Christmas lights and decorations already up

by Dave Wed Oct 06, 2004 16:01

Every culture in history has had an annual feast celebrating the harvest / crop / end of winter etc. Many of these festivals have historically fallen around the end of December (longest day of the year).

Usually the motivation for this was to have one big bash to use up any surplus (unhoardable) food / resources in one go (over a day / week or even longer).

Preparation for this often lasts months, be it costume making, cleaning up the town, building a maypole, organising events.

This is what Christmas was about in most cultures long before JC came along c. 2000 years ago. A time of celebration, a time of consumption, a time of revelling in whatever bounty there may be.

That's the true meaning of the midwinter festival. JC's birthday was tacked on as an afterthought about 550 a.d. by a European council of bishops.

Roll on the party! It's good to be alive.

by Paul Kinsella - Various Wed Oct 06, 2004 16:30 paulkinsella53 at yahoo dot com 53 Lorcan Grove, Santry, Dublin 9, Eire 085 - 1478100

Spend! Spend! Spend! If you have the money; and to hell with you if you don't have the money. That seems to be the gist of what you are saying Dave. What ever happened to the spirit of giving and sharing at Christmas? Btw. I'm not religious in case you're wondering. The old pagan Pre-Christian festivals at Christmas were times of genuine festivity and enjoyment and everybody participated. It certainly wasn't commercial in the modern meaning of commercial.

by TT Wed Oct 06, 2004 16:38

So this is what you regard as news, Paul? You should have done a longer article on materialism and posted it as analysis/opinion. There is certainly scope for discussion on materialism.

by Ho Ho Wed Oct 06, 2004 16:40

Exactly, roll on the party, you've almost made it through another year!! Happy days.

by Dept of Communications Wed Oct 06, 2004 17:06

Stop dossing, Paul, and get back to work, or no Xmas Bonus for YOU this year.