Xmas the short thread
 

Xmas is a Roman Catholic holy day, holy week, even extending into the following month. It was brought into the Pentecostal movement through Protestantism. No where in the Bible (New Testament especially) had anyone taught or practiced a celebration for the birth of Christ. Through the Bible alone one couldn't come up with a Xmas observance. Certainly no pine tree laced with jewelry, lighted or non lighted. No Mariah Carey singing about her selfishness and possessiveness. :)

Re: Xmas the short thread
 

Winter Festivals in Ancient Cultures
1. Saturnalia (Roman): Honored Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture and time. Celebrated from December 17 to 23 with feasting, gift-giving, and merriment.
2. Yule (Germanic): A midwinter festival celebrated by ancient Germanic peoples. Involved the lighting of fires and the exchange of gifts.
3. Sol Invictus (Roman): A festival dedicated to the Roman sun god, celebrated on December 25.

Pagan Traditions Incorporated into Xmas
1. Evergreen Trees: Ancient cultures, such as the Egyptians and Chinese, used evergreen trees to symbolize life and fertility during winter.
2. Holly and Ivy: In ancient Celtic and Roman traditions, holly and ivy were considered sacred plants, symbolizing eternal life and fertility.
3. Mistletoe: The ancient Druids and Celts believed mistletoe had magical powers, and it was used in rituals to promote fertility and protection.
4. Yule Log: The tradition of burning a Yule Log originated with ancient Germanic peoples, who believed it had purifying and protective powers.

The Establishment of Xmas:
*Constantine and the Establishment of Xmas: In 336 CE, Emperor Constantine, declared December 25 to be a day of celebration in honor of Jesus' birth.
*Syncretism and the Blending of Traditions: As Christianity spread throughout Europe, "Christian" leaders incorporated existing pagan traditions and symbols into the celebration of Xmas, making it more appealing and accessible to pagan populations.

~Meta

Re: Xmas the short thread
 

Let the debate begin!

Wasn’t there a prophecy that Jesus was going to return before winter? The guy over in Tennessee? We talked about it.

Anyway. Merry Christmas everyone!!!

And wishing you all a happy and prosperous new year,

Let the feast begin. (I’m always looking for any excuse to feast.)

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:lol

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:lol

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It's always funny.

How so many people want to get all Biblical on other topics. Yet, the whole deck the halls mumbo jumbo gets a pass. It's Catholic, Western Roman and Eastern Roman church mass. :heeheehee

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Hey and tithes is a good excuse to support the church. :happydance

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I’d like everyone to know that I wasn’t the one who brought up the tithe scam.

And to think that I mentioned wisdom and EB in the same paragraph.

Lord forgive me.

:happydance

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Funny:

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19bAhvKzEf/

**

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Yes it is. :lol

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Well, I guess everyone agrees, and aren't going to hide it anymore.
They finally came out with the documentary. :lol


Dear Santa (2024 film)

Not to be confused with Dear Satan, a 2024 Filipino comedy film with the same premise.

Dear Santa is a 2024 American Christmas dark fantasy comedy film directed by Bobby Farrelly, written by Ricky Blitt, Jack Black, and Peter Farrelly from a story by Ricky Blitt, Peter Farrelly, and Dan Ewen, and starring Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Robert Timothy Smith, Brianne Howey, Hayes MacArthur, Austin Post, and P. J. Byrne. It tells the story of a dyslexic and meek sixth-grader who writes a Christmas list to Santa Claus to help with his problems only for his misspelling to lead to him meeting Satan who helps him out.

The film was released on Paramount+ and digital platforms on November 25, 2024, by Paramount Pictures, to negative reviews from critics, although many praised Black's performance.

Re: Xmas the short thread
 

I saw this… this moo… uh this documentary.

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:lol

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The boy gets 3 wishes from Santa/Satan, like a genie. When he learns that Santa can’t take his soul until all 3 wishes are made he decides not to make the 3rd request.

Anyway… the real satan finds out that Jack Black’s character was impersonating him. JB was a devil- not thee devil- or a demon- or something. I don’t recall.

This may be where I fell asleep.


I can’t imagine that this documentary appeals to children over the age of 7.

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This country is circling the drain. I only can imagine where it will end up 10 years from now. People grasp at a holiday to make up for their hedonistic lifestyle all the other days of the year. Charles Dickens realized this back in the 1800s. Where Christness was just relegated to once a year where man wore a Christ mask. Charity to the poor was only done to make the wealthy feel better. Only one individual in his story gained mercy from his stingy money grubbing ways, because he dared to call out the deception. The character, Scrooge became bitter because of his tribulations which happened to him around the winter solstice. Dickens portrays Scrooge as the epitome of England’s industrial age. Where the wealthy try to have Xmas despite all the misery of the poor and cripple around them. Scrooge is visited by a spirit of his chain shackled partner, who can’t understand why Scrooge is allowed to see him. Even though he had sat next to Scrooge many an evening before. The ghost tells Scrooge that he will be visited by three spirits ( out of the mouth of two or three witnesses can a man be put to death ) the spirits are all Druid in origin. Including Druid priest, father Xmas ( ghost of Xmas present ). You know the rest of the story. Scrooge is made to understand that Xmas isn’t of great importance. But, a changed natured, to practice the lessons of the Christ year round. The only way we can truly change our future. A future not of the shadow of death, but a life in Christ.

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Ah, in this country people are Christian on Christmas, Easter, and Election Day.

Yes, circling the drain. Much has changed in the last 15 years,
and not for the better good. 15 years ago I would never had thought
that we’d arrive to where we are at today.

