I'm seeing answers like: Christmas means different things to different people. That makes no sense, except for atheists maybe, because they don't believe at all. So that is different.
But, Christmas has no other meaning than Jesus Christ is born!
Any other explaination is a lie. So why the contraversy? Go ahead and beat me up now, I'm waiting.
And Merry Christmas Everyone!
Merry Christmas Everyone!
2006-12-05 03:39:47 · 25 answers · asked by Lily P 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
EXACTLY! And who CARES what the exact day of His birth was? It's all about Him coming into the world for a purpose, and that purpose was to die for the sins of mankind! THAT'S what people need to get.
Merry Christmas to you too!
2006-12-05 03:43:24 · answer #1 · answered by lookn2cjc 6 · 2⤊ 5⤋
I think you are wrong. People grow up and learn different things about Christmas, that cross religious and international borders. It does mean different things to different people - that is clearly true. Some Europeans grow up with a Father Christmas image that is more closely connected to Yule than Jesus - which has been translated into Santa Claus, one of the major stars of modern day Christmas.
I understand that Christians feel the name makes it clear and the day is their's, but the bottom line is that we as Americans have 1 national holiday in the month of december and at least 4 religions that have celebrations at that time of year. Everyone is going to shoot to celebrate when they have time off and that means that Dec. 25th has multiple meanings. If anything, Christians seem to have the upper hand already, because the term Christmas makes it seem as though we are all celebrating a Christian holiday (something the people who first made Christmas did very much of purpose in a very political maneuver). If you want a religious day of celebration, have it in your home and church. If you want a day devoted to the Jesus miracle - perhaps you should place more importance on Epiphany on January 7th, I beleive (which marks the day the wisemen reached Jesus and his identity and divinity revealed).
Frankly, I am certain that there we have a ripe audience for creating a new holiday on Dec. 25th called Festivus for those of us who want to participate in the giving season and particularly don't want to be associated with the religious faith of another. It could just be a day to celebrate love, family, and the giving spirit. We'll even take Santa if he doesn't have to be Christian. I don't really think anyone is comfortable with us all being lumped together under the label of Christian, simply because we all celebrate joy, peace and love on Dec. 25th.
Peace!
2006-12-05 03:51:04 · answer #2 · answered by carole 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, dear; Christmas is a syncretistic holiday incorporating major elements of the pagan celebrations of the winter solstice (Santa = Grandfather Frost; Christmas trees, etc.). (BTW, why do you suppose the Church chose Dec 25? The Gospel says the shepherds were watching their flocks by night -- i.e., it was lambing season. That's not in winter. The Church chose it because it was the ancient pagan festival of Sol Invictus.)
Now, for a lot of people, it's a thoroughly secular holiday focused on family and the exchange of gifts. So yeah, Christmas means different things to different people. In a pluralistic, tolerant society, that's just the way things are.
2006-12-05 03:53:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Sorry buddy, but Christmas was Yule long, long, long before Moses was even born. Saturnalia, the Winter Solstice and festival of the Sun god, is an ancient Pagan festival about reincarnation and joyousness. Some time ago, when the Roman Empire converted to Christianity, they placed various Christian holidays on Pagan holidays (Easter is on the Vernal Equinox, which is the Pagan festival Ostara; All Hallows'/Halloween is at the end of summer, which is end of October, beginning of November-- the Pagan festival Samhain; and Christmas is at the Winter Solstice, the Pagan festival Yule) so that they could convert Pagans without forcing them to give up their traditions. Why would they feel the need to do this?
Expansion. If you convert the local population, they join the Empire and have to pay taxes.
2006-12-05 03:49:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
That my have been true 100 yeas ago, but today, Christmas primarily represents the triumph of capitalism over Christianity. After all Easter is supposed to be the bigger religious festival (Jesus came back to life,prove that he was god etc) but Christmas has usurped it, based solely on the greater consumeristic potential of the 'giving people presents' tradition. Don't feel bad, this is just what the early Christians did to the pagan mid winter festivals - what goes around comes around.
2006-12-05 03:47:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Um...not so much. Christmas is actually taken from the Pagan celebration of Winter Solstice as a way for the old Christian church to over shadow and demonise the Pagans.
Christ was not born on Dec. 25. Not certain what the estimated actual day is, but its not in December at all.
Suffice to say to Christians it is about Christ...but not to the rest of us.
2006-12-05 03:48:02 · answer #6 · answered by Gwydyon 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Because Christmas has become a commercial holiday for retailers to make tons and tons of money, resulting in people placing more importance on presents and not what it should be which is celebrating jesus' birth.
2006-12-05 03:46:08 · answer #7 · answered by Rainey 1 · 4⤊ 1⤋
As soon as some of you realize that Christmas was once a Pagan Holiday and it the holiday today IS what YOU make of it. If you use that day to honor your Savior, cool. But You do not get to tell others how to spend that day.
Personally, I like the Pagan thing. *grin*
2006-12-05 03:50:42 · answer #8 · answered by Kithy 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Christmas comes from Christs mas and it is sad so many people give gifts and celebrate with out even thinking of the baby born in a cow shed.
2006-12-05 04:42:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
It's more than that. Sure that's apart of it, but it's also celebrating the life that Jesus was to live.
It's about appreciating that giving is just as good as receiving, and that family and friends are important.
It's about remembering the message that Jesus brought.
Oh and by the way, I'm not a christian, nor do I believe that Jesus was the son of God. But I still celebrate christmas for the exact same reason as you do.
To celebrate the birth of a baby who was to become the guide in so many people's lives. For better or worse, Jesus was a good man, and anyone who follows his teaching can't go wrong...I mean truley follows his teachings, wether you believe he was the son of God or not, his message was equality and love...Something we celebrate at christmas.
2006-12-05 03:45:53 · answer #10 · answered by dirty_class 2 · 1⤊ 4⤋
I don't celebrate Christmas, I celebrate the Winter Solstice. I am celebrating the birth of the sun/Son.
It shouldn't matter what others think or believe. Their thoughts and beliefs should have no effect on you and your celebration of Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you.
2006-12-05 03:47:28 · answer #11 · answered by Epona Willow 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