Happy Christmas everyone.

C

Chargeride

Well-Known Member
Christmas" comes from Old English for "Christ's Mass," a service honoring Jesus' birth, believed to have occurred in Bethlehem.

Pagan Influences

Saturnalia: An ancient Roman festival of feasting and revelry from late December.
Sol Invictus: The Roman "Unconquered Sun" god had a feast day on December 25th, celebrating the winter solstice.

Traditions: Germanic and Nordic peoples also celebrated mid-winter, bringing customs like evergreen trees, feasts, and decorating, which were later adopted into Christmas.

Gift-Giving: Linked to figures like St. Nicholas, who gave gifts, leading to traditions like stockings and Santa Claus, evolving from European legends like Sinter Klaas and Christkind.

Today, it's a major Christian observance and a global cultural event, blending historical religious meaning with widespread secular traditions.

A coworker visited Cuba in the 90s, he sent us a card that read
'Christmas is the continuation of capitalism by other means '.

Its important to remember how family based rituals can expose many people to the reality of their lack of family connections or friends.
Presents are tat.
Reaching out to help those feeling abandoned during this time, no matter how uncomfortable, or how much it might interrupt your carefully planned event should be the primary goal.

Jesus is watching 🥳
 
Here's an edited extract from Wikipedia (PL):
Szczodre Gody (Generous Holidays) – in Slavic tradition, a holiday celebrating the winter solstice, preceded by Szczodry Wieczór (Generous Evening). The victory of light over darkness symbolises the time when the days begin to grow longer and the nights shorter, bringing people hope, optimism and joy. For the Slavs, Szczodre Gody marks the beginning of the new solar and ritual year and lasts for up to several days.
In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the holiday may be called Kraczun, and in Russia, Kolyada-Kolyada (in various versions of the name). The ancient Slavs called the Szczodre Gody "kolęda" (read: kolenda).
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Pagan Western Slavs (the area of today's Poland and East Germany) celebrated the Generous Holiday while Eastern and Southern Slavs rather named the holiday "kolyada". The word "kolęda" means "a Xmas carrol" umtil this day. Catholic priests visit Polish families "by kolęda" during the season until this day too.

The State of Poland all began with christianisation of Prince Mieszko I (Mesco) of the Piast dynasty. Interestingly, some areas of Poland are not served by Santa Claus. The Silesians get their presents from Baby Jesus, while people of Greater Poland wait for Gwiazdor (Starman) :)

Myself, I'm in the Grinch Club :)

Cheers, Chris!
 
Stefan Mikes said:
Here's an edited extract from Wikipedia (PL):
Szczodre Gody (Generous Holidays) – in Slavic tradition, a holiday celebrating the winter solstice, preceded by Szczodry Wieczór (Generous Evening). The victory of light over darkness symbolises the time when the days begin to grow longer and the nights shorter, bringing people hope, optimism and joy. For the Slavs, Szczodre Gody marks the beginning of the new solar and ritual year and lasts for up to several days.
In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the holiday may be called Kraczun, and in Russia, Kolyada-Kolyada (in various versions of the name). The ancient Slavs called the Szczodre Gody "kolęda" (read: kolenda).
----
Pagan Western Slavs (the area of today's Poland and East Germany) celebrated the Generous Holiday while Eastern and Southern Slavs rather named the holiday "kolyada". The word "kolęda" means "a Xmas carrol" umtil this day. Catholic priests visit Polish families "by kolęda" during the season until this day too.

The State of Poland all began with christianisation of Prince Mieszko I (Mesco) of the Piast dynasty. Interestingly, some areas of Poland are not served by Santa Claus. The Silesians get their presents from Baby Jesus, while people of Greater Poland wait for Gwiazdor (Starman) :)

Myself, I'm in the Grinch Club :)

Cheers, Chris!
Click to expand...
Starman!

Here you Leika, your christmas gift
Thankyou mamma
You have permission to smile even though I know you dont like it.
OK.
Dont do it again
 
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