Christmas Is Coming

[Eden]

I feel sorry for folks who do not celebrate birthdays, especially Christmas. How can anyone follow a faith that doesn’t believe in Christmas ??? It’s like living a life without joy, laughter, magic and wonder. It may be possible, but it would be awfully dreary.

Agreed. I love Christmastime. In fact, have you ever heard the Jewish convert, Rosalind Moss? She has been a guest on the “Catholic Answers Live” radio program several times and I can’t say enough what a wonderful speaker she is. She’s so full of passion for the Church and is filled with the love of Jesus Christ. My point in mentioning her, though, is that she said during her years as a Jew, the atmosphere of Christmas as she walked throught the streets of New York put an indelible mark on her.

Years later, after her conversion, she speaks about her new-found joy in the lyrics of the carols being sung. You can read her joy here:

catholic.com/thisrock/2002/0202fea1.asp

I think she does a beautiful job of conveying that first feeling of awe with songs that are familiar at Christmastime.

 

[Jana1976]

I hope every one here will say Merry Christmas again this year and not Happy Holidays. After all, it is the birth of Christ.
Remember:

“JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON”

People are trying to take God out of the country, we will not allow this to happen. We Christians must pull together and state our ground. Seems people will be offended to hear
Merry Christmas, well I say that’s just too bad. It is my Saviour’s birth and I will say it. Remember last year all the hoopla about this? Thank God for Bill O’reilly. He stuck up for us like there was no tomorrow. So please, say MERRY CHRISTMAS like you mean it.

I work in the retail field, and last year there was discussion on whether the cashiers and other employees would be allowed to say “Merry Christmas” to customers or not. I myself stated that while I respected the fact that some customers were not Christians, I also expected them to respect my beliefs, and as such, I should be allowed to say what I wanted, because I am a Christian. Eventually, we were allowed to do as we wished, and I had many comments from customers – 100% of them positive! If I could tell that someone was NOT Christian (for example, Muslim ladies in their dresses and headwraps) I didn’t say it to them. But, I also had some non-Christian customers (regulars at the store) who told ME Merry Christmas, because they knew I was Christian, and I really appreciated the gesture.

 

[Jana1976]

We can start to reclaim Christmas by phasing out Santa Clause, the secular version of St. Nicholas.
We can also begin to emphasize the Epiphany, culminating with the Three Kings day like they do in Spain and Latin America.
Too many people think Christmas starts on Dec 1 and ends Dec 25.

Santa is not neccesarily the problem. It is not wrong to let your children believe in Santa, but it is wrong to let them put the emphasis there. I love the picture of Santa kneeling at the manger. This year, Miles Kimball has a personalized letter from Santa with that picture on it, asking the child to help him (Santa) keep the focus on Jesus, the ultimate Christmas gift. It even comes with a Star ornament for the Child to hang on their tree, and asks that every time the child sees the ornament, that they remember that Jesus is the reason we have Christmas. They only cost about $4, and I am having one sent to several children that I know.

 

[Jana1976]

I prefer “Happy Holidays” simply because I have many of friends who are not Catholic.

What does being Catholic have to do with saying “Merry Christmas?” Certainly, Catholics should say this, but your statement leaves out all other Christians. Do they not have a right to say and hear this statement as well?

 

[exoflare]

:banghead: I see the Muslims are not done nitpicking about trivial details…

Nobody even claimed that Jesus’ birthday was really December 25 in the first place, and yet here comes Sufi the Great telling everybody how they got the date wrong. I swear getting into arguments is as second nature as breathing to these people.

 

[Sixtus]

Yes but there is more to Christmas than Christmas.

Yes, it commemorates the birth of Christ, but there is also that great feast of Epiphany which commemorates the visit of the Shepherds and Wise Men to the Holy Family.

While the Catholic Church does celebrate Epiphany, it has largely fallen to our Authodox brothers and sisters to keep this great feast alive

This year, our local church is planning a village Christmas party to celebrate this great feast. It is such a shame that by Epiphany [6th January], most folk think Christmas is over

 

[bella5110]

There are two gentlemen on a crusade to save Christmas here in Massachusetts. It’s about time. There website is
[www.savingchristmasinmass.homestead.com](www.savingchristmasinmass.homestead.com) :thumbsup:

 

[Jana1976]

I always say Merry Christmas. I can remember several times last year when a cashier would say “Happy Holidays” and I’d respond “Merry Christmas!” and their face would light up. Some grinned like we’d just shared a secret joke or something.

Some people are saying that X-mas is bad, and I’ve heard about it ‘x-ing’ out Christ, but I’ve always heard (and it’s sounded more genuine to me) that the X was because of Kristos, a sort of short-hand for it. Can anybody disprove this?

And I’d like to see somebody proove to me that Jesus didn’t celebrate his birthday, or even just that he told us not to. (I’m not going to not celebrate birthdays based on Pagan Birthdays btw, that’s silly. Pagans had marriage rituals too, should we not get married? )

I have also heard that early Christians started the “X-Mas” thing, because not all crosses were “T” shaped, in fact, the “X” shape was more common. So they were not taking out the “Christ” but, ephasizing the death and resurection even when refering to His birth. I’m not positive, but I’m thinking one place I have heard this was on Paul Harvey’s radio show.

