From the OSNews team, we'd like to wish everyone a merry Christmas (it's Christmas Eve in my country already), or a happy whatever other holiday you might celebrate; it so happens that Hanukkah and Eid ul-Adha have already passed, so my best wishes are in retrospect if you practice the Jewish or Muslim religion. These matters are always like tight-rope walking on the internet, but I'd like to say one thing: please, emphasize not our differences, but celebrate our similarities. And yes, even if you are not religious (like myself), I'd still like to wish you very happy holidays. Enjoy the food, but realise this.
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Member since:2006-09-07
Member since:2005-07-24
Maybe it would be good if we all just happily agreed to disagree on stuff like that in this thread. It is a time for reflection upon, and celebration of, our own personal philosophies, whatever they may be. I happen to be atheist; And I celebrate along with everyone else. I don't mind it being called Christmas. That which we call a rose, by any other name, would smell as sweet.
Edited 2007-12-25 00:45
Member since:2006-02-22
Merry Christmas
A good Christmas - a time to eat, drink, too much, be with family (or at least think about them) and generally have a warm fuzzy feeling about humanity. No bad thing.
To the Christians try not to be too ideologically committed to your doctrine, remember this is supposed to be a time of good will (I think in the UK the only people to ban Christmas were Christians) and I suppose the same goes to every one else.
Have as good day.
Member since:2005-10-02
Actually Christmas has a lot to do with Christ - but Yule has little to do with Christmas.
It's just that we from Scandinavia has managed to blend things better (taking the traditions from south and keeping our own terms).
Imagine a Dane calling "Jul" for "Kristmesse" - oh dear...
Member since:2006-01-10
"Christmas" is a Christian holiday derived from the German tribes, and other tribes, tradition of the celebration of the winter solstice. Many of the traditions -- dragging a tree into the house, lighting it, a giant feast, are all from those "pagan" traditions. The religious component is the part that makes it Christmas. Everything else is a celebration of Winter and the solstice, nothing more, nothing less. Even though I'm not a practicing christian, I still say "Merry Christmas", even my *** friend says "Marry Christmas", simply because that's what December 25 is -- Christmas Day. Not "Festivus day", "Holidays Day", or "Seasons Greetings Day", it's "Christmas Day". Anyone who gets their panties in a knot over that just wants to start something.
So I end this rant with a belated "Merry Christmas to all" -- to all the jews, muslims, christians, hindus, buddhists, everybody. Now go hug your husband, kiss your wife, tell your girlfriend, boyfriend, kids, that you love them, and thank $DEITY that you're around for another winter. That's what the real meaning of Christmas is.
Member since:2005-09-16
By BurningShadow:
> Christmas got nothing to do with christianity, and I can't believe that you really don't know that...
Christmas has pagan origins, that's correct:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Pre-Christian_origins
"...In part, the Christmas celebration was created by the early Church in order to entice pagan Romans to convert to Christianity without losing their own winter celebrations..."
But how about reading the whole article? ;-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas
"Christmas is an annual holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. It refers both to the day celebrating the birth, as well as to the season which that day inaugurates, which concludes with the Feast of the Epiphany."
Click on Epiphany:
"Epiphany (Greek: ..., "appearance" or "manifestation") is a Christian feast intended to celebrate the "shining forth" or revelation of God to mankind in human form, in the person of Jesus."
So Christmas has definitely a lot to do with Christianity.
Edit: Original message from BurningShadow inserted
Edited 2007-12-27 10:26
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Member since:
2006-02-01
Finally something I can agree with the UK'ers on. Personally, there is one single meaning to Christmas, CHRIST, that's why his name gets top billing for the season you know.
Merry Christmas everyone!