstition. just failed my own self imposed rule. Don't argue about politics or religion  |
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Post by Cherry on Nov 26, 2015 14:46:56 GMT
That does not constitute an argument SP. However, it seems that most people on the forum are not keen on the tat that is sold in the name of Christmas. Young people think this is normal now.
We used to have the tree outside when I was young and it was decorated in streamers and paper chains. The tables were set up under the trees with a great grandmother sitting at each end. One of them was English, and one very Australian. Mum would make sure the grandmas got a coin in their Christmas pudding.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2015 15:57:22 GMT
Is that where the legend of him climbing down the chimney comes from, @hywel ? |
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Post by sweetpea on Nov 26, 2015 16:22:34 GMT
as I understand it the legend arose when Nikolas (sp) dropped some coins down a pauper's chimney and they landed in stockings that were drying by the fireside. Something along those lines anyway hence the legend.
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Post by Bess on Nov 26, 2015 17:29:47 GMT
Yes, I can't quite remember what he dropped down who's chimney, but it was Saint Nicolaus (spellings vary) the Bishop of Myra. The original Santa 'Claus. Nice fella from what I've read!
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Post by sweetpea on Nov 26, 2015 18:30:50 GMT
Yes, I can't quite remember what he dropped down who's chimney, but it was Saint Nicolaus (spellings vary) the Bishop of Myra. The original Santa 'Claus. Nice fella from what I've read! I think he was made a saint later than that so he wasn't a saint when he did that kind act. I stand to be corrected of course. |
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Post by Bess on Nov 26, 2015 19:17:51 GMT
Yes, he was just plain Mr Nicolaus at the time or Bishop Nicolaus I suppose. Although if you want to be deadly accurate,'Saint' doesn't necessarily mean someone who's started with the miracles after death. It can just mean a respected church member! |
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Post by daitheplant on Nov 26, 2015 20:28:42 GMT
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Post by sweetpea on Nov 26, 2015 21:30:30 GMT
Mind you, there are some on here who shall remain nameless who rush out on 'Panic Plant Purchasing Day'  Come on then, own up |
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Post by Andrew on Nov 26, 2015 21:57:44 GMT
You've got me figured out daitheplant On the date of Christmas Cherry . I think that the date we are familiar with was a long running pagan festival to coincide with the winter solstice, celebrating the fact they were half way through the winter. I read something a few years ago that suggested the star of Bethlehem was probably Halley's comet and tracing it back to the year it would have been here (which was actually something like 4AD or 4BC), it would have been at it's brightest in the sky around the 17th April, which means we are possibly celebrating the birth of Christ over 4 month early, or 8 months late!! |
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