If it were simply a religious observance, would it still have the same meaning to you? Would it still be a day you looked forward to all year long? Try to imagine: if it were a day with no feasting, no gifts, no holiday displays, or music, or anything celebratory, but simply was the day set aside to honour Christ's birth, can you honestly say it would hold as much meaning for you? Would you cherish it as "the most wonderful time of the year?"
Would the religious association be enough.....?
2007-12-11 14:59:39 · 21 answers · asked by Jack B, goodbye, Yahoo! 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
this is an excellent question.
If you had asked me this question 25 years ago, I would have said "no way"....
but now - I think I would have to honestly say that regardless of what society makes of the Christmas holiday, to me it is and will always be the celebration of Christ's birth. It matters not if it's the "correct" date or not. Any date of the year could be named as the birthdate of Jesus.... recognizing the significance of the birth of my saviour is much more than presents, glitter, trees and holidays. for me it is a very humbling experience.
blessings ((((jackie))))
2007-12-11 15:07:29 · answer #1 · answered by Ramjet 5 · 16⤊ 1⤋
I am trying to think of a religious holiday that is celebrated by all Christians that does not hold the "magic" of Christmas and I can't come up with one. In the Catholic church there are a ton of feast days that are considered very special, like Pentecost, but nobody gets all worked up about them. What about the feast of the Ascension of Christ into Heaven? Even Easter is no big deal to most people, besides a basket of eggs and some new clothes. There certainly isn't the huge build up.
2007-12-11 15:07:07 · answer #2 · answered by in a handbasket 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I do not cherish it as the most wonderful time of year.
I would LOVE it if there were no holiday displays or music.
i am totally alone.....no family except for a 90 year old aunt who is slowly deteriorating and is becoming unlike herself.
My parents are both dead. My identical twin (whom I loved more than I can say and who was half of ME) is dead.
I would love Christmas more if I did not have to put up with all this "it's all wonderful" crap.
I don't mean to sound like Scrooge, but the whole thing is sad....only because of all the "holiday" spirit. Christmas carols make me weep.
I'm happy when the whole thing is OVER.
Forget the gifts...forget the displays....forget the parties and family gatherings, as far as I am concerned.
I'd rather go to the beach and walk.
The religious association is all I want.
2007-12-11 15:08:21 · answer #3 · answered by batgirl2good 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Yes, the religious association would be enough. But you are describing a religious "celebration" as if it were any other day, no feasting, no gifts, no displays, no music, "or anything celebratory". Doesn't that seem a little odd to have even a religious "celebration" as if it were just any other day?
2007-12-11 15:08:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is all the contrary. "Holy Week" (Easter) is a Christian version of a Pagan celebration. Christianity copied many of the Pagan traditions in order to get its followers to celebrate that which the Church considered to be "politically correct". When the Primitive Catholic Church was planted as the mandatory religion of the Roman Empire (355 CE), many European Christians continued to celebrate Pagan holidays. The Church didn't like at all the fact that Pagan festivals were celebrated by Christians (even today they still reject that). For that reason, the church established its "Holy Days" very close to the dates in which Pagans celebrated their own holidays. If you compare many of todays Christian religions, you will see that they celebrate some of their holidays in different times. I was raised as a Christian. First as a Protestant (Disciples of Christ), then as a Baptist, and later in my early youth as a Catholic (incredibly this is where I learned about what the Church did to make people stop celebrating Pagan holidays). However, as a young adult, I was a Latter Day Saint (Mormon). Of course, the more I studied the truth about the origins of the Scriptures, and what the Church did (and still do) to prevent the people to have all information about Christianity, the more I convinced myself that we were being lied to. For example, Ostara is a Pagan holiday celebrated between March 21-23 on the Spring Equinox. The Church came up with the bright idea to celebrate Christ's passion and resurrection taking a whole week for that which is now called Easter. In predominantly Catholic countries it is called "Semana Santa" or Holy Week in Spanish. The fact that Pagan holidays found their way into mainstream Christianity is not a surprise. However, the surprise is that they were not completely absorbed by the new religion, but helped Paganism to remain alive, in secrecy, for more than 1,700 years.
2016-04-08 22:02:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it would. Sharing communion is a special time for me. It makes me remember what Christ did for me at the cross. It's no blown out celebration but a quiet remembrance of our Lord.
If Christmas was the same it wouldn't take away the meaning that Jesus was conceived at Christmas time. I would still celebrate a quiet remembrance.
Commercialism has taken precedence over the meaning of Christmas. It would hurt more retailers than me.
2007-12-11 16:18:53 · answer #6 · answered by gabeymac♥ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Excellent q Jack, I dont believe in Christmas, although I do buy gifts for people, to me it is just another day. Albeit there is always a party to go to or a dinner to attend but never the less you could take it all away and I for one would not miss it in the least as it has no spiritual meaning for me.
Your Pagan Bro,
John
2007-12-11 15:23:16 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Good question...do we still get the cool santa claus cartoon movies...the great movie A Christmas Story lol:) I would hope I would as a Christian..I really dont celebrate it the way I did as a kid with my kids..we try to go to a soup kitchen , old folks home, or go to the childrens hospital ward to cheer up the people...God Bless U Jake:)
I work retail and would love not to have to go throught this holiday crap:)!
2007-12-11 15:10:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Wouldn't that just make about the same as a typical Sunday in the eyes of the Christians?
I'd be perfectly happy with Halloween and Independence Day.
2007-12-11 15:10:21 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Being a Wiccan, Christmas holds NO significance to me. However after reading alll the answers, I personally like Ramjet's far and away above all the others.
Brightest Blessinjgs,
Raji the Green Witch
2007-12-11 15:33:45 · answer #10 · answered by Raji the Green Witch 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