CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

...or do some of you sometimes almost get forgetful with what Christmas is really about?

Like, Christmas stuff is out/coming out now, Christmas music is being played in stores, and the mainstream of the holiday it can be a fun thing sometimes^^ Just nostalgia of decorating the house with Santas and snowmen and stuff was such a fun thing when I was little. But sometimes, even I get caught up with everything I see in stores and it's like, not until I notice one of the few nativity sets that they have around do I go "oh yeah that's what Christmas is really about!" It's not like I really forget, but when beind surrounded by all the other stuff... sort of like Easter with it's bunnies, chicks, and chocolates.

I knwo the giant stuffed penguins I see are adorable, but it seems like I'm finding less and less actual Christmas stuff, like angels and whatnot. Reminds me when I went to a store and they had these things on the window telling about the different holidays around that time, like a quick thing on Chunakka (or however it's spelled with it's 2 different ways^^), Kwanzaa, and Christmas. Christmas was apparently about "gifts, Santa coming, and family and friends coming together" while the other 2 were actually more accurate. But, that's a whole other story on its own...

So does anyone else get caught up with this holiday sometimes, or sort of know what I mean?^^

I was walking through K-Mart [eugh] with Mom, and we stopped by the Christmas CD rack. I looked at Mom and said, "The sad thing is that 90+% of the people who put out Christmas albums have no clue what the holiday means, or have any legitimate reason to celebrate it. It'd be like the Newsboys putting out a Ramadan album."

.rai//

Off topic: Link to funny christmas stuff

On topic: Yeah I know what you mean it's all about the presents these days (Not that it's a bad thing ) But it really needs to go back to God.

well, every christmas, before we open presents, my family sits at the table for breakfast and we sing happy birthday to Jesus and we light a candle. it's really important to remember that christmas is Jesus's birthday and that we should give all the glory to God because he's the one who deserves the glory.

jon_jinn wrote:well, every christmas, before we open presents, my family sits at the table for breakfast and we sing happy birthday to Jesus and we light a candle. it's really important to remember that christmas is Jesus's birthday and that we should give all the glory to God because he's the one who deserves the glory.

That sounds really cute^^ But yeah, even if it can be a fun holiday and all, it's totally important to remember what it's about. No Jesus, no Christmas, no hope :/

I don't have any trouble remembering it's Jesus birthday, but the world does it's best to make me. The secular side is just too puke worthy to ignore. (lol)

Let's have another supermarket rendition of 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town'.
*Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!*

I was about to mention how nativities remind me of the true meaning when I was halfway reading through your first post; it's cool that you find it too.
I enjoy the feeling of Christmas; the Joy, Peace and Hope (although sometimes, unfortunately, peace comes after you've rushed around like a headless chicken trying to get ready for the event). Somehow, despite all the merchandising and cheapening of the Christmas season by the secular world, that feeling still comes through for me. But when I see a nativity scene, it's like the feeling really comes into place; it's not just the giddy excitement that shops etc put out, but it's a real silent, peaceful joy and appreciation.

I love it that someone else sings 'Happy Birthday' to Jesus! ^_^ Because it is his birth that we're celebrating. For me, when it comes to the 24th and 25th I try to read those chapters of the bible in the first four gospels that talk about his birth, and have a serious, thoughtful moment, remembering what the day is about. Sometimes I also go on to read about the crucifixion to remind me why he came into the world: for sinners like us.

I don't think gifts are a bad idea; in Esther they wrote to the Jews telling them to celebrate the event with gift giving and gifts to the poor (or perhaps just the second one; I can't remember off the top of my head) to remember and celebrate the event. But I think it does get over the top, and the focus for the secular world is the gifts. Unfortunately, it's easy to be brainwashed by that view, as potrayed by the media, unless we keep reminding ourselve of the truth. v_v"

But to answer the question you posed: yes, sometimes I do get forgetful as to what Christmas is all about, and start thinking of the event as 'Christmas', the label (which seems to have a red and white santa theme in my head somehow -__-" ); not 'Christmas', the celebration of our Lord's birth. I need to go back to the bible or listen to hyms, or in other ways remind myself of the truth to remember.

I love Xmas.

Needle Noggin wrote:I love Xmas.

Not sure what your intentions were with that, but although people think "Xmas" is an offensive way of saying Christmas, it's really not. Simplified, yeah, but there's this thing on Wiki that describes how Christ can become speclled "X" with greek or however it goes^^

I found as I get older, the presents stop being as heart-stoppingly exciting as they were when I was a kid, and when that thrill is gone (nothing wrong with it in and of itself, of course) I find it a lot easier to appreciate the company of my family and take comfort in knowing what Christmas is really supposed to celebrate.

