Happy Santa day

[Big RR]

They have nothing (or extremely little) to do with it, but so what? There's also a crèche there (I think). But the point is that some at Fox and elsewhere have stated that there is a war on christmas, and like econo, I just don't see it. Anyone is free to celebrate (or not celebrate or even "leave it alone" like Ebeneezer) the holiday in their own way. You can eschew the commercial holiday and observe it as a religious one, you can eschew the religious and observe it as a commercial holiday, you can ignore it altogether precisely because there is no war to prevent people from celebrating Christmas as they see fit.

Personally, I enjoy some of the decorations and gift giving, I have no objection to Santa, and I even like a lot of the music, but I also celebrate it for the religious significance. I don't see it as hiding behind the manger, just as a chance to have a good time.

FWIW, I celebrate New Years as a holiday too, and rarely even think of the bris of jesus which would have taken place on it had he been born on Dec 25 (which he wasn't, but that's another post). I don't even think of the solenity of Mary (as the RC church would have me do because we can't celebrate a jewish ritual.

[RayThom]

I don't see it so much as a "Christ-mas" observance but more a secular, winter "Yule-tide" celebration.

My main problem with this "one day" birthday event is it last over three months from start to finish -- and not to mention the crass merchandising that ensues. What should be a fun celebration of gift-receiving by children has been usurped by "can you top this" adults.

Given another decade or so, this whole $eason will become less "Merry Christma$" and more "Bah! Humbug!"

[Big RR]

People can ruin anything, but then, contrary to what Bill O'Reilly says every year, each of us can pick and choose what we want to celebrate and how we propose to do it. I know I never bought into the "can you top this" mentality, and my kids weren't any the worse for it.

[rubato]

For motivating the crowd to evil there are few things as effective as imaginary persecution.

I browsed David Duke's website a few months ago and noted that he is fixated on convincing white men that they are persecuted by Jews, Blacks, Liberals &c. Resentment is a powerful motivator.


yrs,
rubato

[liberty]

“We’ve lost Christmas, just like we lost Easter, and should abandon the word completely,” O’Donnell told the Belfast Telegraph.

“We need to let it go, it’s already been hijacked and we just need to recognise and accept that.”

Oh, you mean like how Christians hijacked pagan holidays and made them their own? Where is your irony god now?

Yes but at least we had the decency to kill the heathens first. And they stayed dead in spite of Hitler’s attempt to resurrect them. You have to admit that Christianity is vast improve over the pagan religions of Western Europe.

[Sue U]

“We’ve lost Christmas, just like we lost Easter, and should abandon the word completely,” O’Donnell told the Belfast Telegraph.

“We need to let it go, it’s already been hijacked and we just need to recognise and accept that.”

Oh, you mean like how Christians hijacked pagan holidays and made them their own? Where is your irony god now?

Yes but at least we had the decency to kill the heathens first. And they stayed dead in spite of Hitler’s attempt to resurrect them. You have to admit that Christianity is vast improve over the pagan religions of Western Europe.

Who is the "we" who "kill[ed] the heathens first"? Was there some Fifth Century European genocide I never heard of? Why would anyone "have to admit that Christianity is vast improve[ment] over the pagan religions of Western Europe"? What do you even know of pre-Christian religion in Europe? In what way is Christianity any kind of improvement?

[Bicycle Bill]

Do you know the real reason why there is no traditional manger scene in the White House this year?

Many people believe this is because of the 'separation of church and state' principle.  The truth is, it's just that they couldn't locate three wise men anywhere in Trump's administration.  The search for a virgin was equally fruitless.

But there was no problem, however, finding enough asses to fill the stable.

-"BB"-

[ex-khobar Andy]

Do you know the real reason why there is no traditional manger scene in the White House this year?

Many people believe this is because of the 'separation of church and state' principle.  The truth is, it's just that they couldn't locate three wise men anywhere in Trump's administration.  The search for a virgin was equally fruitless.

But there was no problem, however, finding enough asses to fill the stable.

-"BB"-

And of course there is a readily available baby.

[ex-khobar Andy]

We're having Turducken for Christmas lunch.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. I don't know about you, but I have managed to reach the age of 68 without eating anything with a name like turd-something. I even eschewed the al Turdi restaurant I came across while walking around Riyadh one evening in 1984. (Still makes me laugh 33 years later. I have a long memory for things like that.) I will let you know how it goes down.

[Joe Guy]

Whoever came up with the turducken idea was very likely a serial killer.

[RayThom]

Whoever came up with the turducken idea was very likely a serial killer.

Wow, that's a great guess. It's well known that the guy who invented the turducken, Junior Hebert, was also known as the butcher of Maurice (Louisiana.) Various use of kitchen cutlery was his forte while dispatching many of his victims.

[Joe Guy]

Wow! I looked it up and apparently he killed many people and was eventually caught with a Frenchinafrican in a bag in his closet.