I never think of evergreen decorations as related to any sort of religion. They're just a way of reminding those of us locked in a dark time bereft of growing things that green still exists, until spring comes and brings the light back. That's not so much Christian, Heathen, or Pagan as atavistic human. To me, anyway.
I like that idea but it's pretty easy to say from a raised-Christian perspective. (Mine, to be clear - not trying to assume your background.) My hunch is it feels pretty different coming from outside that tradition.
If only those crazy Christians didn't co-op the Yule Log and Yule Tree! It was the German Folklorists first, gorrum it! Now, get off my lawn, you crazy kids.
(Not making light of anyones celebrations, just making note, how intertwined Christmas has become in many different traditions. Norse. Germanic. Roman. Dunno what else off the top of my head. Most of which have nothing to do with the birth of the baby Jesus, which many think happened in September, not December.)
I thought he was born in the spring, with the lambs, which is why the shepherds were out in the hills.
Unless you're thinking of Mithras, who was born in September.
Did you have a moratorium (or do I mean moratorii?) on all other religion-related artefacts, or just Christianity?
I don't know. I think that, for most other religions, things that weren't obviously religious would just register as "That pretty bowl that the Patels brought us from India" or whatever, even if someone more familiar with the tradition would recognize that it had some kind of religious significance. We could identify Christmas stuff even if it wasn't things that were directly connected to Christianity.
(Not making light of anyones celebrations, just making note, how intertwined Christmas has become in many different traditions. Norse. Germanic. Roman. Dunno what else off the top of my head. Most of which have nothing to do with the birth of the baby Jesus, which many think happened in September, not December.)
But from the perspective of a Jewish parent (or, at least, my Jewish parents, and the parents of most of the Jewish kids I grew up with), all of that is still Stuff That's Not Ours. It all goes in the "We can help our friends celebrate their holiday, just like they can come over here and light the menorah and eat latkes with us, but their holiday is at their house and our holiday is at our house" pile.
I thought he was born in the spring, with the lambs, which is why the shepherds were out in the hills.
There are lots of theories out there. But it seems the one thing most agree upon, is that being born in December, would most likely not have resulted in shepherds in the fields, as it is winter. I've heard both April-ish and September-ish theories. Some based on the census and taxes. Some based on the harvest. Who knows.
But from the perspective of a Jewish parent (or, at least, my Jewish parents, and the parents of most of the Jewish kids I grew up with), all of that is still Stuff That's Not Ours. It all goes in the "We can help our friends celebrate their holiday, just like they can come over here and light the menorah and eat latkes with us, but their holiday is at their house and our holiday is at our house" pile.
True enough. I'm surprised Christians haven't borrowed more from the Jewish traditions. They stole from everyone else!
t snerk
(edited because it came out mean instead of funny.)
wow, uh, killed the thread. Everyone have a nice latke on me!
Can't take you anywhere. Ya always killing the thread on us. Sheesh.
ION - there is a group on campus, that is banging a LOT of drums right now. I wonder if it's related to the Bishop ceremony being held across the street. [link]
It was strange coming to work today, and the parking garage PACKED, and getting on the elevator with a couple wearing beret and cloaks with the Jerusalem City Cross logo. And my brain remembering it from Assassins Creed, and trying to remember which group the logo belonged to. It hit me by the time I got back to my office. Ya just don't see folks in capes that often. Especially with big logo's across them.
In the mean time. The drums are driving me bananas! And I can't leave early, because we have dept holiday party tonight. Blarrgh.
