Happy non-denominational holidays
If I went around saying Happy Valentines Day at the beginning of February or wishing people a Happy Birthday a full 2 weeks people would think I am highly annoying, if not crazy. So why is it that people go around wishing me Merry Christmas weeks before it is Christmas? It has been annoying me since the beginning of December. That is if I even get a Merry Christmas these days (thank you Becky!), go shopping in December and you are just as likely to be greeted by a Happy Holidays or Season’s Greetings as a Merry Christmas. What is so offensive about acknowledging that the holiday is to celebrate the birth of Christ? Hmm, even though we have no reason to think Jesus was born in winter, let alone December (Strange as it seems, the date of Christ’s birth is not known. The gospels indicate neither the day the month or the year, though in Luke 2:8 it says “Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.” Sheep were never in the field by night in Palestine after the third week of October.) What I was I saying? Oh never mind, it’s Christmas after all…
So I totally missed Wednesday’s update, and Friday’s is late. But the good news is my deadlines are past now, the bad news is, well, I missed one. I failed to get an essay in on time, meaning I’m stuck at uni for another few days so that I can hand it in on Monday. Joy.
Thanks to everyone who has been voting, we are slowly moving up the chart. And wow, almost 70 people have added the Facebook application, thanks guys!
December 15th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
Merry Christmas, Mike.
December 15th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Liked the comic today.
Merry Christmas (Damn you Grant, beat me to it)
December 16th, 2007 at 7:00 am
Thing is…the date of the celebration was chosen to give the pagans *already* celebrating Modranecht and Yule a Christian holiday during that season so that the ones converting them could say, “Hey, convert to Christianity and you will even be able to keep celebrating at this time of year. You lose nothing!” Christians didn’t even change most of the traditions. The star (pentagram/pentacle) is a pagan symbol no matter the time of year. The tree symbolizes the resilience of the god and the fact that a part of him stays alive even when all is dead during the winter. Gift giving was pretty much a thing where the people that had better harvests shared with those that didn’t and shifted to giving IPods and such.
Anyway, I like the comic as I have a twisted sense of humor as well.
BTW, Merry Christmas anyway ;)
December 16th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Are you Wiccan, Todd?
December 16th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Offering of hope that you will be happy this coming event on the 25th of December made to you.
December 16th, 2007 at 2:04 pm
happy sunday, in france every sunday is a holiday - they’re lazy workshy peasants!
December 17th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
Grant,
I used to label myself that way but it was too constricting to my beliefs…I would guess I’m more non-denominational than that now.
Merry Christmas to you as well. ;)
December 18th, 2007 at 4:11 am
I didn’t know any of that before now.
I just like Christmas because gift giving is fun (if stressful) and you have sparkling lights everywhere. I also like christmas carols, and go carolling every year. Huzzah!
December 18th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Now i’ve come to expect it from the likes of you, despite the fact we have been in advent (the preparation for Christmas) for a couple of weeks now, the official “12 days of Christmas” start on the 25th and carry on for (you guessed it) 12 days afterwards, can i wish you merry Christmas on the 2nd January?
Christmas does not start and finish on the 25th December, just as Easter is not only one day.
Oh btw, are you enjoying your Christmas holiday?
December 18th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
May I be the first to wish you a Happy Easter.
I’m keeping your chocolate egg though…
December 19th, 2007 at 4:27 am
I’m finally on my christmas holiday, my last college exam was today! Hurrah!
December 19th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Happy Birthday.
Lets all have an easter egg and go out trick or treating.
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:16 pm
In reply to what Todd Said on December 16th,
The tree didn’t come in til much later, the 16th century according to Wikipedia. Check your facts next time before you go making a fool of yourself.
December 24th, 2007 at 4:59 am
Ralf,
With all due respect, please practice what you preach. I quote (from Wikipedia even), “With likely origins in European pre-Christian cultures, the Christmas tree has gained an extensive history and become a common sight during the winter season in various countries. Patron trees (for example, the Irminsul, Thor’s Oak and the figurative Yggdrasil) held special significance for the ancient Germanic tribes, appearing throughout historic accounts as sacred symbols and objects. According to Adam of Bremen, in Scandinavia the Germanic pagan kings sacrificed nine males (the number nine is a significant number in Norse mythology) of each species at the sacred groves every ninth year.”
Granted, the first *decorated* tree was in 1510 or so but not the first tree used as a symbol of the season.
December 26th, 2007 at 5:55 am
Oh yeah? Merryhappy Kwanzanukkahmas. Beat that suckaz!!!
December 27th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
OK…………Merry Kwansanakasamasasasas
January 10th, 2008 at 6:33 am
Ah, Matt. Once again you have failed to see my point. I was not complaining that people continued to wish each other Merry Xmas after the affair, but rather, before it.
Hope you guys had a great … holiday …
January 28th, 2008 at 7:38 am
By the way guys watched a speacial the other day on Jesus. Based on biblical accounts of the wise men and the astrological signs they viewed that lead to them leaving to worship Jesus many people believe his actual birth date to be sometime in spring and in some cases has been narrowed down even closer to April. Actually it seems rather likely that the last supper could very well have been a belated birthday party for Jesus. Not literally of course. Look it up to make sure you get all the facts straight, because I am, much like the author of this comic, cursed with the scourge that is laziness and didn’t feel like looking up all my facts again. So take them for what they’re worth.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:24 am
The story I heard was that celebrating Jesus’ birthday at Christmas sprang up about the time Christians were being persecuted, because they could just say “We were only celebrating winter solstice!” Of course, that works for Easter too, only that’s Spring Equinox (or close to, anyway. First full moon after the vernal equinox, I think it’s meant to be).