Chas2002

Thanks Jack - Merry Christmas to you and yours as well......

Rachelle

Let us not forget to continue to have a Happy Chanuka. There are three more nights to go.

As well, I hope that everyone was able to enjoy and celebrate the Winter Solstice. That is always a fun gathering of folks.


rlc

rixride

Thank Jack, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone. Do we really have to work today :wink:

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Icy

Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all of you and yours.

jack

Today & Friday are "Death Watch" just waiting to see if something breaks.

Another 2 hours and BYE BYE!!!!!!!!

imported_colin

Merry Christmas to you all


Colin

Pirates_Ghost

Thanx for throwing that one in the mix for those of us non Judeau/Christians

Rachelle

All encompassing...
All embracing...

This is a season of holidays and I think you would be fool not to enjoy all of them to the fullest. Life is too short to limit your options.

rlc

hhallett

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Merry Winter Solstice, etc ... to one and all!

I'm posting this for any who are interested in a little perspective.

December celebrations exist in many faiths and locations – both ancient and modern.

ANCIENT EGYPT: The god-man/savior Osiris died and was entombed on DEC-21.

ANCIENT GREECE: The winter solstice ritual was called Lenaea, the Festival of the Wild Women. In very ancient times, a man representing the harvest god Dionysus was torn to pieces and eaten by a gang of women on this day. Later in the ritual, Dionysus would be reborn as a baby. By classical times, the human sacrifice had been replaced by the killing of a goat. The women's role had changed to that of funeral mourners and observers of the birth.

ANCIENT ROME: Saturnalia began as a feast day for Saturn on DEC-17 and of Ops (DEC-19). About 50 BCE, both were later converted into two-day celebrations. During the Empire, the festivals were combined to cover a full week: DEC-17 to 23.

By the third century CE, there were many religions and spiritual mysteries being followed within the Roman Empire. Many, if not most, celebrated the birth of their god-man near the time of the solstice. Emperor Aurelian (270 to 275 CE) blended a number of Pagan solstice celebrations of the nativity of such god-men/saviors as Appolo, Attis, Baal, Dionysus, Helios, Hercules, Horus, Mithra, Osiris, Perseus, and Theseus into a single festival called the "Birthday of the Unconquered Sun" on DEC-25.

BUDDHISM: On DEC-8, or on the Sunday immediately preceding, Buddhists celebrate Bodhi Day (a.k.a. Rohatsu). It recalls the day in 596 BCE, when the Buddha achieved enlightenment. He had left his family and possessions behind at the age of 29, and sought the meaning of life -- particularly the reasons for its hardships. He studied under many spiritual teachers without success. Finally, he sat under a pipal tree and vowed that he would stay there until he found what he was seeking. On the morning of the eighth day, he realized that everyone suffers due to ignorance. But ignorance can be overcome through the Eightfold Path that he advocated. This day is generally regarded as the birthday of Buddhism. Being an Eastern tradition, Bodhi Day has none of the associations with the solstice and seasonal changes found in other religious observances at this time of year. However, it does signify the point in time when the Buddha achieved enlightenment and escaped the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth through reincarnation -- themes that are observed in other religions in December.

CHRISTIANITY: Any record of the date of birth of Yeshua Ben Nazareth (later known as Jesus Christ) has been lost. There is sufficient evidence in the Gospels to indicate that Yeshua was born in the fall, but this seems to have been unknown to early Christians. By the beginning of the 4th century CE, there was intense interest in choosing a day to celebrate Yeshua's birthday. The western church leaders selected DEC-25 because this was already the date recognized throughout the Roman Empire as the birthday of various Pagan gods. Since there was no central Christian authority at the time, it took centuries before the tradition was universally accepted:

DRUIDISM: Druids and Druidesses formed the professional class in ancient Celtic society. They performed the functions of modern day priests, teachers, ambassadors, astronomers, genealogists, philosophers, musicians, theologians, scientists, poets and judges. Druids led all public rituals, which were normally held within fenced groves of sacred trees. The solstice is the time of the death of the old sun and the birth of the dark-half of the year.

INCA RELIGION: The ancient Incas celebrated a festival if Inti Raymi at the time of the Winter Solstice. It celebrates the Festival of the Sun.
IRAN: Shabe-Yalda (a.k.a. Shab-e Yaldaa) is celebrated in Iran by followers of many religions. It originated in Zoroastrianism, the state religion that preceded Islam. The name refers to the birthday or rebirth of the sun. People gather at home around a korsee -- a low square table -- all night. They tell stories and read poetry. They eat watermelons, pomegranates and a special dried fruit/nut mix. Bonfires are lit outside.

ISLAM: The actual date for the start of Ramadan depends upon the sighting of the crescent moon, and thus can be delayed by a few days from the nominal date. This is the holiest period in the Islamic year. It honors the lunar month in which God revealed the Qura’n to humanity. Because Ramadan is part of a lunar-based calendar, it starts about 11 days earlier each year. Ramadan is thus not associated with the winter solstice as are other religious celebrations. It is just by coincidence that it has occurred during December in recent years.

JUDAISM: Jews celebrate an 8-day festival of Hanukkah, (a.k.a. Feast of Lights, Festival of lights, Feast of Dedication, Chanukah, Chanukkah, Hanukah). It recalls the war fought by the Maccabees against their Syrian conquerors in the cause of religious freedom. The Syrians terminated worship in the Hebrew Temple and stole the sacred lamp, the menorah, from before the altar. The Maccabees succeeded in retaking Jerusalem, restored the temple and lit the menorah. Although they had found only sufficient consecrated oil to last for 24 hours, the flames burned steadily for eight days.

Modern-day Jews celebrate Hanukkah by lighting one candle for each of the eight days of the festival.

NATIVE AMERICAN SPIRITUALITY:

The Pueblo tribe observes both the summer and winter solstices. Although the specific details of the ritual differs from pueblo to pueblo.

The Hopi tribe observes a ceremony called "Soyal." It lasts for 20 days and includes prayerstick making, purification, rituals and a concluding rabbit hunt, feast and blessing.

NEOPAGANISM: This is a group of religions that are attempts at re-creations of ancient Pagan religions. Of these, Wicca is the most common; it is loosely based on ancient Celtic beliefs and practices. The Wiccan winter solstice celebration is often called Yule. It is a time for introspection, and planning for the future.

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