Why are Retailers Embarrassed About Christmas?

11.20.02 | mlmr

[JavaTheHutt]

Skipping over the issue of the pagan origins of Christmas

????????????????????????????????????????

So now, the birth of Christ, the son of God, is paganistic?

OK, I'm thoroughly confused now. Exactly what planet did you say you are from originally?

[mlmr]

an ACLU lawyer submerged in a vat of urine

Thats a keeper!!!

Do you think Registered could do something with this imagery

[bonfire]

WalMart carries quite a few Nativity scenes, and nice ones at that.

[who knows what evil?]

You gotta be kidding!

I wish I was! Powder blue card, with snowflakes...down in the lower corner; "Choice on Earth". Disgusting.

[who knows what evil?]

WalMart carries quite a few Nativity scenes, and nice ones at that.

All produced in Red China, more than likely.

[JavaTheHutt]

I don't understand why you find it amusing that a Christian saint appears in the same yard as a nativity scene. Santa Claus is, after all, simply Saint Nicolas. His name has been translated into many languages through the centuries. Santa Claus in Dutch, I think.

You're right, I think Saint Nicholas was from Holland. The Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Amsterdam is breathtaking. Huge gold angels on the roof, lit up at night. A non religous army buddy of mine was even inspired at the sight.

[joesnuffy]

Last year one of the check out persons at Woodman's Grocery Store on the West Side of Madison Wi ..told me (after I had wished her a Merry Christmas) that she wasnt allowed to say Merry Christmas to me..because her boss said it might offend someone who isnt a Christian.

I asked her if it was OK with her boss to offend Christians? No answer-understandable she didnt know...she was pretty miffed at him though..for stifling her free speech...we got into a short discussion about that..of course she didnt want to make THAT big a deal outta the whole thing..

Her observation was it was because her boss was Jewish..I told her it wasnt that it was because her boss was a dink.

I try not to patronize Woodmans anymore..

[Minutemen]

I am offended by retail-merchandisers attitude that "getting religious" may offend people. We should boycott them and hit them hard, where it hurts- in the cash register. This should remind these hypocrites of "The Reason for the Season"

[freebilly]

I don't consider this persecution...I think this is Christians dropping the ball...

The only way a Christian could drop the ball is to not share the message of Christ crucified.

Now there are those who consider themselves "cultural" Christians which make up the majority of Americans. Ask them if they believe that God sent his son Jesus to die for their sins and watch the squirming begin....

Personally, I enjoy the "trappings" of Christmas, the cards, the trees, the nativity scenes, but the reality of Christ's birth and death and resurrection is only about a billion times more powerful and awe inspiring than the words "Merry Christmas" on a Hallmark card....

[Sweet Hour of Prayer]

"...an ACLU lawyer submerged in a vat of urine" "Thats a keeper!!!"

That's better than a keeper. Heck, we could have enormous fun discussing all the possiblities that a federal art grant, awarded to a Freeper, my generate.

[Stefan Stackhouse]

It cracks me up with I see Santa Claus on one side of someone's yard and a Nativity scene on the other.

Even better is when they have Santa Claus standing with the shepherds and magi adoring the baby Jesus.

[2sheep]

>????????????????????????????????????????

So now, the birth of Christ, the son of God, is paganistic?

You said that.  I didn't.

OK, I'm thoroughly confused now.  Exactly what planet did you say you are from originally?

Sounds like you have been Too Long in the Sun

Google Search: pagan origins christmas - Results 1 - 50 of about 10,900

Here's just one:  The True Origin of Christmas

Nimrod - Tree - Deer

[Jorge]

I wish I was! Powder blue card, with snowflakes...down in the lower corner; "Choice on Earth". Disgusting.

Ok...and when you open it you see a cute little dead fetus under Christmas Tree.

Santa's elves have been busy this year!

[Thinkin' Gal]

But from the tone of your response, I obviously have affronted you by asking you to clarify.

There is no such tone; I am not affronted. I was merely reminded of a story. This I stated.

[Stefan Stackhouse]

The commercial/popular holiday season celebrated between The Friday After Thanksgiving (aka the biggest shopping day of the year) and the opening of presents on Dec 25th is not Christmas, but the neo-pagan holiday known as Yuletide. It has very little real connection with Christianity, and apparently could stand quite adequately on its own without any religious content whatsoever.

So by all means, enjoy the greenery, and the bright lights, and silver bells, etc., etc. It is all great fun. But don't make the mistake of thinking that any of this has anything to do with true religion.

On the other hand, the REAL Christian holidays are Adventide (beginning four Sundays before 12/25), and Christmastide (the famous "twelve days of Christmas" beginning on the 25th). Those of us who are real Christians need to take our real holidays back. Here are a few ideas:

1. The commercial/popular Yuletide has pretty much ignored the traditional Adventide traditions: Advent calendars and Advent wreaths. Especially for homes with young children, these are good traditions to observe. Rather than having Christmas for a whole month before Christmas, to the point where the 25th is an anticlimax, a properly observed Adventide cultivates a genuine spirit of preparation and anticipation for Christmas. Some Christian traditions even make Adventide into something of a mini-Lent, abstaining from all the Christams candies and baked goods until Christmas actually arrives, rather than pigging out all month.

2. I refuse to join in the practice of putting up the Christmas tree and decorations right after Thanksgiving. In some Christian traditions, the tree doesn't go up until Christmas eve. At the very least, I usually wait until at least the winter solstice (12/21) before doing the major decorating. I also refuse to join in the practice of taking everything down on Christmas afternoon. I firmly believe that the Christmas decor should stay up through the twelve days of Christmas. This is more feasible if it hasn't already been up since November.

3. Christmas is an important Christian holiday. There is no good reason why faithful Christians should not make every reasonable effort to attend church some time between sunset on Christmas eve and noon on Christmas day. If their own church is not holding services, or if they are traveling, then there are other churches around that will have services that could be visited.

4. The celebration of the birth of the Savior of the World should be about something more than self-indulgence. I am not suggesting that all gift giving be eliminated, but how about expanding the circle and including some people outside one's immediate family in the gift giving -- especially people who are not so well off? Or how about going caroling to the shut-ins on Christmas eve or Christmas day -- the very time that they are likely to feel most lonely?

There are many other ideas I am sure that others could add. It is time that we Christians took back our holiday!

[Happygal]

Fine.I come from a very lyrical culture, being Irish. We tend to let sentences run on to express emotion.

Clipped sentences to me have always indicated 'attitude'. Funny though, I've seldom been wrong about that. :-)

[quietolong]

A lady from our Church has a small store. And sells nothing but religious items. She has some great religious Christmas items. She would be glad to sell you some items if you can’t find any.

[Thinkin' Gal]

Clipped sentences to me have always indicated 'attitude'. Funny though, I've seldom been wrong about that. :-)

Interesting. What you perceive as "clipped" is actually an attempt at reducing confusion... like the signs that state, "You are here". You asked me to clarify that which I plainly stated from the beginning (your comment reminded me of a story). So I tried to be even more concise. I found your inabity to comprehend this a bit peculiar, but I gave it a shot anyway, only to then have you insinuate that I have an 'attitude'.

Best to just not post to you. I don't have time for this nonsense.

[Happygal]

Nor I for yours.

[dsutah]

I think it is too. Those of us in Utah still have the dominant religion, the LDS church; so I don't think we are in any danger of this just yet. I do hope it stays this way. Also, other churches are in the minority here, so we take nothing for granted for the most part!