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Merry Christmas!
Jonathan Cook wrote:
Well I guess it's now old-fashioned to say that, but some of you might get a smile from the link below, while others...might not. It's twice the fun if you know Baxter Black's voice, but if not just pick your favorite cowpoke twang as you read it. http://www.cattletoday.com/archive/baxter.shtml (it's a Christmas editorial for now, I don't know if it will change soon.) Jon. And a Merry Christmas to you as well! Some would say "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays", but if there was no Christmas I really don't think there would be any widely popular holidays in December at all. So much for a season of them. Where's the ad RW mentioned? Maybe my browser blocked it. I sure don't see it. Karl S. |
Merry Christmas!
On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 12:41:37 -0800, Karl S
wrote: And a Merry Christmas to you as well! Some would say "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays", but if there was no Christmas I really don't think there would be any widely popular holidays in December at all. So much for a season of them. Holidays is derived from Holy Days. So, if you don't believe in a diety (especially Jesus Christ), there is no sense in saying Happy Holidays. Merry Christmas to you and yours, Karl, and wishes for a Prosperous and Happy New Year. Dave |
Merry Christmas!
Jonathan Cook wrote:
Well I guess it's now old-fashioned to say that Nonsense. It has always been acceptable for anybody to wish people a happy holidy of their choice. The pundits saying otherwise are rabble rousing (and pretty successfully, too). Karl S wrote: And a Merry Christmas to you as well! Some would say "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays", but if there was no Christmas I really don't think there would be any widely popular holidays in December at all. So much for a season of them. I call bull****. Here's some details: http://www.simpletoremember.com/vita...eRealStory.htm The Roman Saturnalia celebration predates Christianity, and the Romans actually stole (errr, adopted) the idea from the Greeks who called it Sacaea. And the Greeks stole it from Babylon where it was called Zagmuk. The solstice was celebrated in Babylon 4,000 years before Christ and a lot of the 'Christmas traditions' have been handed down from the ancient past. Note that Zagmuk is very similar to Zagnut, a wicked fine candy bar, which has been made for over 75 years which predates most of us. Not that that relates to Christmas at all, except that if somebody wanted to buy me a reasonable priced candy bar for a present, well, hint, hint, wink, wink. Gonna open a nice bottle of port tomorrow to toast "Longer Days!". -- Stan Gula http://gula.org/roffswaps |
Merry Christmas!
"Stan Gula" wrote in message news:_%%pf.4368$u36.627@trndny01... Jonathan Cook wrote: Well I guess it's now old-fashioned to say that Nonsense. It has always been acceptable for anybody to wish people a happy holidy of their choice. The pundits saying otherwise are rabble rousing (and pretty successfully, too). Karl S wrote: And a Merry Christmas to you as well! Some would say "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays", but if there was no Christmas I really don't think there would be any widely popular holidays in December at all. So much for a season of them. I call bull****. Here's some details: http://www.simpletoremember.com/vita...eRealStory.htm The Roman Saturnalia celebration predates Christianity, and the Romans actually stole (errr, adopted) the idea from the Greeks who called it Sacaea. And the Greeks stole it from Babylon where it was called Zagmuk. The solstice was celebrated in Babylon 4,000 years before Christ and a lot of the 'Christmas traditions' have been handed down from the ancient past. And then there's the Chinese and the Meso-Americans.....and many others.....all of whom were well aware of and celebrated the solstice for thousands of years before some quasimythical upstart megalomaniacal messianic carpenter of unknown parentage and birth date (not to mention basic reality) got mistaken for something else. Note that Zagmuk is very similar to Zagnut, a wicked fine candy bar, which has been made for over 75 years which predates most of us. Not that that relates to Christmas at all, except that if somebody wanted to buy me a reasonable priced candy bar for a present, well, hint, hint, wink, wink. I'd send you one but......well, you know how it goes. Gonna open a nice bottle of port tomorrow to toast "Longer Days!". Ah! A splendid idea! Uh oh......just checked.....no port in the house. Oh well, sherry will have to do. I raise my glass to you and yours, and to all our fellow travelers on the road to peace, good health........and sanity. :) Wolfgang |
Merry Christmas!
