Christmas time

[Noheajack]

Hi, what do you think about Christmas time?
In my opinion I think that Christmas time is the most important period of the year, to have a good Christmas time, we don't have to only receive gifts and presents and enjoy the holyday, but also think about people who are poor, and give something to them, and also stay with the family and enjoy to give presents to others, not only to receive!
The 25 is the most important day of the year, because is the day of the born of Jesus. Don't forget it!

(sorry for my english)

[agasfas]

Actually many scholars believe that Jesus may have been born sometime in the spring. It's more of a holiday to counter the roman pagan holidays. I believe that's it, someone please correct me if I'm wrong. But none the less, christmas is an important time of year, to show the people around us we care; though we should be doing that all year. I don't necessarily think there should be presents at all, kind of commercializes the holidays. Just give your heart and thats all that matters.

[Ashley]

It's more of a holiday to counter the roman pagan holidays. I believe that's it, someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Yes, that's correct. Christmas is in December to supercede a Roman holiday called Saturnalia. Although they also gave gifts at Saturnalia, which might be why we still give them today (I was always taught it was because the wise men gave gifts, but that's just personal opinion).

I love Christmas; it's my favorite holiday. The weather is cold for a change (Texas is hot year round), everyone is excited, and it's a very bright holiday all around. Easter, the other important Christian holiday, is sort of sad for me, because I think about all the great pain Christ went through for me. But Christmas is full of joy and hope and love.

[termyt]

The Roman Saturnalia and the English Yule, which both take place on the soltice, as well as the Babylonian Feast of Isis, which is actually December 25th, lend many of their traditions to us on Christmas.

December 25th was most likely chosen because early Christian leaders wanted/needed to displace the large number of holidays celebrated at the end of the year. Conversion was easier to take if the people knew they were not going to loose their holidays. Many of our Christmas traditions come from these pagan holidays - including caroling, bringing evergreens into our homes, and decking the halls with boughs of holly (not to mention partying).

The fact that Christ was most likely not born anywhere near December is of little consequence and seems a bit off topic. I personally love this time of year and I live in this spirit all year round. That Christ came to us is the source of my hope and joy and I love to celebrate it this time of year, regardless of when the actual anniversary of the event is.

[Anna Mae]

Well, what I was going to post was posted already, so...um...
Yay for Christmas!

[uc pseudonym]

I generally appreciate Christmas as a time when we celebrate the Incarnation (it matters very little the actual date it occurred). It is unfortunate that it has been commercialized to the degree it has, but at least it promotes general goodwill. My family gives gifts on Saint Nicholas Day (aforementioned Saint is basically the reason we give gifts), leaving Christmas solely for the celebration of Jesus.

[cbwing0]

The Christmas season is definitely my favorite time of year (to clarify, the "Christmas season" lasts from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day).

While it would save a lot of money to not have gifts at Christmas, I for one like the tradition. As long as it isn't so much about what you get as it is about the fact that someone cared enough to remember you during the holidays, I see nothing wrong with it. The gift-giving aspect of Christmas is especially pleasant for children. The gifts do lose some of their significance if you parents already buy you everyone you want year-round, but thankfully such spoiled children are not the majority. For every other kid, Christmas morning is awesome.

When you get older and start earning money, you have the added pleasure of giving gifts to others. I started doing this for my immediate family last year, and I can attest to the fact that giving feels just a good if not better than receiving (I'll let you fill in the cliche ).

I suppose I just don't see what's wrong with having a time of year when we try our hardest to make other people feel good, especially if we also take the time to honor our Lord and Savior. Whether or not the have the date right (or even close) to His actual birth is unimportant: it's the meaning that we give to the day that matters.

[Sephiroth]

I enjony Christmas for the most part, but i always seem to find myself getting all reflective and more depressive, whilei should be having fun with everyone around meat Christmas and New Year

[inkhana]

Mmy, if you don't have something better to offer to the conversation, please don't say anything at all and stop spamming up a legitimate thread.

[Felix]

I do believe that Jesus was born sometime around march 25, I'm not really sure.
I feel that giving presents on Christmas is a great way to show someone that you care. Sometimes it does get a little out of hand, however, people spending outrageous amounts on their kids. Then, when the next year rolls around, the kids just expect a bunch of big and fancy presents and they don't really experience the joy of the season.
It's just nice to be remembered, and to remember.

Everytime christmas rolls around, I feel so anxious to see Jesus in all his glory. oohh. It's gonna be awesome!