 

[Sixtus]

Our local Church community is planning to celebrate Epiphany with all the razamataz of the Nativity.

I once invited a non-Christian friend to a carol service on 28th December. She was hysteric with laughter. She said that ‘that was typical of the catholics, to still be celebrating Christmas at Easter’! To her, Christmas started about now and finished on 25th December. By 26th December it was well and truely buried [and should be].

How sad that a world which Christendom gave the festival [the orginal pagen feast was on the equinox 21st December, not 25th] they consider it is over, rather only just beginning by 25th December.

So lets put Christmas tide back on the map and remind folk it is not just a day but a season…commencing from 25th December

 

[Myangel]

I love the picture of Santa kneeling at the manger. This year, Miles Kimball has a personalized letter from Santa with that picture on it, asking the child to help him (Santa) keep the focus on Jesus, the ultimate Christmas gift. It even comes with a Star ornament for the Child to hang on their tree, and asks that every time the child sees the ornament, that they remember that Jesus is the reason we have Christmas. They only cost about $4, and I am having one sent to several children that I know.

Is there a place I can order these online??? I would really love to give them to my nieces and nephew!

 

[CarolAnnSFO]

Is there a place I can order these online??? I would really love to give them to my nieces and nephew!

Here’s a link to it:

Christmas Letter

There are two different letters; the “Inspirational” letter is the one you want.

Miles Kimball also has a Christmas tree ornament, a figurine, and a Christmas card that feature Santa either kneeling down in prayer at the crib holding the Infant Jesus (ornament and figurine), or going into a church on Christmas Eve to worship (card).

Crazy Internet Junkies Society
Carrier of the Angelic Sparkles Sprinkle Bag
Pace e Bene

 

[bella5110]

Our local Church community is planning to celebrate Epiphany with all the razamataz of the Nativity.

I once invited a non-Christian friend to a carol service on 28th December

. She was hysteric with laughter. She said that ‘that was typical of the catholics, to still be celebrating Christmas at Easter’! To her, Christmas started about now and finished on 25th December. By 26th December it was well and truely buried [and should be].

How sad that a world which Christendom gave the festival [the orginal pagen feast was on the equinox 21st December, not 25th] they consider it is over, rather only just beginning by 25th December.

So lets put Christmas tide back on the map and remind folk it is not just a day but a season…commencing from 25th December

Do you really care what this person thinks??:whacky:

 

[Myangel]

Here’s a link to it:

Christmas Letter

There are two different letters; the “Inspirational” letter is the one you want.

Miles Kimball also has a Christmas tree ornament, a figurine, and a Christmas card that feature Santa either kneeling down in prayer at the crib holding the Infant Jesus (ornament and figurine), or going into a church on Christmas Eve to worship (card).

Crazy Internet Junkies Society
Carrier of the Angelic Sparkles Sprinkle Bag
Pace e Bene

Thank you, I have just gone into the website but I cant seem to read the letter (inspirational).

 

[CarolAnnSFO]

Thank you, I have just gone into the website but I cant seem to read the letter (inspirational).

It might be worth it to call the company (the 800 number is on that web page), and tell them you’re interested in ordering the letter, but want to know what it says, first – maybe they’ll read it to you!

Or you can try this link, which is a link to the actual catalog page. Click “Close-Up View” on the left, and then scroll across the page until you get to the top right-hand side (page 5) – the letter will appear larger, and you may be able to read all or part of it.

Close-Up

Crazy Internet Junkies Society
Carrier of the Angelic Sparkles Sprinkle Bag
Pace e Bene

 

[Jana1976]

Is there a place I can order these online??? I would really love to give them to my nieces and nephew!

Try the Miles Kimball web site. I think it’s MilesKimball.com but if I find something else in my catalog, I will repost.

 

[Loginus]

Christmas was originally a pagan holiday in worship of Saturn which was adopted by the Christians and had its meaning changed. Alot of the traditions are passed down from the anciet tradition like gift giving, decorations, trees, the star etc.

I think this si the first post I agree with Belle. How is wishing someone a Merry Christmas damaging to you? Honestly, this is just silly

 

[Rawb]

Loginus, the supposed pagan origins of Christmas are being discussed on another thread. I think it’s called Is the Christmas Tree Evil?

 

[Loginus]

Loginus, the supposed pagan origins of Christmas are being discussed on another thread. I think it’s called Is the Christmas Tree Evil?

What section of the forums?

 

[bella5110]

Loginus, the supposed pagan origins of Christmas are being discussed on another thread. I think it’s called Is the Christmas Tree Evil?

 

[bella5110]

It’s been in the papers where I live that two Catholic brothers are boycotting Simon Malls for banning anything that has to do with Christ. I give them a lot of credit. We need people to defend our national holiday. When it was in the paper, the next day Wal-mart agreed to just say Merry Christmas. Target is also good this year. Macy’s isn’t good yet…we’ll see.
By the way, their website is www.savingchristmasinmass.homestead.com