Christmas celebrations a month early?
The wisdom of Christmas creep is questioned
Ignoring the issue of whether celebrating the mid winter festival called ‘Christmas’ is common sense, and the extent to which the myth cult called Christianity borrowed from Pagan and Roman festivals, I want to know if it is common sense to start celebrating / putting up decorations etc for a whole month before the event? This is 1/12th of the year early!
I do not think it is common sense as it reduces the significance of the few days immediately prior to the event, and the decorations get tatty. I hope you esteemed experts can advise.
November 27th, 2008 at 10:07 am
I think that is a statement and not a question. I do agree with your statement that we have stretched “chritmas” beyond what is sensible. What we do about it? Well live your own life and put your decorations up when you see fit.
November 27th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Cheer up and get a life you miserable old humbug.
November 27th, 2008 at 10:12 am
I see we streched Christmas so much the inter-letter bonds broke and a letter fell out.
December 12th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I am a Christian and I find it extremely offensive to hear Christianity referred to as a “myth cult”.
I wouldn’t refer to Christmas a “borrowing” from Pagan festivals. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus. The Norse/Germanic winter festival (Yule) was around in Europe before Christmas, and it seems that missionaries sent to that area superimposed Christian themes on to existing local holidays. Note that they didn’t impose a Christian holiday and require that people scrap Yule. Thus, like the Apostle Paul writing to Corinthian church about not requiring circumcision for new Greek converts, they recognized that the essential message of Christianity is to do with inward transformation and not outward signs — they did not require people to change their /culture/ just because they had changed their /faith/.
Thus I maintain that if you are not a Christian, why would you want to celebrate Christmas? i think the idea of having a big party and lots of merriment in the middle of winter when it’s cold and miserable outside is a great idea regardless of your beliefs, but if people don’t believe in the message of Jesus, why would they want to celebrate his birth? That said, I obviously think the message of Jesus is true and life-changing, so of course I would welcome and opportunity to share it with people.
The four weeks before Christmas is a season known as “Advent”, which serves a dual purpose as preparation for the birth of Jesus, but also, more importantly, as preparation for his second coming. It is a time for meditation, reflection, and preparation of our hearts and minds. Thus from a Christian point of view I totally agree with you that putting up decorations, etc. for a whole month before Christmas is somewhat at odds with the purpose of the season of advent.
Again, if you are not a Christian, I guess it’s up to you!