Stan Gula wrote:
I call bull****. Here's some details: http://www.simpletoremember.com/vita...eRealStory.htm The Roman Saturnalia celebration predates Christianity, and the Romans actually stole (errr, adopted) the idea from the Greeks who called it Sacaea. And the Greeks stole it from Babylon where it was called Zagmuk. The solstice was celebrated in Babylon 4,000 years before Christ and a lot of the 'Christmas traditions' have been handed down from the ancient past. Note that Zagmuk is very similar to Zagnut, a wicked fine candy bar, which has been made for over 75 years which predates most of us. Not that that relates to Christmas at all, except that if somebody wanted to buy me a reasonable priced candy bar for a present, well, hint, hint, wink, wink. Gonna open a nice bottle of port tomorrow to toast "Longer Days!". I said "widely popular holidays", Stan. What percentage of the world today celebrates Saturnalia? Sacaea? Zagmuk? The Solstice? The most popular runner-up would be Chanukah or Hanukkah, whichever spelling you prefer, but that is a rather minor celebration of the Jewish faith which is widely recognized only because it occurs in the same part of the year as Christmas. Forgotten celebrations to dead religions really don't count as a basis for a holiday season. It doesn't even really matter that Christmas is near the solstice. If Christmas happened in July, the holiday season would be in July. And December would be only a time of waiting for New Year's Day. Karl S. |
Merry Christmas!
The solstice was celebrated in Babylon 4,000 years before Christ and a lot
of the 'Christmas traditions' have been handed down from the ancient past. If it's good enough for Druids Running nekkid through the wuids, Drinking strange fermented fluids, Then it's good enough for me! A salutary and salubrious solstice, 'specially with a soupcon of silliness, to one and all! |
Merry Christmas!
"vincent p. norris" wrote in message If it's good enough for Druids Running nekkid through the wuids, Drinking strange fermented fluids, Then it's good enough for me! A salutary and salubrious solstice, 'specially with a soupcon of silliness, to one and all! Likewise to you, Vince!!! Thanks for the chuckle..... Tom |
Merry Christmas!
"Karl S" wrote in message ... Stan Gula wrote: I call bull****. Here's some details: http://www.simpletoremember.com/vita...eRealStory.htm The Roman Saturnalia celebration predates Christianity, and the Romans actually stole (errr, adopted) the idea from the Greeks who called it Sacaea. And the Greeks stole it from Babylon where it was called Zagmuk. The solstice was celebrated in Babylon 4,000 years before Christ and a lot of the 'Christmas traditions' have been handed down from the ancient past. Note that Zagmuk is very similar to Zagnut, a wicked fine candy bar, which has been made for over 75 years which predates most of us. Not that that relates to Christmas at all, except that if somebody wanted to buy me a reasonable priced candy bar for a present, well, hint, hint, wink, wink. Gonna open a nice bottle of port tomorrow to toast "Longer Days!". I said "widely popular holidays", Stan. What percentage of the world today celebrates Saturnalia? Sacaea? Zagmuk? The Solstice? The most popular runner-up would be Chanukah or Hanukkah, whichever spelling you prefer, but that is a rather minor celebration of the Jewish faith which is widely recognized only because it occurs in the same part of the year as Christmas. Forgotten celebrations to dead religions really don't count as a basis for a holiday season. It doesn't even really matter that Christmas is near the solstice. If Christmas happened in July, the holiday season would be in July. And December would be only a time of waiting for New Year's Day. You sort of missed the point, Karl. Christmas couldn't happen in July......the winter solstice......get it? Most of the world pays attention to the winter solstice in one way or another, and celebrates Saturnalia, Sacaea, Zagmuk, Christmas, Chanukah or whatever.......and has since antiquity.....they just change the name and the idols periodically. The Christians merely borrowed from a variety of creation myths (as did the Jews.....and the Romans......and others.....before them) and stuck some of their own window dressing on it. Their major problem was that they weren't real good with calendars........or at making up their minds for that matter. They missed the solstice.....and they still can't decide whether or not they like the vernal equinox (about the timing of which they are equally uncertain).....the whole death and rebirth (resurrection, blah, blah....you know, Easter) better than the solstice. See, the old year dies.....cosmic significance and all that.....right? But when does it begin anew? Hm......is it when they days start to get longer?......or is it when the grass starts to grow again? Well, what the hell......let's start it both times! Can't lose! :) Wolfgang i mean, does ANYBODY really still believe that december 25th marks an important birthday? |
Merry Christmas!
