This time of year is sacred and holy all over the world, and in many different cultures. It may have different meanings in different cultures, but in general it is a time to come together with family and friends, and to honor your God or Gods. I don't care how many different religions have a holiday this time of year -- Jews have Hanuka, Christians have Christmas, Wiccans, Druids, and some other Pagan traditions have Yule or the Winter Solstice. So why are we fighting over it? Why so many questions arguing over the Pagan origins of Christmas, and who "stole" who's holiday? OK, so there are some Christmas traditions that have Pagan origins. So what? I, for one, am willing to share the day. Are you? This should be a time of year where we set aside our differences, and try to get along. So, could we, the people of R&S, agree to share this holiday season peacefully, without arguing over who's holiday it is? Peace on Earth, good will toward your fellow human beings, right?
2007-12-03 01:42:58 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Personally, I celebrate the Winter Solstice because I am Pagan. I still spend time with my family, and give them Christmas presents, and wish them a Merry Christmas, even though I myself am not Christian.
2007-12-03 02:13:52 · update #1
Happy Saturnalia to you, and a cool Yule too.
2007-12-05 02:42:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree and on that note.... Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Hapy Yule, Happy Solstice, Happy Kwanza, and of course, Gobble Gobble Gobble to the Discordians amongst us. May ALL of our winter celebrations be blessed, joyful and full of the love of our friends and family.
Brightest Blessings,
Raji the Green Witch
2007-12-03 13:35:58 · answer #2 · answered by Raji the Green Witch 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
My personal opinion is that those of us who are truly religious can accept the concept that God Is and that God does not belong to any one group of people. All people approach God in different ways and on different paths. When there is fundamental respect for each others' beliefs we can share the season, whether we worship Jesus Christ, Allah, Yaweh, Buddha, or the Great Goddess, among the other Nine Billion Names Of God (Arthur C. Clark). When we can accept Heinlein's concept of *Thou Art God*, which was the fundamental philosophy of Mother Theresa who saw the face of God in all people, then a lot of things in the world will change.
However, I think the biggest deterrent to sharing the holiday is the huge commercialization of the season by retailers to sell goods, needed or not, to boost their bottom line in the second quarter of the fiscal year. The push to sell Christmas now begins by early September in many places, rather than the day after Thanksgiving as it did in my youth, and it is larger and louder and more expansive every year (not to mention expensive). We are trying to push any gift giving holiday--for instance Hanunkkah (forgive me, I generally mispell that one)--into commercial sales. When did it become mandatory for people to stand in line, or worse yet, in the stores, on Thanksgiving night? I think a year of no mass produced gifts might change the sentiments. Yes, we might have a bunch of disappointed children that the latest gadget wasn't theirs on Dec. 26, but we might have more cohesive families and more harmony in the world.
And all we can do is pray for it and for one another.
2007-12-03 01:55:26 · answer #3 · answered by mickiinpodunk 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm Jewish.
I am glad that others celebrate this year for different reasons than we do. I'll of course do nothing to reduce this joy.
But Channukah isn't some sort of Jewish Christmas a many believe. It is about fighting our way out of a period of horrid oppression.
If you want to listen to an interesting video, goto
http://www.chabad.org/multimedia/media_cdo/aid/604877/jewish/Miracle-of-the-Maccabees.htm
Shalom,
Gershon
2007-12-03 01:58:24 · answer #4 · answered by Gershon b 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
it's nice you have the spirit. take a toy donation to toys for tots local food pantry heck even the police will or should except the donations. as for the wife give her the pleasure of ur nudie calender from u
2016-04-07 05:32:19 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that for the most part we do all share the holiday season. During this time of year one bad apple can't ruin the bunch. They Holiday season is what you make of it.
2007-12-03 01:46:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
your thinking what ive been thinking for the last 3 years, why be so damn pissy about it, Ill wish you a merry christmas and instead of sueing me wish me a happy hannika or ramadan, or kwanza or yule, and in turn I wont sue you.
2007-12-03 01:48:55 · answer #7 · answered by Adam of the wired 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sorry when it comes right down to the nitty-gritty, we are all animals and there is no stopping animals from fighting. But Merry Christmas anyway! Don't let it get you down.
2007-12-03 01:45:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
we actually do share.... if you think about it.... just seems like there are many people who don't like the idea of it... welcome to America!!! seems we are supposed to be home of the free and the proud... contradictory of terms now adays.... we are free to celebrate however we choose but many are to proud to allow someone to celebrate something different than Christianity without offering up an opinion about it.... and you all know what they say about opinions!!! peee - uuu
Merry Christmas to all!!!
2007-12-03 02:29:08 · answer #9 · answered by Jeanette 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sorry i can't as i don't believe in your christmas , however, i have no right to go against it so all what i can tell you is " ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAYS"! GoD bless.
2007-12-03 01:55:50 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