cocoa Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 if it is , then why don't people help more put aside there feeling and see family and freinds that might have upset them or ask the poor old people round for dinner we help out at church in the soup kitchean and the kids all gave one thing that they got for christmas to help other with less than them but all you see is people getting upset and cross they did not get what they wanted or it was not the right colour so is Christmas is a Christian holiday or not any more and if you are not a christin why have christmas in the first place ? or is it all down to it being abig shopping thing now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzeanna Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 (edited) I think it has become much too commercialised, also that too many parents spoil their children, and give them far too many presents. The kids dont learn to appreciate what they have, they just assume that if they want it, they get it, and make a scene if its not exactly right. I would be surprised if many kids even realised that christmas day was supposed to celebrate anything other than father christmas (aka mum and dad) leaving them presents. Should add I suppose that I'm not a Christian myself....so really I suppose I shouldn't make any comment! Edited January 4, 2007 by suzeanna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mop Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 Christmas is what you make it, we don't give expensive presents but try to give something that they want or suits them. When the boys were young they did get a lot but as they grew older, that stopped, their big pressent normally came at their birthdays. I was pleasantly surprised how well Christmas went for me this year, but I did have people to talk to on the internet, there were several of us on our own on a message board and we had a good chat so the time passed quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerrio Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 Despite the name - it never was - it was a good pagan holiday "borrowed" by the growing "christian" faith to make christianity more acceptable to the other faither they were trying to usurp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimthecat Posted January 5, 2007 Report Share Posted January 5, 2007 yes true but just because the dates are the same , it doesn't mean to say we can't celebrate Jesus's birth and pagans celebrate on the same day. Alison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maria Posted January 5, 2007 Report Share Posted January 5, 2007 (edited) Whatever your religious ( or not) tendencies, it is also sometimes called the season of goodwill, and I agree that this does seem to be lacking in many cases. I was brought up to say thank you for presents, but not one child in my extended family does that. A couple of them are more likely to complain about what they didn't get, rather than be grateful for what they did. Society does seem to be more selfish, and consumerism the new 'religion'. I'm a lapsed catholic so don't often go to Mass, but increasing secularism (which at times seems to be more about being anti - Christian while showing more tolerance for other faiths), does concern me. I can see a time when arguments will be made against Bank holidays for 'Christian' religious festivals , when there aren't any Bank Holidays for those of other faiths, even though it has been part of our culture for centuries. Well done to you for showing by example to your children that they should be concerned about and help others less fortunate than themselves. Edited January 5, 2007 by Maria Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheplover Posted January 5, 2007 Report Share Posted January 5, 2007 yes true but just because the dates are the same , it doesn't mean to say we can't celebrate Jesus's birth and pagans celebrate on the same day. Alison No one is saying you shouldn't celebrate Christ's birth Equally no one should be able to tell me whether I can celebrate Christmas or not either I had a wonderful Christmas this year, just seeing people's faces acknowledging the thought I had put into their presents, that's the best part I am not a Christian, and I celebrate Christmas as being a day where everything stops, the shops are closed the roads are clear, so I take my dogs out for a lovely walk without interruption and go and see my family for a relaxing day with the people I love. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyMalc Posted January 5, 2007 Report Share Posted January 5, 2007 I don't think Christmas is a christian holiday anymore - what with fewer and fewer religious people anyway - but I can't see why it can't be a 'season of goodwill', like was said above. Our family isn't religious, so I was brought up with the story of the birth of Jesus, like I suppose most kids are, but I've never been to mass or anything. I've never considered that we shouldn't be celebrating Xmas because we're not christians - although I could now well do without it, but that's another story. A few years ago I used Xmas and the new year to get back in touch with my family, who I'd chosen not to speak to for a few years. Living in another country, plus the fact that we're not close anyway, made that easier. But in the end I thought I'd make a gesture of goodwill and visited them. They're now fine with me visiting, but they'll never