Winter Solstice Instead of Christmas
- Thread starter Cris
- Start date
You mean yule?
We've got the tree, we've got the gifts, we've got lights, and we've got good food. All those things were part of yule long before the christians came and decided to change the name and add a few baby jesus figures to the whole mess.
We've got the tree, we've got the gifts, we've got lights, and we've got good food. All those things were part of yule long before the christians came and decided to change the name and add a few baby jesus figures to the whole mess.
CounslerCoffee
Registered Senior Member
I think that Christmas is a time to reflect and be happy and thankful. Its a time of giving and understanding, to bad we cant be like that 24/7.
Happy Holidays to everyone.
Happy Holidays to everyone.
Voodoo Child
Registered Senior Member
Who really celebrates Christmas, anyway? CHRISTmas, that is. As a religious holiday it is absolutely meaningless.
Counsler,
Christmas seems to have become, for most, a time when they MUST buy something for everyone. And the retail stores know this and play it for as much profit as they can make.
There seems very little that is voluntary about Christmas. If you decided not to give anything but decided to give at different times of the year instead, would anyone understand you?
Giving has become an expected requirement rather than an honest voluntary action.
My company supports various aid programs around this time. And that is fine but the recipients (homeless, or similar) have the problem all year round. There is perhaps an element of “I gave at Christmas so my conscience is clear for the rest of the year” attitude that pretends reality doesn’t exist.
And it is also irksome to participate in what amounts to condoning a religious event that I am certain did not occur.
It’s a lovely ideal but reality seems to indicate this is not what most people do at Christmas.
Christmas seems to have become, for most, a time when they MUST buy something for everyone. And the retail stores know this and play it for as much profit as they can make.
There seems very little that is voluntary about Christmas. If you decided not to give anything but decided to give at different times of the year instead, would anyone understand you?
Giving has become an expected requirement rather than an honest voluntary action.
My company supports various aid programs around this time. And that is fine but the recipients (homeless, or similar) have the problem all year round. There is perhaps an element of “I gave at Christmas so my conscience is clear for the rest of the year” attitude that pretends reality doesn’t exist.
And it is also irksome to participate in what amounts to condoning a religious event that I am certain did not occur.
CounslerCoffee
Registered Senior Member
Cris,
I agree with that Cris. But its fun to see how happy you can make people sometimes, even if it is only one day a year. Besides the giving doesnt stop after christmas. Its the little things that you do.
I give blood. I smile and say hello to strangers, I talk to strangers. Im very happy when I do that to.
Ive done small little things that dont even matter. Ex. I hate SUVs. But one time a lady was about to pull into the only open parking space and there was a Kart in it... I was already waking away and she was getting ready to get out of her stupid SUV to move it. So I walked over and moved it back to where it belonged. She smiled and said thank you, I said your welcome.
Its the little things that matter. (Funny how it still had something to do with shopping though, right?)
I agree with that Cris. But its fun to see how happy you can make people sometimes, even if it is only one day a year. Besides the giving doesnt stop after christmas. Its the little things that you do.
I give blood. I smile and say hello to strangers, I talk to strangers. Im very happy when I do that to.
Ive done small little things that dont even matter. Ex. I hate SUVs. But one time a lady was about to pull into the only open parking space and there was a Kart in it... I was already waking away and she was getting ready to get out of her stupid SUV to move it. So I walked over and moved it back to where it belonged. She smiled and said thank you, I said your welcome.
Its the little things that matter. (Funny how it still had something to do with shopping though, right?)
We celebrate both, in very different ways too.
The winter soltice is very spiritual and we gather some friends and go outside to perform a ritual to welcome the light again.
I'm not very fond of rituals, but I go along with it, since the others seem to enjoy it, and I don't want to ruin it for them.
Christmas we celebrate quite traditionally with family and santa and presents, presents, presents and food, food, food. I'm not particularly fond of this ritual either, but I do enjoy the food.
The winter soltice is very spiritual and we gather some friends and go outside to perform a ritual to welcome the light again.
I'm not very fond of rituals, but I go along with it, since the others seem to enjoy it, and I don't want to ruin it for them.