Wolfgang wrote:
i mean, does ANYBODY really still believe that december 25th marks an important birthday? Sir Isaac Newton was born on December 25. -- Cut "to the chase" for my email address. |
Merry Christmas!
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Merry Christmas!
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Merry Christmas!
rw wrote:
Christmas has become primarily a secular holiday, and a very expensive one. Yea, and it makes me laugh to hear all these right wingers go after walmart for not saying "merry christmas." Yea, that's a great idea.. let's make Christmas even MORE commercial. I'm sure they'd be so happy if walmart used Jesus in their advertising. |
Merry Christmas!
On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 12:41:37 -0800, Karl S
wrote: And a Merry Christmas to you as well! Some would say "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays", but if there was no Christmas I really don't think there would be any widely popular holidays in December at all. So much for a season of them. Where's the ad RW mentioned? Maybe my browser blocked it. I sure don't see it. The ad was for a Website pushing a book. It's at: http://www.outrageousmastery.com/ For a book that seems to be about Christian prayer power, all I see is testimonials from the kind of people who ask for things only for themselves and their immediate families, mostly money, with a side glance at health. You might want to learn the history of some other religions. The solstice has been celebrated in many countries for many religions. I think it would have been more appropriate to have put the crucifixion and resurrection at the winter solstice and the birth thing at Easter. The church probably would have, but for the Gospels mentioning the whole crucifixion coming around Passover. It may be when Christians celebrate the birth of Christ, but I've not seen a single Biblical scholar agree that he was born at this season. Not that that matters to a religious holiday. Or even an ordinary birthday. If you want to celebrate your birthday on the first of October, go for it. Regardless of what your birth certificate says. That will become your de facto birthday, except in legal matters, like your driver's license and when you can collect social security. Were it not for Christmas, we'd be celebrating a Druidic or Mithran or Wiccan holiday then, if not one to the old Roman gods. I have tried go to Happy Holidays to everyone except family many years ago as a greeting. I have no idea what religion some of the people I know are and simply hope that if I goof and wish a Jewish or Wiccan or agnostic or atheist friend a Merry Christmas, they'll take it in a forgiving spirit (or say, "I always knew she wasn't sharp enough to notice."). But I'm aware that I'll be closer to the mark if I go with Happy Holidays. One of which is New Year's Day. Not exactly a Christian holiday the last I heard. Cyli r.bc: vixen. Minnow goddess. Speaker to squirrels. Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless. http://www.visi.com/~cyli email: lid (strip the .invalid to email) |
Merry Christmas!
"rw" wrote in message nk.net... Wolfgang wrote: i mean, does ANYBODY really still believe that december 25th marks an important birthday? Sir Isaac Newton was born on December 25. And? Wolfgang |
Merry Christmas!
On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 05:37:44 GMT, rw wrote:
wrote: In article , says... Some would say "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays", but if there was no Christmas I really don't think there would be any widely popular holidays in December at all. So much for a season of them. Time to brush up on your cause and effect..... Christmas is in December because christians attempted (succeeded in?) to steal the highly popular pagan winter solstice festivals. Which is why we have christmas trees and yule logs. Christmas has become primarily a secular holiday, and a very expensive one. In fact, it's become a parody of mindless consumerism, to the point that a good retail Christmas season is vital for the economy. Is there ever a time of year when more money is spent on stuff that no one will ever use? If I were a Christian I wouldn't want the name of the Son of God even to be associated with it. Since Christmas is on Sunday this year a couple of the largest churches in the Atlanta area will be closed so their employees and parishioners can celebrate "in their own way". -- Charlie... http://www.chocphoto.com |
Merry Christmas!
