Christmas in Retirement

Had an interesting discussion the other day with the old guys and we talked about if they still 'keep' Christmas or have they gone 'Bah Humbug'.

Personally, we haven't done anything here for many years, no tree, no decorations, no gift giving. etc etc.. Still like the music and movies and enjoy seeing the season being celebrated...but just not interested in doing anything at home.

How about you; in Retirement, how many are now more like the 'before' Ebenezer Scrooge....how many are more like Chevy Chase :)

Much the same here, for me at least, my wife, not so much. No tree, no gifts, no lights and zero celebration. Neither of us are religious and I was raised with the idea that xmas was a celebration of the birth of Jesus? Since I don't believe in Jesus, why would I celebrate it? The whole concept is a farce.

Christmas is "BIG" around place,always has been including the Christmas Eve candle light mass. This year is all the in-law's turn for screamin' kids,frazzled nerves and Tylenol headaches on Christmas Day. Me and the Mrs. get to sleep in this year. We have a big shyte-kicker planned for New Years Eve after the Deer hunt closes. We might as well because,so far,unless there's some last minute action,it's tag soup for us.

We always have a big Christmas not retired but always have a packed tree for the kids. Think my wife spoils them a bit this time of year.

Always a blast around here at Christmas looking for it to be over though I dislike the packed Christmas store rush aways have.

Sent from my SM-G975W using Tapatalk

Not retired yet, we kinda decorate and have a 18" tree, do dinner with family and such. For me, it is more the World Juniors holiday season, love seeing kids put their hearts on their sleeves for their countries.
John

Not quite Bah Humbug but working on it. Rather than buying stuff that ends up in the closet, I make the effort to do some cooking and baking to give to the boys and my ATV buddy. Turkey pies, pork pies and mini pork pies. Some cookies and date squares with some extra ingredients.

Retired here, but not from Christmas! It’s now all about the kids and grandkids….

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Originally Posted by rick_iles

Retired here, but not from Christmas! It’s now all about the kids and grandkids….

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Yea G'Kids are a BIG game changer. A few old friends skipped the Xmas stuff for a few years then the G'kids arrived and out came the dusty old decorations again HaHa.

Some of the fondest memories I have revolve around Christmas when the wife was around and the kids were small - very special memories - for us believers it is special because of the significance of what happened and why we celebrate it - the Christmas story never gets old -

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Originally Posted by rick_iles

Retired here, but not from Christmas! It’s now all about the kids and grandkids….

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Same here. It was never my thing, but my wife has always been into it. Things slowed for a few years, but it's now all about the grandkids. If it was only the wife and I, I think it would be quite subdued.

I’m not retired but Christmas, like all the other holidays, is always a big deal. Decorations inside and out, tree cutting that we do traditionally, and lots of visiting. It’s usually a revolving door of family and friends. It’s not about gift giving or gift getting, it’s about warm embraces and decent conversations.

Having kids and working your tail off is very busy business. The holidays is a great time to hit the slo-mo button and relax. We are always big on the food, and have a big traditional full family Christmas meal. Since I was a kid it’s been the same, and I’ve looked forward to the time that I would host. Well that time is this year, and we’re all systems go here.

Of course it never goes smoothly and we yearly have our fair share of national lampoons mishaps. A few years back the Christmas turkey didn’t quite make it, who knew McDonald’s was open Christmas Day (100 chicken nuggets later and 7 very happy kids, lol).

Merry Christmas to all.

I'm not retired but we still keep it going my youngest is still home and the older boy still comes home for Xmas. We don't put up as many decorations but we still put up a tree. I think it would be unfair to stop until he moves out.

I do think I might get a fake tree next year.

I have never asked my parents (76) if they still put up decorations. It was a big thing for my Mom. Outside, inside every room a fir tree decorated and a Birch tree. All the home made goodies.

