Christmas

[ozzy]

As Christmas approaches and I find my mouth watering for chocolate and other goodies, I feel I must remind myself of something. Regardless of what society has turned Christmas into (a simple holiday, a yearly income boost for companies, and a day to receive), Christmas has not, in the Lords eye, changed in reason of importance. I wish to express in this thread my love for the Savior and his sacrifice. I am grateful for the wonderful opportunity that we have to celebrate His birth into the world. I find it shameful that we have turned it into a day wherein money increases in importance while generally Christs importance is turned away. I find it worrisome that movements are taking place to remove the very name 'Christmas' and thus removing one more special day of worship. I am hopeful that these movements do not succeed as I consider Christmas to be one of the greatest days of all.

May we all remember in our hearts and minds the true purpose of Christmas, and strive to remember the Lords birth, life, and sacrifice as this Christmas season approaches.

[Justice]

Although I am not real big on special days or Holidays, I have to agree. I view each day as important and try to do the best I can at celebrating family and those things I hold dear every day. Holidays for me are great because I get to spend more time with my family since work gives us off a week at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I remember what a GA once said (can't remember who) when asked why we celebrate Christ's birthday in December when we believe it was in April. He responded something to the effect that the world is turned more toward Christ at this time of year, and there is a general feeling of peace on earth and goodwill toward men. Why wouldn't we take this opportunity to participate in something as wonderful as that?

That said it all to me.

[hordak]

I find this whole "war on Christmas" to be ironic. This is the time of year when Christians get up in arms because the walmart greeters say "happy holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" and non Christians are offended by nativity scenes and it is ridicules on both sides.
A historical look at Christmas will show the purpose for celebrating it is in December is to compete with the pagan holidays and to many of our own "Christmas traditions" are borrowed from them pagans. Instead of leaving boots full of food out in for Sleipnir, Odins 8 legged horse, in anticipation of gifts and candy ,we leave cookies for Santa, in hopes he will fill our socks. Instead of Yule logs and Yule feast we have Christmas feast. Instead of holly wreaths being used to protect the fairies from the harsh winters we use them just to decorate.

Essentially we started to throw Christ birthday party early so we could one up the neighbors and save on supplies and decorations.

We took the pagans holiday rituals, kept and adapted what we liked and tossed aside the Gods and ideas they were meant to calibrate.

Now people are taking Christmas holiday rituals, keeping and adapting what they like and tossing aside the God and ideas they are meant to celebrate. What goes around...

So i guess what i'm trying to say is if you love Christmas, then celebrate it, but understand that everyone doesn't, there are other holidays this time of year and that our "Christmas tradition" don't belong to us. And if you don't celibate Christmas, (though i doubt there are many on the board) understand that many do, they hold it sacred. Whatever people celebrate this time of year lets all try some of that "good will towards men"

"What's in a name?
A Rose by another name would smell as sweet..."

[Moksha]

Originally Posted by ozzy

May we all remember in our hearts and minds the true purpose of Christmas, and strive to remember the Lords birth, life, and sacrifice as this Christmas season approaches.

And God bless us that we remember to maintain good will for all to help fulfill that purpose!

[stormwitch]

You might say that almost anything about Christmas -- starting from the date: Birthday of Mithros, winter solstice -- is as heathen as can be. And probably the old church chose this day exactly for this reason, just like they picked the locations of heathen shrines and holy places for their churches or converting old Gods and Goddesses to Saints. Adaption instead of confrontation, and also more control...
BUT: anything that becomes a SYMBOL reminds you of the truth behind it. And therefore Christmas, Weihnachten, Jul, ... reminds us of that holy night, when a baby was born -- the Savior of the world.
The green of a fir tree might be a symbol of hope, as any green in the death of winter might be.
Gifts we give to each other might be a symbol for the great gift Jesus gave us: salvation and eternal life. It might as well be a symbol for the commandment, that we should love each other as he loves us.
You can go on and on like this.
In D&C we read, that it doesn't matter what we eat or drink for sacrament -- it might be a carrot and lemonade ;-) -- and this definitely applies to Christ's birth as well. It doesn't matter HOW or WHEN we celebrate it. Most important is the meaning that it has for us. It is good to have traditions around christmas in your family -- if they bring you closer to HIM.


Searching for Christmas

Recently while being busy
And preparing for the feast
I recognized all of a sudden
That all my Christmas joy had ceased.

Incredible, what just had happened!
I almost dropped my shopping list
And stared upon the heap of items,
Wishing to yell at it, "Dismissed!"

Another time of wild consuming
While children starve in foreign lands?
And gifts and endless celebrations --
And somewhere else a life just ends?

Cleaning, cooking, decorations,
Pretending happiness perforce?
Why immerse in all this trouble
For this stupid Christmas cause?

Looking again for gift and presents,
Never pleasing everyone.
And forgetting anybody
is the worst that could be done.

Fir tree, mistletoe, and candles,
Heathen things of olden time.
Does anyone at all remember:
We celebrate our Lord sublime!

I would have left this shopping temple
And all these shopping lists behind.
Howe'er the family was waiting,
Still having Christmas on their minds.

And so I pushed the heavy trolley
And lined up for the checkout there,
Stacking my stuff like everybody
Piece by piece on the conveyor.

I misplaced one of these boxes,
And it tumbled off the belt.
When I bent down to reclaim it
Some hands this box already held.

The small daughter of a woman
Waiting behind me in the line,
Blushed as I said, "Thankyou, darling!"
But she let a broad smile shine.

My gloomy mood that moment vanished
The day was beautiful again.
I recognized the real Christmas
Lay in this sweet smile I had seen.