Christmas in Iran (Photos Included) -- Merry Christmas to every one on FR from your Iranian FRiend

various | 12/21/05 | Self

[shaggy eel]

,,, you have a great Christmas too and all the best for 2006 as well, from New Zealand.

[Captain Rhino]

Jesus is considered one of the great prophets in Islam. He is known by the name Ya ya, IIRC. His mother Mary has an entire sura (chapter) devoted to her in the Koran. So celebrating his birthday is sort of like celebrating the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed.

Due to a strategic decision by the early Christian church to displace the debauched Roman holiday of Saturnalia (sp), the 25 December date also nicely coincides with the year end celebrations held in nearly every culture. (Some Biblical scholars think Jesus was probably born in the spring. This is due to references in the text to shepherds being in the fields with their flocks at the time of his birth. Apparently, this is not the normal practice during a typical winter in the Holy Land.)

In the end, just another reason for Iranians to make merry and exchange gifts. (And they need every reason they can get these days.)

[radiohead]

Thanks for the info. I knew they considered him a prophet, but didn't realize to what extent, or that they'd have any Christmas-type celebrations at all regarding his birth.

Interesting about Mary; didn't know about that. I remember that during the Gulf War I saw video of Iraqi women praying to the Holy Mother at some kind of open air shrine. I didn't realize they also had an attachment to her. I thought they were just covering their bases. : )

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Hmmm...we honor Christ's memory in Easter, too...I wonder, could that have been his real birthdate, and could he have chosen it to make his sacrifice beforehand for that reason?

[tkathy]

The transformational power of Christmas is amazing.

Christians should never be concerned about the secular part of Christmas.

The spirit of giving to others and caring about others is powerful.

[Cindy]

Christmas blessings to you Khashayar.
May this be a very good year.

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CHRISTMAS
http://www.truthusa.com/CHRISTmas.html

[bmwcyle]

Thank you and Merry Christmas

[chief_bigfoot]

Christmas mobarak! کريسمس مبارک

[Right_in_Virginia]

Wonderful pictures, thanks for posting.

And, Merry Christmas to you, too!

[rlmorel]

Nice! Thank you!

[baseballmom]

Wonderful photos. Thanks so much for posting. These scenes could be from the streets of downtown Philadelphia. I guess Christmas joy transcends all cultures and religions. Tis the season !!!

Merry Christmas and especially Peace on Earth to all our Iranian friends, as we celebrate the birth of our Savior.

[Lillee]

Thank you for the pictures. Merry Christmas!

[bkepley]

Wow.

Merry Christmas to you.

[PilloryHillary]

Thanks for posting the beautiful pictures. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family.

[jocon307]

Merry Chirstams too you. Very nice pix. The one with the snow it lovely.

[Captain Rhino]

"...to make his sacrifice beforehand for that reason?"

I'm with you until this part of the sentence. Could you help with more elaboration?

In the context of this thread, Jesus is revered by Muslims as a prophet of the "good news" (Ingiel (sp) in Arabic, IIRC) which they hold is basically the same message in Judiasm, Christianity, and Islam. Muslims reject the Christian claim that Jesus is the Son of God because they believe that God is indivisible. Consequently, the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) of Christianity is considered by Muslims to be a corruption of the message to make it more palatable in the world of Egyptian/Greek/Roman polytheism that existed in the time of Jesus and His Apostles.

[armymarinedad]

Merry Christmas to you and may 2006 be the best of years for Iran by bringing your nation freedom.

[EBH]

Have a Blessed New Year, Merry Christmas, and Happy Norouz!

Amazing pictures...thank you for sharing them here.

[bmwcyle]

ping

[nuconvert]

Thank you, Khashayar!
Merry Christmas!