Can't say i give a rip about about the religious aspect but i love the family time with my kids and grand kids. We also have a great vaulted spot for a tree that i just can't help filling with the biggest, fattest 12 footer i can find. Have to take the light fixture down each year to put it up but the little ones (and the cat) just love it so i am game. Most years i need a winch to get it in the house:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1a430dff_k.jpg

I’ve been retired for 7 years now. No tree this year just because puppy in the house he’s a grab and run type

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...f6b56463c3.jpg

Yes even my wife agreed to forgo a tree in the house years ago due to our dogs, Bernese /Great Pyrenees. Dry tree, fireplace and and 4 legged friends is a recipe for at 911 call :)

For a few years I put it outside on the deck and we could see it lit up thru the big living room windows.

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

I'm not retired but we still keep it going my youngest is still home and the older boy still comes home for Xmas. We don't put up as many decorations but we still put up a tree. I think it would be unfair to stop until he moves out.

I do think I might get a fake tree next year.

I have never asked my parents (76) if they still put up decorations. It was a big thing for my Mom. Outside, inside every room a fir tree decorated and a Birch tree. All the home made goodies.

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Our old fake tree is up... looks good AFTER it is decorated, getting thinner in the needle department every year. I mentioned tossing it several years ago now... the screams and howls from the kids resolved me that I will have that tree until nothing but the wires that used to hold the fake pine needles are left. Still has quite a few on it but sure leaves a trail taking out of the box and when it is put away, as for Xmas itself.
https://vimeo.com/8174973?embedded=t...o&owner=944953

Not retired yet, just here to wish everyone on the forum a very Merry Christmas.

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Originally Posted by Species8472

Can't say i give a rip about about the religious aspect but i love the family time with my kids and grand kids. We also have a great vaulted spot for a tree that i just can't help filling with the biggest, fattest 12 footer i can find. Have to take the light fixture down each year to put it up but the little ones (and the cat) just love it so i am game. Most years i need a winch to get it in the house:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1a430dff_k.jpg

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Well at least you cut off the root ball “Clark” :)

Our kids are still relatively young, we do the tree cutting & decorating and some simple exterior lights. As others have said, the holidays are more about seeing family for us; all our family is minimum 2 hours away so we don’t gather often. Usually down to Kingston with the in-laws on Christmas Day and up to Parry Sound with my family a few days later. Except this year - Kingston is not the place to be the last few days

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Originally Posted by Species8472

Can't say i give a rip about about the religious aspect but i love the family time with my kids and grand kids. We also have a great vaulted spot for a tree that i just can't help filling with the biggest, fattest 12 footer i can find. Have to take the light fixture down each year to put it up but the little ones (and the cat) just love it so i am game. Most years i need a winch to get it in the house:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1a430dff_k.jpg

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That’s quite the tree… I hope you shook the squirrels out of it !! Lol

No real tree here. Been retired for 9 years and have no kids. Brother and sister live in B.C. We have an adopted family on welfare that we have over for Christmas fun/presents. Always wonderful to see the pleasure in their faces. We believe that Christ came to make a way for us to reach God and that is a big part of our celebration.
Merry Christmas to my friends on the forum. Been on here for many years and have met some fine folk. Have a great holiday. :)

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Originally Posted by Sharon

No real tree here. Been retired for 9 years and have no kids. Brother and sister live in B.C. We have an adopted family on welfare that we have over for Christmas fun/presents. Always wonderful to see the pleasure in their faces. We believe that Christ came to make a way for us to reach God and that is a big part of our celebration.
Merry Christmas to my friends on the forum. Been on here for many years and have met some fine folk. Have a great holiday. :)

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Merry Christmas to you Sharon and a Happy New Year.

It will be more of a "Ebenezer Scrooge" type of celebration this year, having kicked the last of them out the nest. But its a special day not only because Jesus Christ was born on that day but I just found out today listening to Rosemary Barton interviewing the Right Honorable Prime Minister of Canada Justine TRUDEAU that the 25th December is also his birthday. What more can we say. Oh happy birthday Justin. LOL

Semi retired, just my wife, myself and the newf dog. I actually prefer to work the holiday. For one of my clients it’s a huge help as the full time staff can have the holiday time off. We deep fry a turkey. Wife likes the tree and entertaining. I’d rather be ice fishing. So we run a drop in thing over a few days and various friends drop in and catch up. Gave up on the formal religious thing a while back.