Christmas we celebrate quite traditionally with family and santa and presents, presents, presents and food, food, food. I'm not particularly fond of this ritual either, but I do enjoy the food.
Cris, I think Yule lands on the 22nd this year, actually. 
I don't celebrate Christmas. I celebrate the American holiday of Xmas. I only call it Christmas when I'm trying to avoid offending someone.
I also celebrate Yule, of course. Yule is a more serious holiday and is centered more around the Earth and her seasons, rather than around commercial consumption. Gifts don't enter into the picture, usually, though sometimes I've given handmade gifts on Yule.
Xmas, on the other hand, is a great party packed with unashamed consumerism and gluttony. Hubby & I deal with all the family visits in the weeks preceeding. Then on Xmas day we generally wake up early, smoke ourselves silly as we gorge ourselves on rummy Eggnog and overpriced trinkets, and then go back to bed around 11 ish. A couple hours later we're able to speak coherently again, so we roust ourselves enough to make a few holiday phone calls, then we usually spend the rest of the day fiddling with all the goodies we've bought for eachother and wrestling with the dogs.
It's good for the economy, after all. More than that, it's a heckofa lot of fun.
And really, I enjoy giving gifts. I tend to make a lot of things myself and I love customizing things to be precisely the color/scent/flavor/whatever that I know someone will be thrilled with. I tend to collect gifts for people all throughout the year too. Xmas is about the only time of the year that you CAN give things to people without them feeling awkward about it. I'm a sucker for making people smile. I can't decide if that's a weakness or a virtue. Either way, that's how it is.
I actually give to charity all year 'round, EXCEPT during Xmas season. The reason is simple - I have less money then. I also figure it's needed more throughout the rest of the year. Oh, except I can never resist those "Angel Trees" where you pick a tab off that has some kid's info and you buy a present for them. I can't resist buying toys for kids, just can't.
I don't celebrate Christmas. I celebrate the American holiday of Xmas.
I only call it Christmas when I'm trying to avoid offending someone.I also celebrate Yule, of course. Yule is a more serious holiday and is centered more around the Earth and her seasons, rather than around commercial consumption. Gifts don't enter into the picture, usually, though sometimes I've given handmade gifts on Yule.
Xmas, on the other hand, is a great party packed with unashamed consumerism and gluttony. Hubby & I deal with all the family visits in the weeks preceeding. Then on Xmas day we generally wake up early, smoke ourselves silly as we gorge ourselves on rummy Eggnog and overpriced trinkets, and then go back to bed around 11 ish. A couple hours later we're able to speak coherently again, so we roust ourselves enough to make a few holiday phone calls, then we usually spend the rest of the day fiddling with all the goodies we've bought for eachother and wrestling with the dogs.
It's good for the economy, after all.
More than that, it's a heckofa lot of fun. And really, I enjoy giving gifts. I tend to make a lot of things myself and I love customizing things to be precisely the color/scent/flavor/whatever that I know someone will be thrilled with. I tend to collect gifts for people all throughout the year too. Xmas is about the only time of the year that you CAN give things to people without them feeling awkward about it. I'm a sucker for making people smile. I can't decide if that's a weakness or a virtue. Either way, that's how it is.
I actually give to charity all year 'round, EXCEPT during Xmas season. The reason is simple - I have less money then. I also figure it's needed more throughout the rest of the year. Oh, except I can never resist those "Angel Trees" where you pick a tab off that has some kid's info and you buy a present for them. I can't resist buying toys for kids, just can't.
I'm just too apathetic to change my party day from Dec. 25 to Dec. 21. Christmas is getting more and more secular as the years progress anyway, so it doesn't matter to me.
While stress & consumerism reach hazardous levels at christmastime, It's still fun to see your family and spend christmas morning opening presents & watch others open the presents you gave them.
While stress & consumerism reach hazardous levels at christmastime, It's still fun to see your family and spend christmas morning opening presents & watch others open the presents you gave them.
Christmas time to me, is the time where everyone is a little bit jollier because another year is over, and the world doesn't seem all that bad when people are jolly for a month. It's a celebration of the past year. The religious aspect comes second to that, to me. I wouldn't mind celebrating (i.e. exchanging gifts, eating a fancy dinner, seeing family) 4 days early than normal.