On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 21:27:44 -0800, wrote:
In article , says... Some would say "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays", but if there was no Christmas I really don't think there would be any widely popular holidays in December at all. So much for a season of them. Time to brush up on your cause and effect..... Christmas is in December because christians attempted (succeeded in?) to steal the highly popular pagan winter solstice festivals. Which is why we have christmas trees and yule logs. BTW, all the best holidays came from the pagans. Easter, Christmas, Halloween. - Ken Mayday! "Hooray hooray its the first of May Outdoor screwing begins today". Or is that just a Norwegian thing? g.c. Who wishes people good-bye even though he doesn't necessarily think that God will be with them and who goes to work on Thursday with very seldom a thought to Thor and who bets that when the Brits go on holiday they spend very little of it praying. |
Merry Christmas!
vincent p. norris wrote:
If it's good enough for Druids Running nekkid through the wuids, Drinking strange fermented fluids, Then it's good enough for me! A salutary and salubrious solstice, 'specially with a soupcon of silliness, to one and all! Thanks for that, Vince! One of my favorites! -- Stan Gula http://gula.org/roffswaps |
Merry Christmas!
"George Cleveland" wrote in message ... Mayday! "Hooray hooray its the first of May Outdoor screwing begins today". Or is that just a Norwegian thing? Nah, it's one of those high latitude thingies.......wherever the livestock is brought indoors to survive harsh winters....... :) g.c. Who wishes people good-bye even though he doesn't necessarily think that God will be with them and who goes to work on Thursday with very seldom a thought to Thor and who bets that when the Brits go on holiday they spend very little of it praying. Gesundheit! Wolfgang |
Merry Christmas!
Wolfgang wrote:
"rw" wrote in message nk.net... Wolfgang wrote: i mean, does ANYBODY really still believe that december 25th marks an important birthday? Sir Isaac Newton was born on December 25. And? And Jimmy Buffett. -- Cut "to the chase" for my email address. |
Merry Christmas!
On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 15:32:06 GMT, rw wrote:
Wolfgang wrote: "rw" wrote in message nk.net... Wolfgang wrote: i mean, does ANYBODY really still believe that december 25th marks an important birthday? Sir Isaac Newton was born on December 25. And? And Jimmy Buffett. And Little Richard. -- Charlie... http://www.chocphoto.com |
Merry Christmas!
Charlie Choc wrote:
On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 15:32:06 GMT, rw wrote: Wolfgang wrote: "rw" wrote in message nk.net... Wolfgang wrote: i mean, does ANYBODY really still believe that december 25th marks an important birthday? Sir Isaac Newton was born on December 25. And? And Jimmy Buffett. And Little Richard. And Karl Rove. Hell, why pussyfoot: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_25 -- Stan Gula http://gula.org/roffswaps |
Merry Christmas!
"Stan Gula" wrote in news:rReqf.1105$JP1.816
@trndny03: And Karl Rove. Hell, why pussyfoot: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_25 -- Stan Gula http://gula.org/roffswaps I share a B'day w/ two Monkees! Wow, that wikipedia is some project. It should probably say "Don't Panic" on the homepage -- Scott Reverse name to reply |
Merry Christmas!
"rw" wrote in message ink.net... Wolfgang wrote: "rw" wrote in message nk.net... Wolfgang wrote: i mean, does ANYBODY really still believe that december 25th marks an important birthday? Sir Isaac Newton was born on December 25. And? And Jimmy Buffett. And the conclusion we are to draw from these stupendous research findings is........? I mean, the odds are we'd have had bad music.....and possibly even gravity.....by now, even if they'd been born on some other day of the year.....or even if neither of them had ever existed at all......right? Wolfgang not a wholehearted subscriber to the great man theory. |
Merry Christmas!
Wolfgang wrote:
And the conclusion we are to draw from these stupendous research findings is........? That you're a humorless, dyspeptic douche bag. -- Cut "to the chase" for my email address. |
Merry Christmas!
"rw" wrote in message ink.net... Wolfgang wrote: And the conclusion we are to draw from these stupendous research findings is........? That you're a humorless, dyspeptic douche bag. HEY WILLI!, Stevie's being unpleasant! Wolfgang shouldn't you be doing something about that? :) |
Merry Christmas!
A merry Christmas to all, and a very gay New Year of course!
TL MC |
Merry Christmas!