Still do the whole Christmas thing. Real tree and house decorated.
We're going to spend Christmas with our daughter and son-in-law in New Hamburg - a five hour drive from here.
We usually do the Church stuff as well - but covid has that shut down again this year.
Normally we have a couple of Christmas parties - about 25 people - but are foregoing that because of covid.

Still have the tree and all the decorations and the kids are still coming home. So there is still family closeness aspect that is important. I don't think my kids will ever have children...so no grandkids to spoil in the future. Most of the presents under the tree are "need" presents and no more toys and such.

I enjoy the family time more then anything.

Don't worry, you will get hauled out of your house and forced to celebrate with all the grandkids you pickup along the way :)

Dad is retired now, does things for the kids, they put up a tree and decorate but it is not for them, I don't think it ever was for him.

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Originally Posted by Gilroy

Merry Christmas to you Sharon and a Happy New Year.

It will be more of a "Ebenezer Scrooge" type of celebration this year, having kicked the last of them out the nest. But its a special day not only because Jesus Christ was born on that day but I just found out today listening to Rosemary Barton interviewing the Right Honorable Prime Minister of Canada Justine TRUDEAU that the 25th December is also his birthday. What more can we say. Oh happy birthday Justin. LOL

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You had to wreck a great thread with your incessant trolling….give it a break !!

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Originally Posted by Gilroy

Merry Christmas to you Sharon and a Happy New Year.

It will be more of a "Ebenezer Scrooge" type of celebration this year, having kicked the last of them out the nest. But its a special day not only because Jesus Christ was born on that day but I just found out today listening to Rosemary Barton interviewing the Right Honorable Prime Minister of Canada Justine TRUDEAU that the 25th December is also his birthday. What more can we say. Oh happy birthday Justin. LOL

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Well, just so you are aware Jesus was not born on the 25th of December, that was just a day picked to line up with other seasonal celebrations and help people convert.

Tomorrow is the winter solstice

https://www.familytreemagazine.com/h...nd-traditions/

In the crazy world we live in, we need as many events like Christmas as possible.
We already fight for children's attention ... and Christmas has proven to be a time where
many get together with family and friends, and take a deep breath to thank God for what they
have.

I believe in Christ, and so Christmas to us becomes about giving, not getting.
The joy one gets from giving ... you just know deep in your heart it is right.
We thank God for everything He has provided ... and most of all each other.

Merry Christmas everyone.

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Originally Posted by Fox

Well, just so you are aware Jesus was not born on the 25th of December, that was just a day picked to line up with other seasonal celebrations and help people convert.

Tomorrow is the winter solstice

https://www.familytreemagazine.com/h...nd-traditions/

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It is one of the greatest acts of cultural appropriation in mankind's history. Seasonal celebrations and traditions established centuries before Jesus was born ruined by those pesky Christians. Happy Saturnalia!

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Originally Posted by Badenoch

It is one of the greatest acts of cultural appropriation in mankind's history. Seasonal celebrations and traditions established centuries before Jesus was born ruined by those pesky Christians. Happy Saturnalia!

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And for what purpose would a single man named Jesus be elevated in such a way?
Is the belief by those who witnessed this great man name Jesus not the fuel that caused the movement?
The Son of God has left his mark, and here we are, over 2000 years from when he was born, and he still
has significant impression on people's lives.

More so than any other king, queen or leader ... that in itself is a miracle.

[QUOTE=MarkB;1183850
The Son of God has left his mark, and here we are, over 2000 years from when he was born, and he still
has significant impression on people's lives.

More so than any other king, queen or leader ... that in itself is a miracle.[/QUOTE]

There's a lot of sheep out there and religions to lead them down the path. Somebody said the Eiffel Tower was on sale this week again.

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Originally Posted by Fisherman

There's a lot of sheep out there and religions to lead them down the path. Somebody said the Eiffel Tower was on sale this week again.

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I find it interesting how anyone born 2000 years from when this happened can be so confident, and deny so much ... prefer to believe that there was some big explosion and suddenly out of it came order ... try that with a stick of dynamite in your backyard.

Often, I find most people's reluctance to believe in God and Jesus is because of something a man did ... someone who used religion as a means to seek power.
In fact, the Bible I do not think asks us to have a religion with God, but a relationship with God ... so I'd say religion is the man-made thing that turns everyone off ... a good mechanism used
by the Devil, to fool the sheep ... and that devil is a clever one ... he's fooled lots of sheep, by focusing them on the actions of humans.

