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Post by Mistress Rell on Dec 17, 2007 15:21:03 GMT -5
Lately I’ve been hearing a lot of complaining about how Christmas isn’t being honoured as much as it used to be. Is it because we as a society have become too politically correct in our efforts to not offend anyone? Or are we realizing that Christianity isn’t the only ‘Reason for the Season‘. I wonder if perhaps the latter is the correct answer.
Christians aren’t the only ones who hold religious holidays during the month of December. Hanukkah (Hebrew word for dedication) begins on the 25th day of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, and lasts for 8 days (16th-24th of December).
Eid al-Adha or Feast of Sacrifice begins on the is the most important feast of the Muslim calendar. It concludes the Pilgrimmage to Mecca and lasts for three days
Kwanzaa is an African-American cultural festival beginning on December 26 and ending on January 1.
There is also Bodhi Day which is celebrated on the 8th of December. It marks the day that Buddhist say Buddha acheived Enlightenment.
Hindu celebrate the Pancha Ganapati Festival from December 21st through December 25th. The festival involves five days of gift-giving, exchanging of cards, feasts, and sweet treats. The festival has a lot of common ground in universal significance with the Christmas holiday.
Pagans celebrate the return of longer days at the Winter Solstice on the 21-22 of December.
With so many diverse cultures celebrating at this time of year, perhaps it’s time to stop complaining and allow the season to be honoured by all.
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Post by Shooshoo on Dec 17, 2007 19:44:59 GMT -5
I think the problem is that Christianity is being "hushed" by the PC brigade in order not to offend the other ( minority )religions in what is predominantly Christian countries, which I feel is a little unfair, yes other faiths celebrate during the same month as the Christian holidays and in Jewish, Muslim etc... countries their religious festivals are in the majority and the small christian faith followers celebrations are the quiet minority. What I'm getting at is in the countries were Christianity is the main faith the PC brigade seem to take great delight in quashing outward shows of faith and seem to give more help and public approval to the minority faiths. Only 1 school in 4 ( of 5 to 11 yr olds) actually teach about the birth of Christ and put on Nativity plays. When I was a child everyone knew what Christmas was about and hymns and Nativity plays were done every year.
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Post by Mistress Rell on Dec 18, 2007 8:26:03 GMT -5
And how many centuries did Muslins and Jewish and other religious denominations have to stay quiet if Christian countires? Are we not more socially conscience as a society to say, "Alright, since so many differnt religions celebrate at this time of year, why don't we honor them all?"
Or is it still 'This is a Christian country and if you don't like it then leave.'
I've been reading alot of that type of comments from online newspaper replies. Aren't Christians suppose to 'Love thy neighbour? Or more importatnly, respect them? I'n not saying remove all holiday things, but maybe add in symbols from the different faiths so that it's equal.
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Post by Aaron on Dec 18, 2007 14:48:10 GMT -5
I think Christmas isn't Christmas anymore or even really the whole season of giving and feeling of family and such..is just that it's to commercial. We care more about money and presents and the Fat guy in a suite then we do of the actual meaning and feelings of this time of year. Which I think not knowing how ALL religions and such celebrate this time of the year......yet I think we all know how at least we SHOULD feel. But, we haven't...probably not much since we realized that santa ain't real. So since we got to the age of what? 13?
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