Mike Connor wrote:
A merry Christmas to all, You too, Mike. And a Happy Solstice too. and a very gay New Year of course! Yeah, you should keep your gay crap to yourself from now on. -- Ken Fortenberry |
Merry Christmas!
"Cyli" wrote in message ... On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 12:41:37 -0800, Karl S wrote: Well, actually Jesus IS the old Roman God, who kicked the **** out of the older Roman Gods. Dave If Roman historical reference had anything to do with what the main Christian holiday would be, setting fires in apartment houses might rank pretty high. |
Merry Christmas!
"Ken Fortenberry" schrieb im Newsbeitrag m... SNIP Yeah, you should keep your gay crap to yourself from now on. -- Ken Fortenberry You never heard of sharing? Nevertheless, probably a good idea. I was unable to explain my views sensibly anyway. I was still rather surprised at your extreme reaction. Tolerance is basically a measure of how much intolerance one can tolerate. Not even sure if that makes sense either! :) TL MC |
Merry Christmas!
"David Snedeker" schrieb im Newsbeitrag . .. SNIP Dave If Roman historical reference had anything to do with what the main Christian holiday would be, setting fires in apartment houses might rank pretty high. At least one has the consolation that the powers that be are always fiddling. TL MC |
Merry Christmas!
Wolfgang wrote:
"Karl S" wrote in message ... Stan Gula wrote: I call bull****. Here's some details: http://www.simpletoremember.com/vita...eRealStory.htm The Roman Saturnalia celebration predates Christianity, and the Romans actually stole (errr, adopted) the idea from the Greeks who called it Sacaea. And the Greeks stole it from Babylon where it was called Zagmuk. The solstice was celebrated in Babylon 4,000 years before Christ and a lot of the 'Christmas traditions' have been handed down from the ancient past. Note that Zagmuk is very similar to Zagnut, a wicked fine candy bar, which has been made for over 75 years which predates most of us. Not that that relates to Christmas at all, except that if somebody wanted to buy me a reasonable priced candy bar for a present, well, hint, hint, wink, wink. Gonna open a nice bottle of port tomorrow to toast "Longer Days!". I said "widely popular holidays", Stan. What percentage of the world today celebrates Saturnalia? Sacaea? Zagmuk? The Solstice? The most popular runner-up would be Chanukah or Hanukkah, whichever spelling you prefer, but that is a rather minor celebration of the Jewish faith which is widely recognized only because it occurs in the same part of the year as Christmas. Forgotten celebrations to dead religions really don't count as a basis for a holiday season. It doesn't even really matter that Christmas is near the solstice. If Christmas happened in July, the holiday season would be in July. And December would be only a time of waiting for New Year's Day. You sort of missed the point, Karl. Christmas couldn't happen in July......the winter solstice......get it? Most of the world pays attention to the winter solstice in one way or another, and celebrates Saturnalia, Sacaea, Zagmuk, Christmas, Chanukah or whatever.......and has since antiquity.....they just change the name and the idols periodically. The Christians merely borrowed from a variety of creation myths (as did the Jews.....and the Romans......and others.....before them) and stuck some of their own window dressing on it. Their major problem was that they weren't real good with calendars........or at making up their minds for that matter. They missed the solstice.....and they still can't decide whether or not they like the vernal equinox (about the timing of which they are equally uncertain).....the whole death and rebirth (resurrection, blah, blah....you know, Easter) better than the solstice. See, the old year dies.....cosmic significance and all that.....right? But when does it begin anew? Hm......is it when they days start to get longer?......or is it when the grass starts to grow again? Well, what the hell......let's start it both times! Can't lose! :) Wolfgang i mean, does ANYBODY really still believe that december 25th marks an important birthday? I'm sorry Wolfgang, but you are not missing - but rather, ignoring - the point. Christmas could indeed be any time of the year, because it seems nobody really knows the exact date of Jesus' birth. That it was set in December was a slightly shameful political decision taken a long time ago, that is true. Mankind, even well-meaning scholarly types, can get political. However, Christmas is in fact the celebration of the birth of Jesus, the Christ. The salvation of mankind is worth celebrating. You will of course continue to ignore this, for the sheer malicious fun of it. By all means do so, for this time of year is the hatching season for Christ-haters, if that is how you celebrate the winter solstice. By the way, celebrate it today. Not on the 25th. That's Christmas. Karl S. |
Merry Christmas!