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Originally Posted by rick_iles

You had to wreck a great thread with your incessant trolling….give it a break !!

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Actually you are trolling as this has nothing to do with the thread. Next.

Can we not have ONE thread without disagreements ??

I felt the same Rick but left it alone because I knew what it would lead to

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Originally Posted by 73hunter

Can we not have ONE thread without disagreements ??

I felt the same Rick but left it alone because I knew what it would lead to

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Are you kidding? This is my nightly entertainment. Except in my head you are all characters from I love Lucy. Lol.

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Originally Posted by Birdbuff

Are you kidding? This is my nightly entertainment. Except in my head you are all characters from I love Lucy. Lol.

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I was thinking Seinfeld. Festivus for the rest of us.

Personally I have no care on what if any persons religion is.
As long as you are a decent person. You can be Buddhist, Jewish, Christian etc. You can be Atheist, agnostic, Theist, deist what ever.
Doesn't matter to me in this country we have the right to religious freedom which includes not being religious.

I have Jewish friends married to Christians
Christians married to Buddhists
Atheist married to deists.

I don't believe in putting anyone down because of their religion to each his own.

A Merry Xmas to everyone

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Originally Posted by Badenoch

It is one of the greatest acts of cultural appropriation in mankind's history. Seasonal celebrations and traditions established centuries before Jesus was born ruined by those pesky Christians. Happy Saturnalia!

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Why on the Earth-being Religious or NOT(Your business)there is an URGE to ridicule many millions of peoples happiness??
What is wrong with Families gettign together,at leats once a year,to celebrate Christmas and EACH other.

Man ,oh man-can you give it a break?
If You do not believe -no one forces You.
Why all this hatred..........
Plus-what is wrong with Christians anyway?

Why You do not jump all over other major religions?
Never seen that yet....?

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Originally Posted by gbk

Why on the Earth-being Religious or NOT(Your business)there is an URGE to ridicule many millions of peoples happiness??
What is wrong with Families gettign together,at leats once a year,to celebrate Christmas and EACH other.

Man ,oh man-can you give it a break?
If You do not believe -no one forces You.
Why all this hatred..........
Plus-what is wrong with Christians anyway?

Why You do not jump all over other major religions?
Never seen that yet....?

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The difference is that our society doesn't demand everyone participate in Ramadan, Hanukah, Diwali or the celebrations of other religions. Despite the rapid and long overdue decline in the influence of Christianity, much of western civilization continues to indulge in an annual orgy of rampant spending, gluttony and stupidity to celebrate the birth of baby Jebus.

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Originally Posted by gbk

Why on the Earth-being Religious or NOT(Your business)there is an URGE to ridicule many millions of peoples happiness??
What is wrong with Families gettign together,at leats once a year,to celebrate Christmas and EACH other.

Man ,oh man-can you give it a break?
If You do not believe -no one forces You.
Why all this hatred..........
Plus-what is wrong with Christians anyway?

Why You do not jump all over other major religions?
Never seen that yet....?

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The point was actually a fact, a straight up accurate fact and it does not take away from anything.

If you believe in the bible then you would have to realize that Jesus was born in lambing season, that is the only reason the shepherds would be watching their sheep by night. The orientation of the stars that the wise men follows also makes it seem like Jesus had to have been born in the spring time, rather than the at the time of the shortest day of the year.

It is actually very interesting that Christmas is such a melting pot of beliefs and cultures, it is actually special when you think about it. Christmas trees are based on Northern European traditions. The 25th of December is the date that Romans celebrated the sun god. Hanukkah is also celebrated at this time.

All of these things make it very convenient to pick a date that is surrounded by local traditions, an easy way to get others to keep their history while converting.

Heck, the old world Santa was green and although not red now because of Coca-Cola they made a massive cultural impact and built up the image of the jolly elf that we all now see.

Christmas is a melting pot of ideas and cultures, that is not a bad thing.