[Doubleshadow]

I haven't really reflected much on what Christmas truly means here recently. I guess I haven't recovered mentally from finals yet. My preacher on Wed. was going over how most modern Christmas things, the tree, the lights, etc., are pagan in origin, but we don't use them to celebrate pagan things. We use them, hopefully, as reminders of different things about Christ and what happened around the time of His birth. My church has a tree in the sanctuary (supposedly, it represents Christ because it is an evergreen and Christ is everlasting) and we hang these little things called Christmons (Christmas Monograms, the alpha and omega, the Jesus fish, etc.) on them that one of the little old ladies crocheted and starched. Mostly I've had a discouraging season because people like to take the oppurtunity of the Christmas season to belittle Christians in every way they can think of. But still, even now one can witness and talk about Christ freely. Even if it earns gasps and rants, there is still the chance to reach out to someone who needs to hear and is willing to listen. Maybe we're getting to the point where it's going to be like it was in the early church. Lots of people will hear about Jesus and react negatively, but then we'll know those who do listen and come to know Him are genuine about it.

[Azier the Swordsman]

クリスマスが大好き！

My favorite time of the year.

Specifically, it's the time when the whole family has a chance to come together and spend time with each other, and I think that's the part I enjoy the most. I don't particularily care so much about gifts, they're nice and all, but like I said, I much more enjoy heading over to grandmother's house, chatting with all my aunts and uncles (I really do have a lot!), and having a wonderful time.

Yeah, Christmas rocks.

[uc pseudonym]

Christmas is also a very sad time for many, and I try to keep them in my prayers (and actions) all throughout the season.

I think of the heartbreak of relatively poor parents because they cannot give their expectant children anything. I think of the many that deal with severe depression about the holidays. I think of those who will celebrate alone because their family is gone or simply doesn't care about them. I think about the millions that are so miserable that they cannot comprehend the "Christmas Spirit" and the thousands that will die of starvation upon Christmas day.

That probably wasn't terribly uplifting. And it is into this world that God sent Himself...

[dragonshimmer]

Christmas and the Christmas season are most definately my favorite time of the year. I admit, I do love the lights, and the cold weather and the decorations and the hustle and bustle of the season. I adore giving gifts, and I wish that people didn't give gifts because they HAVE to, but because they WANT to.

Most of all, though...this is the time of year when I feel like God is just right at my fingertips. Almost as if I reached far enough, I could touch His heavenly face. I always feel Him with me...but it's always different at this time of year. I just bask in His love. Maybe it's the extreme shift in focus from being preoccupied with myself to ONLY others and God.

At any rate, the holidays are never long enough, and I'm always sad for a good while after they're gone.

Christmas is awesome!

[agasfas]

To Mmy-sama, about his end days comment:
Mark 13:32-33
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.

1 Thessalonians 5:2
for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

Also, you comment about "Even if your family sucks and your poor" really got to me. To me it seemed a bit cold, because I grew up poor. Can you please cool it down a bit? I'm not asking out of anger but out of considerance of others. I would really appreciate it.

But seriously, that's a bit off topic from the original meaning behind the thread--christmas and it's meaning.

Like I said before, I really enjoy the holiday season. I just wish they wouldn't but such an emphasis of gifts. That only tends to make more people greedy only being concerned with what they get and how much. To me, christmas is a time to be with your loved ones and showing them you care. Also to give thanks to God . In my opinion, we really need to start focusing on the true meaning behind christmas (in my opinion)--showing love to both the ones we care for and God. Though I will admit, I do enjoy the "Christmas light trail" they have here in downtown austin.

[Jeikobu]

I celebrate Hanukkah (I'm not Jewish or anything, but you don't have to be to celebrate Hanukkah. I think Hanukkah is more accurate to when Jesus was born, as the Jewish calendar is more accurate. Besides Christmas was thought up around when Constantine was trying to customize Christianity to his liking. I still celebrate Christmas, but I consider Hanukkah the main holiday. Besides, along with celebrating Jesus' birth (obviously), it's good to celebrate what the Lord did for the Maccabees all that time ago). I had a good Hanukkah. got:
-Grave of the Fireflies DVD
-Ai Yori Aoshi DVDs 1-5 (the whole series!)
-Ai Yori Aoshi "Sakura" CD
-Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi "Pine" CD
-Ai Yori Aoshi Manga Vol. 1
-A Pokemon pillow my little sister made herself

Now I await my stocking on Christmas as well as gifts from relatives.

But something I really want to do is give my money to the Salvation Army before Christmas time.