make any efort to get in touch with me or ask how I'm doing, so after a few efforts I'm now leaving them to it. I'd rather spend my time with my mum and friends who do make the effort to stay in touch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yena Posted January 5, 2007 Report Share Posted January 5, 2007 What happened to the Christmases of years ago, when you felt happy if you got an apple and orange in your stocking. How, it's Playstations, X-boxes, WII. Christmas lost it's appeal years ago, I just look on it as extra days holidays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslass Posted January 5, 2007 Report Share Posted January 5, 2007 What happened to the Christmases of years ago, when you felt happy if you got an apple and orange in your stocking. How, it's Playstations, X-boxes, WII. Christmas lost it's appeal years ago, I just look on it as extra days holidays. I think any meaning Christmas had back then has long gone for most people. I am not a practising Christian but the message of Christianity is a good one. Forgiveness, generosity of spirit and care for the weaker members of society seem to be way down the list of "things to be done at Christmas". My nephew got a portable dvd player (for using in the car), a mobile phone to replace the one he had already, and an Ipod, plus games for the Playstation. He's seven. His parents are worried that he isn't doing as well at school as he should. I think maybe if they played boring old "I-spy" in the car or sang songs with him, he'd do better, and be happier, which is more important. He has TV and a dvd player in his room and guess what? He doesn't sleep well. He's a lovely little boy but has so much unused energy - they live by the sea, in a beautiful area, and he's sitting at the pc getting chubby. And no, I don't say anything. When he visits us, he loves nothing more than playing dominoes or board games. My other brother and his wife (older, like me) give him books for Christmas, and read them to him when he visits them but it feels sometimes like we're fighting a losing battle. It just makes me sad. I think Christmas should be about giving to those who really need it - children all over the world haven't enough to eat, and we're turning our own children into mega-consumers. Grumpy Old Liz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathyw Posted January 5, 2007 Report Share Posted January 5, 2007 I am a Christian and to me Christmas is about the Saviours birth. Always went to Midnight Mass but not for last few years cause of Mum. Even when younger and out drinking, we used to go to the Mass and then go onto a party. I always have a nativiety scene set up in my window (cept this year because stuff is in loft and Ray cannot climb up there). I play carols and sing along with them (watch out Melp you may have a rival ) Scotslass I understand how your feel. My niece had every thing she could ever want but my sil always took half away and put them away for another time. I used to play games with my niece when she came out dog walking with me. I would say 'start with 3 add 5 take away two and what have you got?' The game gradually got more complicated, my niece loved this game and ended up being very, very good at maths, she was 4 years old when we started this game. My Dad had played it with mewhen I was small and I was good at maths. Better than all the expensive games, interaction is the key. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimthecat Posted January 5, 2007 Report Share Posted January 5, 2007 (edited) (kimthecat @ Jan 5 2007, 09:31 AM) yes true but just because the dates are the same , it doesn't mean to say we can't celebrate Jesus's birth and pagans celebrate on the same day. Alison No one is saying you shouldn't celebrate Christ's birth Equally no one should be able to tell me whether I can celebrate Christmas or not either I meant really that they can both be celebrated on the same day rather like everybody who has the same birth date celebrates on the same day so perhaps it doesnt matter which religion came first or that Christians nicked the date I wasn't trying to imply that anyone was saying we shouldn't celebrate Christ's birth. I don't know how Pagans celebrate their holiday, what do they do? Alison Edited because I didnt get the quote things right Edited January 5, 2007 by kimthecat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murtle Posted January 6, 2007 Report Share Posted January 6, 2007 The dates are similar but not the same to my knowledge as the winter solstice falls a few days earlier. Celebrate in similar ways, albeit not with a nativity set but instead winter articles ie holly, ivy etc to decorate the house. It's a time for giving thanks etc. So in reality very similar!! Good will to all x x x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimthecat Posted January 6, 2007 Report Share Posted January 6, 2007 Good will to all is a good message. We need peace and good will on this earth. It's in a sad state Alison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheplover Posted January 6, 2007 Report Share Posted January 6, 2007 Good will to all is a good message. We need peace and good will on this earth. It's in a sad state Alison Ain't that the truth I see what you mean about the day that Christians and non Christians can both celbrate Christmas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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