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Originally Posted by Badenoch

The difference is that our society doesn't demand everyone participate in Ramadan, Hanukah, Diwali or the celebrations of other religions. Despite the rapid and long overdue decline in the influence of Christianity, much of western civilization continues to indulge in an annual orgy of rampant spending, gluttony and stupidity to celebrate the birth of baby Jebus.

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LOL!!! I'm actually falling off my chair laughing at this ... holy smokes this is hilarious (in a sarcastic kind of way).

YOU actually think the rampant spending has anything to do with the birth of Jesus ... oh my goodness ... that is comedy right there.

Like I said, the sheep look at what man does, and then blames God for it ... it's a complete joke. And THAT statement you just made, proves it ... you blaming the spending on the birth of Jesus ... hahahaha, I'm crying laughing at that one ... pheewww, need to breath ... hahahaha.

On another note ... personally, I don't know of a single person who is complaining about getting a holiday on Christmas ... not one muslim, jewish person, hindu ... not one.
So why you so grumpy about that ... you trying out for a role as the Grinch or Scrooge? LOL.

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Originally Posted by Badenoch

The difference is that our society doesn't demand everyone participate in Ramadan, Hanukah, Diwali or the celebrations of other religions. Despite the rapid and long overdue decline in the influence of Christianity, much of western civilization continues to indulge in an annual orgy of rampant spending, gluttony and stupidity to celebrate the birth of baby Jebus.

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Oh and another note ... go to Saudi, Iran, Iraq ... and tell me if they don't demand that everyone participate in Ramadan ... or go to India for Diwali.
Anyhow ... it's the Winter Solist ... shouldn't you be celebrating that with Mother Nature, and preparing food under the full moon for a good yield or something, and being less grumpy and crapping over a group of Christians that actually just want peace in this world ... go beat up someone like a criminal.

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Originally Posted by Fox

The point was actually a fact, a straight up accurate fact and it does not take away from anything.

If you believe in the bible then you would have to realize that Jesus was born in lambing season, that is the only reason the shepherds would be watching their sheep by night. The orientation of the stars that the wise men follows also makes it seem like Jesus had to have been born in the spring time, rather than the at the time of the shortest day of the year.

It is actually very interesting that Christmas is such a melting pot of beliefs and cultures, it is actually special when you think about it. Christmas trees are based on Northern European traditions. The 25th of December is the date that Romans celebrated the sun god. Hanukkah is also celebrated at this time.

All of these things make it very convenient to pick a date that is surrounded by local traditions, an easy way to get others to keep their history while converting.

Heck, the old world Santa was green and although not red now because of Coca-Cola they made a massive cultural impact and built up the image of the jolly elf that we all now see.

Christmas is a melting pot of ideas and cultures, that is not a bad thing.

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I don't disagree with most of the above ... we all know that Dec 25th may not be the actual birth date of Christ, but it is the chosen day, and we celebrate it that way.
By the way, gbk wasn't responding to you, but Badenoch's ridiculing of Christian faith.

However, there's parts of what you wrote I would challenge you on ... for instance, the convenience of picking a date like Dec 25th to simply try and sway others to become Christians. You quote Hanukkah, which is a stretch, which is Nov 28 to Dec 6 this year ... go figure. Also, I do find it very strange that the Julian calendar marks the winter solstice on Dec 25th, and not Dec 21st ... clearly, the Aztecs were much more accurate at reading the starts and planetary movements ...

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Originally Posted by MarkB

LOL!!! I'm actually falling off my chair laughing at this ... holy smokes this is hilarious (in a sarcastic kind of way).

YOU actually think the rampant spending has anything to do with the birth of Jesus ... oh my goodness ... that is comedy right there.

Like I said, the sheep look at what man does, and then blames God for it ... it's a complete joke. And THAT statement you just made, proves it ... you blaming the spending on the birth of Jesus ... hahahaha, I'm crying laughing at that one ... pheewww, need to breath ... hahahaha.

On another note ... personally, I don't know of a single person who is complaining about getting a holiday on Christmas ... not one muslim, jewish person, hindu ... not one.
So why you so grumpy about that ... you trying out for a role as the Grinch or Scrooge? LOL.

