Christmas Poo

In My Humble Opinion
1

It seems to me that Christmas has become an American Holiday, rather than one of religious meaning.
So, why do people get upset over Christmas trees, Santa Clause, Rudolph the red-nosed Reindeer, and Mr. Hanky the Christmas Poo?

I can understand groups opposing a nativity scene on public property, but now they oppose Christmas trees. Sure, the people that put it up call it a holiday tree it deference to these people, but both sides see it as a plot against their religion

I do not see the relationship between the birth of Christ, Santa Clause and trees, does anyone else? Why cant we just call Christmas what it is; A traditional American Holiday celebrating, love, friendship, family, consumerism, and the new year, by putting up a tree, exchanging gifts and an excuses for parties.

All of the groups that are outraged over a Christmas tree (oops, A HOLIDAY tree) in government offices are just plain nuts. If Kwanzaa can be pulled out of the air and made into a holiday (Created on December 26, 1966 by Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga) I suggest we pull one out of our collective butts and call it something, anything. Any Suggestions?

2

Festivus???

Festivus begins with the airing of grievances, and boy have I got a lot to say…

First of all, Christmas was, at one time, a strictly religious holiday. Stripped of all its commercial and party baggage, it still is. Which is why people get uptight about Christmas trees in their offices, yada yada yada.

Those who think they’re doing the world a favor by calling things “Holiday” trees, “Holiday” parties, “Holiday” gifts, “Holiday” music, and even “Holiday” nog fer cryin’ out loud! are sadly mistaken. It’s Christmas fer Chrissake! It annoys the hell out of me to hear retailers, politicians, etc. say “the Holidays” or “Holiday-themed” this&that. Are we so afraid of offending somebody these days that we can’t even say the name of the holiday for which our streets are decorated and our stores are having sales?

There is a very weak and idirect relationship between the birth of Jesus Christ and trees. It’s a long and convoluted story, but boiled down to its essence it’s this: Christians have traditionally used elements of pagan religions in their own celebrations for reasons that I won’t get into now. For better or for worse, Christmas=trees.

The connection to the birth of Jesus Christ and Santa Clause is also long and convoluted, but it all boils down to a person who freely gives gifts without regard to himself (Saint Nicholas). It is mirrored in the Three Wise Men who gave gifts to the baby Jesus at great peril to themselves. Hell, if you want to get theological about it, it is also mirrored in the whole bit about God giving up His son to the world, which is, indeed, the essence of Christmas.

Yes, Christmas has been corrupted greatly over the years. But it’s still a beautiful and magical holiday and I, for one, am looking forward to celebrating it this year.

::pours glass of “Holiday” nog::

3

That should be, pours a glass of “Holiday” nog, surrounded on both sides by colons. Freaking smilies…

4

It was? When? Christians have alway been pretty ambivalent about Christmas. It’s usually been recognized as an adaptation of a pagan holiday. And even considered as a pagan holiday…it has more to do (a good case is made for this in Stephen Nissenbaum’s “Battle for Christmas”) with the cycle of the agricultural year. The harvest was over, the worst cold hadn’t settled in, but it was cold enough to slaughter the animals (without the meat going bad) and the beer and wine that had been fermenting were ready to drink. I think these were the consideration (well that and the lovely idea of noting when the days get longer again) are the main reasons Christmas has been celebrated in the past.

**

Well, I call it Christmas out of habit. But I’m not a Christian and even if I were, my Protestant ancestors didn’t celebrate Mass. I celebrate it because I like to mark the time the days get longer again. And, while this isn’t the only time I can get fresh meat and freshly brewed beer, I still agree with my forebearer: the darkest time of the year, heading straight into winter, is a good time to light lights, eat well, and give each other gifts. And people were doing that with or without Christianity, so call it the Holidays, call it whatever you want.

**

[QUOTE]

There is a very weak and idirect relationship between the birth of Jesus Christ and trees.
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[QUOTE]

There’s a weak and indirect relationship between the birth of Jesus Christ and Christmas.

**

I couldn’t agree more.

5

I keep a Mr. Hanky doll in my sock drawer.

6

What the hell? You think you guys now own Christmas for yourselves???

For pete’s sake, open your eyes to the rest of the world. Christmas is a Family Holiday (preferably without the commercialism) not an American Holiday. You didn’t even invent the thing, so please don’t claim exclusive ownership.

7

Well, yeah…

8

The Christians took it from the pagans, so how can they get al high and mighty about it? Alright I’m sorry if I offended any christians but I did a report on this for my anthropology class last year. A lot of holidays that we celebrate now are based on pagan holidays. Most obviously Halloween but no one gets mad about that because it’s not terribly religious, right? Christmas may have come from Yule, the rebirth of the god from the goddess and other things are way too close to the biblical story of Christmas for comfort. Easter and Ostara, just the whole thing with rebirth and the coming of life is too close for comfort. So why such a big deal about mixing religions and holidays? The christians took stuff from other people so why can’t we use their holiday to benefit everyone? Okay I know that made no sense, terribly sorry but I just had to rant. I have a whole report to back it up if you’d like.

Kitty

9

Christmas sucks. I don’t care where the hell we got the holiday from, it sucks. I am American, and hate to claim it.

Ya’ll want it back? Take it.

10

Saint Zero, feeling just a little cynical?

Kitty

11

Scrooge has nothing on me. :smiley:

12

Last year, I made a big Christmas tree out of construction paper, complete with construction-paper ornaments. Don’t think I’ll do that this year – maybe I’ll buy one of those foot-high trees in Wal-Mart.

13

“Christians and Pagans” by Dar Williams. Cool tune. In an effort to convert Pagans, Christians moved some of their days and themes to be close to Pagan celebrations, to wit: All Hallows Eve/All Saints Day. The same holds true for Christmas and Solstice. (i ain’t never heered about it being the right time of year for slaughtering).

In my office we got a memo saying that a camera crew would be by 6 Dec to record our “Holiday Message”, to be aired on a local cable channel. We were instructed to stick to the term Holiday, and avoid things like Christmas, Hannukah, and other “non-secular” terms.

Of course, I work for the government…

14

Xmas bites. Why do I have to send presents to relatives I have not seen for 2 years and live 2000 miles away?!? I send crap. They send crap. What’s the point? Maybe they’ll get my drift if I buy a bunch of fruitcakes… The only reason I continue is because I have a 10yr old daughter who loves every second of Xmas.

15

Maybe where YOU live Christmas isn’t a religious holiday. But in the wilds of NJ, there are Jesuses and holy families all over everyone’s lawns. And two years ago, the town gov’t. played RELIGIOUS songs over a loudspeaker all through town for the ENTIRE MONTH. Yes, I wrote a letter of complaint.

I don’t object to trees or wreaths or lights. I think they’re downright purty. The reindeer and Santas are just plain vulgar, but I laff 'em off. But don’t try to tell me there’s no “Christ” in “Christmas.” And don’t tell me I’m supposed to like it.

16

um, excuse me? Christians have not been ambivalent about Christmas. It’s only the second-holiest day in Christianity; most Christians I know (myself included) are anything but ambivalent about Christmas – or its religious meaning, at least.

And let’s separate the reason Christmas (as a holy day ) is celebrated from the reason it’s celebrated in December. Christmas is celebrated as Jesus’ birthday – because God came to Earth in the form of a baby. It’s celebrated in December because that’s when an already-existing pagan celebration was. Why it’s celebrated and when it’s celebrated are different issues.

I am quite tired of the commercialism of Christmas. But I still love the Christmas season, and Advent, and the celebration of the birth of God’s Son.