Cris, I'd say that is a trifle harsh. A select few actually cherish the spirit of giving during the holiday season. Some actually do preserve flowers and plants, and craft some personalized plant cards for people during Christmas.
I prefer to celebrate it as a general holiday. I often forget that it had a religious background anyway. And who really cares if it's religious or not? My atheist buddy doesn't care. She is staunchly atheist yet her fave thing to do is make christmas card/letter lists.
__________________________________________
There is no god, afterlife or divine love. There is only Entropy, the mother from which we were all born. She tugs our souls with the beautiful, maternal love of chaos. Why do you keep Her waiting?
I prefer to celebrate it as a general holiday. I often forget that it had a religious background anyway. And who really cares if it's religious or not? My atheist buddy doesn't care. She is staunchly atheist yet her fave thing to do is make christmas card/letter lists.
__________________________________________
There is no god, afterlife or divine love. There is only Entropy, the mother from which we were all born. She tugs our souls with the beautiful, maternal love of chaos. Why do you keep Her waiting?
Cupric,
That was nice. You remind me of the Hobbits. They always seem to know exactly what all their friends and family need and they always seem to give exactly the right gift, and often.
In contrast my family experiences tend to be various members asking others for their Christmas present lists. Mainly because most people don’t know what anyone else really needs but they feel duty bound to give something. And I know this is typical of very many families. It is practical of course and everyone enjoys buying and giving, and opening the gifts on Christmas day. But the whole ritual is just that, a ritual. It is still enjoyable for many, but somehow I feel we are capable of creating a more rewarding experience if we could just break out of this automatonic routine every year.
I heard a news item several years ago about how two teenagers were fighting with their mother because the value of one gift was less than the other’s. To resolve the conflict the mother paid the offended teenager the balance in cash. I find this grotesque.
Zero,
That was nice. You remind me of the Hobbits. They always seem to know exactly what all their friends and family need and they always seem to give exactly the right gift, and often.
In contrast my family experiences tend to be various members asking others for their Christmas present lists. Mainly because most people don’t know what anyone else really needs but they feel duty bound to give something. And I know this is typical of very many families. It is practical of course and everyone enjoys buying and giving, and opening the gifts on Christmas day. But the whole ritual is just that, a ritual. It is still enjoyable for many, but somehow I feel we are capable of creating a more rewarding experience if we could just break out of this automatonic routine every year.
I heard a news item several years ago about how two teenagers were fighting with their mother because the value of one gift was less than the other’s. To resolve the conflict the mother paid the offended teenager the balance in cash. I find this grotesque.
Zero,
Oh of course, and I didn’t say all, just most.
Dave the Druid
Registered Senior Member
Yule!
Cris,
I do celebrate Yule light tree etc but I also set a fire on Yule (the 21st). I think VodoChild had it right about Christmas in the "traditional" sense has gone. Christmass now is much more about commercialism that it is about anything else.
Blessed Be
Dave the Druid /|\
Cris,
I do celebrate Yule light tree etc but I also set a fire on Yule (the 21st). I think VodoChild had it right about Christmas in the "traditional" sense has gone. Christmass now is much more about commercialism that it is about anything else.
Blessed Be
Dave the Druid /|\
Dave the Druid
Registered Senior Member
Nice one!
Avatar,
well done!I wasn't aware of that one. Too western eurocentric I guess, but it's a good propmt for research.
Blessed Be
Dave the Druid /|\
Avatar,
well done!I wasn't aware of that one. Too western eurocentric I guess, but it's a good propmt for research.
Blessed Be
Dave the Druid /|\
that of course doesn't mean that there are no people who are celebrating Christmass, no country has escaped that, but it, especially in the country, isn't so visable
you can check for info on Latvian Ziemassvçtki at the Free Thoughts where I posted an article
you can check for info on Latvian Ziemassvçtki at the Free Thoughts where I posted an article
Dave the Druid
Registered Senior Member
Avatar,
I did read your article and very much like it. I think we all need a broader perspective on the holidays and your input is a great insight.
Blessed Be
Dave the Druid /|\
I did read your article and very much like it. I think we all need a broader perspective on the holidays and your input is a great insight.
Blessed Be
Dave the Druid /|\