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Typical of the Christian faith is ridiculing anyone who doesn't partake in their festive rituals or antiquated beliefs. That is of course a great advance from previous eras when Christians burned them at the stake if they didn't show appropriate fealty to baby Jesus.

I'd be happy to drop lengthy nuclear truth bombs regarding matters of Christian theology in another thread, as many are in desperate need of a proper education. It is the season of giving after all.

I simply posted Merry Christmas wishes previously in keeping with the OP's question, and will offer a final post to note the following:

It's interesting to see the vitriol and ignorance from so many on this topic. And by the left's own wacky definitions, wouldn't Christians qualify as an 'identifiable minority group' and therefore be deserving of the protection and praise they reserve for the oppressed? Interesting how a thread discussing the sheer lunacy of men competing in women's sports (and the madness of transgenderism in general) was quickly shut down due to 'discrimination' or lack of 'inclusivity' or being 'unnecessarily provocative', yet this attack on the very foundations of our culture continues unabated.

Proving the point that Christians are the only group you can freely and legally discriminate against.

Checkmate, liberals. :)

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Originally Posted by Fox

Christmas is a melting pot of ideas and cultures, that is not a bad thing.

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You're absolutely right...in fact, it is actually linked to a Pagan festival:

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Although some evidence suggests that his birth may have occurred in the spring (why would shepherds be herding in the middle of winter?), Pope Julius I chose December 25. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival. First called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century.

By holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals, church leaders increased the chances that Christmas would be popularly embraced, but gave up the ability to dictate how it was celebrated. By the Middle Ages, Christianity had, for the most part, replaced pagan religion. On Christmas, believers attended church, then celebrated raucously in a drunken, carnival-like atmosphere similar to today’s Mardi Gras. Each year, a beggar or student would be crowned the “lord of misrule” and eager celebrants played the part of his subjects. The poor would go to the houses of the rich and demand their best food and drink. If owners failed to comply, their visitors would most likely terrorize them with mischief. Christmas became the time of year when the upper classes could repay their real or imagined “debt” to society by entertaining less fortunate citizens.

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Originally Posted by Badenoch

Typical of the Christian faith is ridiculing anyone who doesn't partake in their festive rituals or antiquated beliefs. That is of course a great advance from previous eras when Christians burned them at the stake if they didn't show appropriate fealty to baby Jesus.

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And there it is again ... you look at a man's action, and judge God for it. Typical excuse by a non-believer. You're right, some Christians can be terrible people!
That's because we are humans, just like everyone else ... and we aren't any more special than anyone else.

But really dude ... it is hilarious that you associated " annual orgy of rampant spending, gluttony and stupidity" with the birth of Christ, which happened over 2000 years ago.
Like ... what does that have anything to do with Christ?

And I'm not ridiculing ... really, I was laughing my head off ... I should have videoed myself to prove it. It was almost cry laughing. I'm just trying to have some fun with this ...
cheer up a little. Kind of like brothers around a fire, just poking some innocent fun at each other.

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Originally Posted by Bushwhacker

I'd be happy to drop lengthy nuclear truth bombs regarding matters of Christian theology in another thread, as many are in desperate need of a proper education. It is the season of giving after all.

I simply posted Merry Christmas wishes previously in keeping with the OP's question, and will offer a final post to note the following:

It's interesting to see the vitriol and ignorance from so many on this topic. And by the left's own wacky definitions, wouldn't Christians qualify as an 'identifiable minority group' and therefore be deserving of the protection and praise they reserve for the oppressed? Interesting how a thread discussing the sheer lunacy of men competing in women's sports (and the madness of transgenderism in general) was quickly shut down due to 'discrimination' or lack of 'inclusivity' or being 'unnecessarily provocative', yet this attack on the very foundations of our culture continues unabated.

Proving the point that Christians are the only group you can freely and legally discriminate against.

Checkmate, liberals. :)

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Sorry, I confused you for Badenoch ... so I wrote a response that was not applicable. Apologies.

I deleted my response.

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Originally Posted by MarkB

No, no ... let's not try and summarize and make it seem like you did nothing wrong. You took what was a nice subject, and used it to belittle all the Christians in this Forum.