Even being a Christian only on holidays seems to be fading away.

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Looks as if Churches in the United States are becoming more vanilla. All of them blending into a like minded lump. Xmas which we have in our culture is basically a product of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, Charles Dickens, and Coca Cola. Jesus will always be our only hope. All the tinsel, and once a day wishes once a year will never cut it. I agree, much has changed. I can only guess at what the next 15 years will bring.

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It is plain to see that desert-dweller wrote songs about pine trees and snowmen.

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Huh?

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I don’t know what you mean?

I didn’t know that pines grow in the desert. Also, not sure a snowman would survive in the desert?

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I guess I won’t ever find out? :kickcan

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Aaannd no mention of eating bacon being good for you.

You left that one out.

Just trying to help.

:happydance

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The Bible describes Lebanon as being famous for cedar trees. In fact, they still grow in Lebanon. The cedar tree, for those who don't know, is a type of "pine tree" (has needles for leaves and produces cones and is evergreen). The Levant is also home to a native pine tree species called the Stone Pine (pinus pinea). And yes, it does occasionally snow in the middle east, including in Jerusalem and in Lebanon.

So, for those who don't know, now you know.

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There is a town in Tennessee that is named Lebanon. Wouldn’t you know that there are cedar trees everywhere there. I don’t know, but I’m venturing a guess that is why it’s called Lebanon.

Never mind. I checked. There is a Cedars of Lebanon State Park in Tennessee.

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You know, my tinfoil hat antennae tell me that you may be on to something there. Tennessee founded by largely Christian pioneers from Scotland, Ireland, and Great Britain. Those pioneers were familiar with "the cedars of Lebanon" mentioned repeatedly in the Bible. They found an area with an abundance of cedar-like trees. They name the area "Lebanon" or "Cedars of Lebanon State Park". Hmmm, could be coincidence, but like I said my spidey-senses think not. There could very well be a connection.

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What about the snowmen?

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What’s wrong with bacon? You do understand that not all bacon is pork?

If there was no Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, especially Charles Dickens. You might be celebrating a Roman Catholic Xmas totally different to what you now practice. Yet, seriously, the whole Xmas thing is foreign to the Apostles.

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I thought this thread would be short?

:lol

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Can’t find where the Desert Fathers wrote about snowmen? Was it Ephraim the Syrian?

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What about Wassail?

A Xmas (winter solstice) tradition?

Refer to Samuel Johnson’s dictionary.

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Jesus celebrated it?

John 10:22

It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication.

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Brother, don’t get me wrong, I love some good bacon. Of the pork variety.

But, I can’t find any commandment in the Bible to eat bacon specifically. Or even pork in general. So I’m just pointing that out. You know, for the record.

Don’t give me any turkey bacon, or tofu bacon (if there is even such a thing). It just isn’t the same. Thick sliced is preferred, and peppered and smoked (pecan or hickory and even applewood.) it doesn’t have to be fancy, just mass produced.

And don’t get me started on a good ol BLT.

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The re-dedication of the temple from Maccabees:

According to the First and Second Books of Maccabee, in 167 BCE, the Syrian-Greek king Antiochus IV Epiphanes conquered Judea and desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem by erecting a statue of Zeus and sacrificing pigs on the altar.

A small group of Jewish rebels, led by Mattathias and his five sons, including Judah Maccabee, refused to submit to the Syrian-Greek rule. They fled to the wilderness and began a guerrilla war against the occupiers.

After a series of victories, the Maccabees recaptured Jerusalem and the Temple. They found the Temple in a state of disrepair and desecration. The Maccabees cleansed and rededicated the Temple, restoring Jewish worship and practices.

***

Jesus at the Feast of Dedication:

In the New Testament, John 10:22-23 mentions Jesus in Jerusalem at the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah). The passage states: "At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon's portico."

***

In later Jewish tradition, the myth of The Miracle of the Oil from the Talmud was incorporated into Hanukkah celebration:

The Talmud (Shabbat 21b) provides the story of the miracle of the oil. According to the Talmud, when the Maccabees recaptured the Temple, they found a single jar of oil that had been left untouched by the Syrian-Greeks. The jar had only enough oil for one day, but miraculously, it lasted for eight days, allowing the Jews to prepare new oil.

This miracle was seen as a sign of God's presence and favor, and it became a central part of the Hanukkah story. The Talmud attributes the miracle to the faith and piety of the Maccabees, who trusted in God's power and provision.

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Some years ago while I was living in Texas I purchased soy chorizo.
It was mild, but it ran right through me. Never again..! :foottap

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It was winter, and the neighborhood kids were making a snowman in the street. They looked at it and started singing "Go on, bald head! Go on, bald head!" and laughing.

Unfortunately for them, a prophet was walking by.

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Funny!
Let me guess. A polar bear ate them.

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Naah, one of the many Constantine myths.

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To be fair, in Rome in AD 336 there is a reference to a Nativity festival

Was there no festival of Sol on 25 December before 324 AD?
Roger Pearse
https://www.roger-pearse.com/weblog/...before-320-ad/

in the Chronography of 354; specifically in the 6th part, which contains the so-called “Calendar of Philocalus” (online here), listing the state holidays. Sol Invictus was introduced into Rome by Aurelian in 274 AD as a state cult, and it seems reasonable to suppose that this state holiday was introduced at the same time. The Chronography also lists the saints’ days, in another calendar dating from 336 (online here), including Christmas on 25 December.

That is the primary source evidence. Maybe Constantine helped declare the day, the whole are of Roman holidays is complex.

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And thats why Coca Cola uses Polar Bears during Christmas marketing.