Karl S wrote:
However, Christmas is in fact the celebration of the birth of Jesus, the Christ. The salvation of mankind is worth celebrating. Where do Santa Claus and the reindeer (including Rudolph) and the elves and Mrs. Santa Claus fit into this Jesus thing? Easter is the preeminent Christian holiday (although the Easter Bunny is gaining ground). One Christian holiday is quite enough for me to ignore. Christmas belongs to pop culture. -- Cut "to the chase" for my email address. |
Merry Christmas!
"Karl S" wrote in message t... I'm sorry Wolfgang, Well, I don't believe that, but let's see where you go with it, shall we? but you are not missing - but rather, ignoring - the point. I'm doing neither.....but DO go on. Christmas could indeed be any time of the year, because it seems nobody really knows the exact date of Jesus' birth. Nope. You may rest assured that the Church fathers got the point. That's why Christmas HAS TO be at the winter solstice.....or the vernal equinox. Well, somewhere in the general neighborhood, anyway. :) That it was set in December was a slightly shameful political decision taken a long time ago, that is true. No, that is not true. There's nothing shameful about it. It's a time honored tradition.....besides making eminent good sense. Mankind, even well-meaning scholarly types, can get political. No, they don't GET political.....they ARE political......as you are, albeit with little success. However, Christmas is in fact the celebration of the birth of Jesus, the Christ. You can call it whatever you please. Makes no difference to me. The salvation of mankind is worth celebrating. Indeed. Would that we might see it someday. Don't hold your breath, though. You will of course continue to ignore this, for the sheer malicious fun of it. By all means do so, for this time of year is the hatching season for Christ-haters, if that is how you celebrate the winter solstice. There is nothing at all malicious about my examination or understanding of Christian mythology....any more than there is about the mythologies of the Muslims, the Jews, the Hindus, the Buddhists or any other religious group I've looked at. Nor do I consider it worth my time to bother with hating Gilgamesh, Jesus, Beowulf, or Huck Finn. You're going to have to find someone else to wear that badge. However, if you're really all that serious about courting martyrdom......well, you HAVE come to the right place. :) By the way, celebrate it today. I'll celebrate whatever I please whenever I choose to. Not on the 25th. That's Christmas. Well......gosh......why wasn't I informed? Wolfgang |
Merry Christmas!
"Karl S" wrote ... snip By all means do so, for this time of year is the hatching season for Christ-haters Karl S. Christ-haters? Oh my. Seems Mr. S. hath consumed a bit of the Kool-Aid. Dan |
Merry Christmas!
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Merry Christmas!
"rw" wrote in message k.net... ...Easter is the preeminent Christian holiday... Varies from one cult to another. Wolfgang common knowledge. |
Merry Christmas!
William Claspy wrote:
On 12/21/05 4:33 PM, in article , "Wolfgang" wrote: Nor do I consider it worth my time to bother with hating ... Beowulf, or Huck Finn. whew! (I think...) :-) Best wishes to you and yours, Wolfgang! Bill I'll second that. All you yaaahooos (you know who you are) have a Merry Christmas. I wish this for you regardless of religion or lack thereof. Shucks, have a merry one even if you're gay. . . or (shudder) a librarian. It's a special day for my family and I, and I can't see why everyone else shouldn't share in the merriment. -- TL, Tim --------------------------- http://css.sbcma.com/timj/ |
Merry Christmas!
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Merry Christmas!
"William Claspy" wrote in message ... On 12/21/05 4:33 PM, in article , "Wolfgang" wrote: Nor do I consider it worth my time to bother with hating ... Beowulf, or Huck Finn. whew! (I think...) :-) Hey, what the hell, they never done nuthin' to me. That Silas Marner, on the other hand.....boy, I'd gut that *******! :( Best wishes to you and yours, Wolfgang! And the same to you and yours on whatever holy days you choose to celebrate.....um.....or any others, for that matter. :) Wolfgang |
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