Let me quote the very sentence that you wrote that set this all off ... and you just could have been respectful of other's beliefs ... "Seasonal celebrations and traditions established centuries before Jesus was born ruined by those pesky Christians. Happy Saturnalia!"

Pesky Christians ... hmmmm, yeah, that sounds like a jab to the gut. Let's make sure we acknowledge where the train went off the rails here.

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You seem to have your posters mixed up. Bushwacker didn't make the comments that seem to have got your rosary in a knot.

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Originally Posted by MarkB

I don't disagree with most of the above ... we all know that Dec 25th may not be the actual birth date of Christ, but it is the chosen day, and we celebrate it that way.
By the way, gbk wasn't responding to you, but Badenoch's ridiculing of Christian faith.

However, there's parts of what you wrote I would challenge you on ... for instance, the convenience of picking a date like Dec 25th to simply try and sway others to become Christians. You quote Hanukkah, which is a stretch, which is Nov 28 to Dec 6 this year ... go figure. Also, I do find it very strange that the Julian calendar marks the winter solstice on Dec 25th, and not Dec 21st ... clearly, the Aztecs were much more accurate at reading the starts and planetary movements ...

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There were many many different celebrations at that time, yes, within the range but it is a heck of a lot better than doing it in April or May, then they would still have their pagan beliefs.

The 25th is actually the date that the Romans used for their winter solstice celebration, I have no idea when Dec 25th was first used for Christmas but it makes sense to me that when the Roman empire converted to Christianity that they would have used this date.

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Originally Posted by Bushwhacker

I'd be happy to drop lengthy nuclear truth bombs regarding matters of Christian theology in another thread, as many are in desperate need of a proper education. It is the season of giving after all.

I simply posted Merry Christmas wishes previously in keeping with the OP's question, and will offer a final post to note the following:

It's interesting to see the vitriol and ignorance from so many on this topic. And by the left's own wacky definitions, wouldn't Christians qualify as an 'identifiable minority group' and therefore be deserving of the protection and praise they reserve for the oppressed? Interesting how a thread discussing the sheer lunacy of men competing in women's sports (and the madness of transgenderism in general) was quickly shut down due to 'discrimination' or lack of 'inclusivity' or being 'unnecessarily provocative', yet this attack on the very foundations of our culture continues unabated.

Proving the point that Christians are the only group you can freely and legally discriminate against.

Checkmate, liberals. :)

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I’m not a religious fella but that was an excellent post. I hate it when people ridicule others for no reason or bring politics into a “feel good” thread.

Why can’t we just all agree that some paid holidays and time with family is a benefit to everyone ?

Those who don’t like it can move to the Middle East.

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Originally Posted by Fox

There were many many different celebrations at that time, yes, within the range but it is a heck of a lot better than doing it in April or May, then they would still have their pagan beliefs.

The 25th is actually the date that the Romans used for their winter solstice celebration, I have no idea when Dec 25th was first used for Christmas but it makes sense to me that when the Roman empire converted to Christianity that they would have used this date.

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Pretty much, there is no record of the exact date from the texts or the letters of the early believers or in the non-canonical writings to my knowledge. There are a significant amounts of writings and references by early leaders like Irenaeus etc. but not on that. Easter can be tied to the Jewish lunar and known historical dates and our calendar is based off the calculations made 6 centuries after the fact and based on recent archaeological evidence year 0 (actual year of birth, isn't actually a 0 AD) is probably around 4 BC.

People are social creations, just look at March 17th and you can see a person from China or India or Egypt etc. wearing green and drinking green beer and knowing nothing of the man Magonus Sochet, his life and teachings. The idea that people felt left out and wanted to celebrate something, but not the pagan celebration, is often credited with the date being chosen. With all the lock downs and government threats and warnings people still get together, go to restaurants even in the Wuhan Pneumonia times.

Looking at history there is just so much ignorance and deliberate delusions and exploitation and abuses of power but that is a long thread onto it's own. The impact of Yeshua (Isa, Ishua, Yesus, Jesus..) teaching is such that even Mahatma Gandhi recognized the impact of Christianity in that his peaceful protests would never have worked against an unChristianized population. Any other group and they likely would have been just cut down and tossed in a hole since to many the value of a life is in its usefulness not in the person themselves.