It's a bit disheartening to see angels and nativities dropping out of view and people flipping out about the holiday, trying to make it political by throwing a fit over the phrase "Merry Christmas" and what not. But in the end it's their loss and not mine, and I can only pray that one day they can find the same peace that we as Christians find in the holiday. ^_^

Tenshi no Ai wrote:Not sure what your intentions were with that, but although people think "Xmas" is an offensive way of saying Christmas, it's really not. Simplified, yeah, but there's this thing on Wiki that describes how Christ can become speclled "X" with greek or however it goes^^

AHA! Someone else who figured that one out. ^^ i showed my family that lst year now they actually don't mind that term

Kokoro Daisuke wrote:I found as I get older, the presents stop being as heart-stoppingly exciting as they were when I was a kid, and when that thrill is gone (nothing wrong with it in and of itself, of course) I find it a lot easier to appreciate the company of my family and take comfort in knowing what Christmas is really supposed to celebrate.

It's a bit disheartening to see angels and nativities dropping out of view and people flipping out about the holiday, trying to make it political by throwing a fit over the phrase "Merry Christmas" and what not. But in the end it's their loss and not mine, and I can only pray that one day they can find the same peace that we as Christians find in the holiday. ^_^

She speaks the truth. I would like to add some of my own semi-psycho Christmas quirks.

1. Whenever someone tells me "Happy Holidays" I reply with "Merry Christmas! "

2. When setting up a the nativity, I point out that the creator of said nativity "Has it all wrong". While I know it's the idea that's important; I find that alot of people don't realize what truly humble beginnings our Lord came from. I've had the chance to educate several people because of this. ^_^

3. I refuse to acknowledge the existence of Christmas decorations until AFTER Thanksgiving is over. It seems that many people overlook the opportunity to focus on being truly thankful for an entire day, and I refuse to be one of them.

4. This is a family tradition; so it's not really a quirk. First thing in the morning, we get together, have a big breakfast, and read about Christ's birth as recorded in Luke's gospel.



It just occurred to me that one day, Christmas will be entirely different. We'll be able to sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus and possibly be able to see the smile on his face! O.o

ikimasu wrote:
It just occurred to me that one day, Christmas will be entirely different. We'll be able to sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus and possibly be able to see the smile on his face! O.o

Whoa. It's like, a total change from singing "jingle bells" and stuff in the holiday season ^^ I love Christmas songs (the real ones)... But with the birthday thing, isn't He turning 2040 this year? If I counted correctly^^ Someone's sure been around forever

Oh and about the "Happy Holidays" thing, I noticed that at my work, they DO have lots of "merry christmas" signs (werid that it's not capitalized though...) but still a few "Happy Holidays". Eh, an improvement from last year where I hardly saw anything about Christmas.

The thing that gets me the most about Christmas is how it comes at Halloween now. >_< By the time it gets here, I'm usually sick of it. Of course I remember what the holiday is really about, but the media sure does make it hard sometimes.

Christmas is nothing more than a time when people are forced to give gifts to each other, the only upshot being you get stuff yourself.

Don't believe me?

Just try accidentally cutting in line in a busy store around Christmas time and experience the true spirit of the season for yourself.

One thing that helps me remember the real meaning of Christmas is the music. The real Christmas carols. I'm not quite sure why, but I have a very special attatchment to Christmas music, especially songs like Angels We Have Heard on High that talk about the hope given to men.

Nativities are really special for me too. We have a couple nativity-related things around the house, and I always try to remember what they signify when I look at them. My favorite nativity and way to remember the true meaning of Christmas is an advent calendar that my grandmother handmade. It's the shape of a Christmas tree, and it has 25 pockets going from the top to the bottom, and in each pocket is a felt shape that you put in front. The bottom row for the last five days is the nativity. So the way you know you're getting close to Christmas is when you get to the bottom of the tree and you starting pulling out the wise men and the shepherds until finally on Christmas you pull out baby Jesus in the manger. It's a really special reminder.

There's one other great reminder of the true meaning of Christmas: A Charlie Brown Christmas. It's a timeless story of someone who's fed up with commercialism and needs to find the true meaning. Watching it is a very special tradition on my family.

Doubleshadows Patented Christmas Spirit Monitoring System:

Christmas is a holiday; holiday comes from the phrase "holy day". What have I done to show that this day is holy?