Christmas Lights called Pagan

[RandallS]

From Yahoo News

On Wednesday night, residents of Vintage Drive found a letter attached to their mailboxes suggesting that anyone with Christmas lights or decorations should re-think their beliefs, because Christmas displays honor the "Pagan Sun-God" and do not pertain to the birth of Jesus, according to ABC News affiliate WZZM.

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[Juni]

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Ugh. This is just "War on Christmas" fuel, IMO.

[HeartShadow]

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I think it was done by a Christmas store trying to drum up business. :p

[mlr52]

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Is it possiable to get that newspaper to run a story on the cable show 'a history of Christmas'?

[Rowanfox]

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Seriously?

I'll tell you, anyone living in the north, and subject to 16 freaking hours of darkness;
really appreciates the twinkle and sparkle of a few lights on houses and trees. I think in Calgary Xmas lights are more SAD therapy than pagan displays.

And Ha!
there is one house in town that has a couple of large (bigger than life size) plywood figures on their front lawn.... on is of a huge horned stag, and the other a scantily clad male archer with stag's horn on his brow....... now that IS pagan......LOL

[RandallS]

And Ha!
there is one house in town that has a couple of large (bigger than life size) plywood figures on their front lawn.... on is of a huge horned stag, and the other a scantily clad male archer with stag's horn on his brow....... now that IS pagan......LOL

LOL. Yes, it's hard to see any Christian symbolism there.

[dionysiandame]

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I guess putting Christmas bear-traps around the mail box would be a bit extreme. :whis:

I'm just imaging how bored someone would have to be to partake in this shenanigans.

[sailor]

I guess putting Christmas bear-traps around the mail box would be a bit extreme. :whis:
.

 
Skippy, add that one to the list.

[Auress]

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Just playing the devil's advocate here, but, there is some truth to that letter on the mailbox. While I agree that this is needless War on Christmas fire starter, Christmas decor has nothing at all to do with the birth of Jesus Christ, unless we're talking about the Nativity Scene only.

There is a Christian roots movement, right now, that is trying to take back their religious holiday and put religion back into the Christian religious celebration of Jesus' birth by renouncing all of the typical Christmas decor, most of it having pagan roots.

More power to them, I say. If people want to challenge others to figure out just what the holiday means to them, I have no problem with that.

[River]

And Ha!
there is one house in town that has a couple of large (bigger than life size) plywood figures on their front lawn.... on is of a huge horned stag, and the other a scantily clad male archer with stag's horn on his brow....... now that IS pagan......LOL

 
Would love a picture of that one! Lights for most people are just because they are traditional/look pretty. Most people put little thought into any meaning behind that. For those who do, I agree with Vermillion that knowing the truth is a good thing.

[mandrina]

Just playing the devil's advocate here, but, there is some truth to that letter on the mailbox. While I agree that this is needless War on Christmas fire starter, Christmas decor has nothing at all to do with the birth of Jesus Christ, unless we're talking about the Nativity Scene only.

There is a Christian roots movement, right now, that is trying to take back their religious holiday and put religion back into the Christian religious celebration of Jesus' birth by renouncing all of the typical Christmas decor, most of it having pagan roots.

More power to them, I say. If people want to challenge others to figure out just what the holiday means to them, I have no problem with that.

 

see below, from the christmas wasn't stolen from the pagans thread.
http://www.ecauldron.com/forum/showthread.php?2083-Christmas-wasn-t-stolen-from-the-pagans&highlight=christmas+stolen

ok, not all of it is from the Bible itself, and some of the customs were invented by hallmark (which makes them secualr, not pagan, there's a difference), but like she points out, if you gotta have greenery in your church and you're in northern europe, or you're gonna 'worship trees' that are still green in your circle, you're gonna end up in the same grove in the forest looking for your greenery, for the same reason you're all using candles, you want to see.

[Melamphoros]

Just playing the devil's advocate here, but, there is some truth to that letter on the mailbox. While I agree that this is needless War on Christmas fire starter, Christmas decor has nothing at all to do with the birth of Jesus Christ, unless we're talking about the Nativity Scene only.

There is a Christian roots movement, right now, that is trying to take back their religious holiday and put religion back into the Christian religious celebration of Jesus' birth by renouncing all of the typical Christmas decor, most of it having pagan roots.

More power to them, I say. If people want to challenge others to figure out just what the holiday means to them, I have no problem with that.

 
Adding to Koi's lovely post mandrina linked too, the earliest reference to what can clearly be called a Christmas tree only go back to the 16th Century.  And there isn't much -- if any -- evidence that it dates back to the practices of Northern European pagans.

[Auress]

see below, from the christmas wasn't stolen from the pagans thread.
http://www.ecauldron.com/forum/showthread.php?2083-Christmas-wasn-t-stolen-from-the-pagans&highlight=christmas+stolen

ok, not all of it is from the Bible itself, and some of the customs were invented by hallmark (which makes them secualr, not pagan, there's a difference), but like she points out, if you gotta have greenery in your church and you're in northern europe, or you're gonna 'worship trees' that are still green in your circle, you're gonna end up in the same grove in the forest looking for your greenery, for the same reason you're all using candles, you want to see.

With all due respect, there are historical references for almost all of the Christmas symbolism, they're well documented. Modern Santa was invented by Coca Cola, not Hallmark. Pagans know where the Christmas tree and wreathe are from, that's what counts. History and historians also know.

[entwife]

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oh I heard about this silliness. I'm so tired of the self-righteous and self-important attitudes that really seem to come to a head around this time of year... then again, I'm still working retail lol If you want to lose All faith or hope in Humanity, that's the line to get into :whis:

[MadZealot]

oh I heard about this silliness. I'm so tired of the self-righteous and self-important attitudes that really seem to come to a head around this time of year... then again, I'm still working retail lol If you want to lose All faith or hope in Humanity, that's the line to get into :whis:

Ugh.  Been in retail management for 4 years now.  Best job to have if you like seeing the nastier side of human nature.  :mad:
 
On the other hand... I came out of a store the other day... there was a Salvation Army ringer with his bell & kettle.  As he dinged his dinger he kept saying Merry CHRISTmas Merry CHRISTmas Merry CHRISTmas to passersby.  In an above-average volume of voice.  
Not the way to win hearts & minds.  It crossed my mind to whisper some wise counsel in his ear.  In the end I just felt bad for the guy.