W.E.H. Lecky (Historian)
"The character of Jesus has not only been the highest pattern of virtue, but the strongest incentive in its practice, and has exerted so deep an influence, that it may be truly said that the simple record of three years of active life has done more to regenerate and to soften mankind than all the disquisitions of philosophers and all the exhortations of moralists."

The study of history and truth takes time and looking, Lee Strobel, Malcolm Muggridge, Josh McDowell, Alister McGrath... all writers that have looked and written on history.

P.S.
Merry Xmas
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/artic...-in-christmas?

http://www.jesuswalk.com/christian-symbols/chi-rho.htm

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Originally Posted by mosquito

Pretty much, there is no record of the exact date from the texts or the letters of the early believers or in the non-canonical writings to my knowledge. There are a significant amounts of writings and references by early leaders like Irenaeus etc. but not on that. Easter can be tied to the Jewish lunar and known historical dates and our calendar is based off the calculations made 6 centuries after the fact and based on recent archaeological evidence year 0 (actual year of birth, isn't actually a 0 AD) is probably around 4 BC.

People are social creations, just look at March 17th and you can see a person from China or India or Egypt etc. wearing green and drinking green beer and knowing nothing of the man Magonus Sochet, his life and teachings. The idea that people felt left out and wanted to celebrate something, but not the pagan celebration, is often credited with the date being chosen. With all the lock downs and government threats and warnings people still get together, go to restaurants even in the Wuhan Pneumonia times.

Looking at history there is just so much ignorance and deliberate delusions and exploitation and abuses of power but that is a long thread onto it's own. The impact of Yeshua (Isa, Ishua, Yesus, Jesus..) teaching is such that even Mahatma Gandhi recognized the impact of Christianity in that his peaceful protests would never have worked against an unChristianized population. Any other group and they likely would have been just cut down and tossed in a hole since to many the value of a life is in its usefulness not in the person themselves.

W.E.H. Lecky (Historian)
"The character of Jesus has not only been the highest pattern of virtue, but the strongest incentive in its practice, and has exerted so deep an influence, that it may be truly said that the simple record of three years of active life has done more to regenerate and to soften mankind than all the disquisitions of philosophers and all the exhortations of moralists."

The study of history and truth takes time and looking, Lee Strobel, Malcolm Muggridge, Josh McDowell, Alister McGrath... all writers that have looked and written on history.

P.S.
Merry Xmas
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/artic...-in-christmas?

http://www.jesuswalk.com/christian-symbols/chi-rho.htm

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Exactly why the date does not matter, it really does not.

I had someone ask me about Santa and what do you do when your child learns he does not exist. My answer is always, it does not matter if Santa exists but the idea of Santa that is important. Santa does not care about your religion, your status or anything else, Santa is all about Karma :), be good and good will come to you in this world, can we ever complain about that.

Yes, Xmas, every damn year I have to explain to members of my family that the X represents Catholicism and was used as code and or a general symbol for Christ ... just leave it alone, Xmas does not take Christ out of it, it is fine, stop complaining, ha ha ha.

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Originally Posted by 73hunter

I’m not a religious fella but that was an excellent post. I hate it when people ridicule others for no reason or bring politics into a “feel good” thread.

Why can’t we just all agree that some paid holidays and time with family is a benefit to everyone ?

Those who don’t like it can move to the Middle East.

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Exactly our point ... and why we reacted when Badenoch used this subject as an opportunity to ridicule Christians.

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Originally Posted by Badenoch

You seem to have your posters mixed up. Bushwacker didn't make the comments that seem to have got your rosary in a knot.

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Yes, I just fixed that. Apologies to Bushwacker.

I don't have a rosary by the way ... happy Solstice to you, have you burned your sage yet?

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Originally Posted by MarkB

Exactly our point ... and why we reacted when Badenoch used this subject as an opportunity to ridicule Christians.

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So much for turn the other cheek guess its more an eye for an eye eh?
Going to close this down till admin has a chance to review as gotten out of hand.

Happy Christmas, Merry Holidays, and all the best to everyone for 2022, however you celebrate. This post has been closed because its content infringes on the Forum guidelines. Stay happy, healthy, and be kind, people.