How Christian is your Christmas?

I am a Christian and my Christmas will be a christian one. When my late husband was very ill I prayed for him to get better, when my late sister was ill I prayed for her to get better.

I believe in the afterlife and know I will see my wonderful husband and family again when I die. I love everything about Christmas, always have and always will even though we didn't have much money when I was young in the 1940's and 50's, Christmas was a special time, all our family together under one roof.

My Italian nativity set comes out every Christmas, I've managed to add some bits to it thanks to eBay and I even have a pair of Italian gypsies in it now. GS2's school will be doing nine lessons and carols so I'll be going to that, and I'll have a couple of CDs of carols in the car. On Christmas morning I put on a CD of a Christmas service from St Mark's in Venice and I'll hopefully have a small glass of Vin Santo. Meanwhile DS will be muttering in the background!

Brought up C of E and always went to church as a family every Sunday and on Christmas Day morning.
Consequently once married I always had a crib scene, with characters added as the Christmas story unfolded.
One year I could not locate Baby Jesus in the manger, so hastily bought a replacement.
Granddaughter aged 3 whilst visiting, looked at the newest addition to the scene and enquired why, if Jesus was a boy, was he wearing pink!
I’d no answer to that!
I’d not noticed but his swaddling was definitely of a pink hue!!
Every time I put the scene out now I’m reminded of that conversation, she’s 15 now, into boys and make-up! x
If I can find a photo of it I’ll post it.

A lot of people celebrate the season for their children. Sometimes Channuka falls very near Christmas so all round it’s a reason to celebrate.
My Christmas starts at 3pm on Christmas Eve when Kings College sing carols and lessons live on Radio 4.

If I was well, Mass Christmas Eve, Advent Sundays, Epiphany would all be Mass to go to.
Mass on Christmas morning is a highlight for families with their children.

Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Christ for me. I try not to let all the frenzied shopping distract me though I think sometimes it can be good that at least people might think of the meaning for it all. Maybe. I attend a Presbyterian church most weeks of the year and it is lovely to hear the old Christmas carols from now on until January. Even for non believers ( most of my family included) it is a time of joy and gift giving and love which has to be a good thing.

Found the photo of the Baby Jesus wearing pink, see upthread for details!

Our annual staff do is referred to now as “the end of year” get together. It is in recognition of the diverse beliefs and cultures of the many staff.
I don’t think that you need to go to church to be a Christian. And if you are atheist you can still enjoy decorating your house with lights and tinsel - because it is the darkest part of the year - in the Northern hemisphere at least.
We can all choose to refrain from the shopping madness or embrace it.
I personally think of Christmas time as a “bookend” to the year and manage to squeeze some joy out of it, one way or another.
I do think more shops should close on Boxing Day where possible or maybe give staff who are parents/grandparents that option.
As Bob Cratchet said: it is only once a year!

Christmas belongs to the Christians now. But the Romans brought the worship if Mithras here, and 25 Dec was his birthday. Also the old festival of Yule (21 Dec) has given us most of the traditions that go along with Christmas.
It can't be the birthday of Jesus, because no sensible shepherd would be looking after their flocks at night at that time of year. :-)

Fleurpepper

Daddima

escaped

Cabbie21

Yesterday Dan Walker on Classic FM , announcing a competition or something, asked people to text in with the word Christmas. He added “Not Xmas, put Christ back into Christmas”.

Always.

"Xmas” is a common abbreviation of the word “Christmas”. The “-mas” part is from the Latin-derived Old English word for “Mass”, while the “X” comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός, translated as “Christ”.
There is a common misconception that the word Xmas is a secular attempt to remove the religious tradition from Christmas by taking the “Christ” out of “Christmas”. While “Xmas” is considered to be an informal abbreviation, and should never be used in formal writing, it is historically correct.

Maybe Dan should have done his homework!

Your own words or from a link? May I share this, please?

From the Googles, so share away!

I've sinned.
I took the Christmas out of Christmas today, and replaced it with this! I couldn't resist it!

No Christianity here. I am more pagan than anything, the Solstice has more meaning to me than a date plucked out of the air and marketed by the various churches.

We have a family get together but it does not have to be on 25/12. We find a date that suits everyone. Adult DC and partners may have plans to holiday or see other family. I couldn't care less if we don't see them on Christmas Day, we love them all just as much on every other day.

Decorations are lights, greenery and a slightly alternative tree. Lighting up the darkness and looking forward to the return of longer days goes back far beyond any Christians.

Each to their own, and I am happy to wish more religious friends and neighbours a happy Christmas.

escaped

I've sinned.
I took the Christmas out of Christmas today, and replaced it with this! I couldn't resist it!

Oops the Christ out of Christmas

Daddima

Fleurpepper

Daddima

escaped

Cabbie21

Yesterday Dan Walker on Classic FM , announcing a competition or something, asked people to text in with the word Christmas. He added “Not Xmas, put Christ back into Christmas”.

Always.

"Xmas” is a common abbreviation of the word “Christmas”. The “-mas” part is from the Latin-derived Old English word for “Mass”, while the “X” comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός, translated as “Christ”.
There is a common misconception that the word Xmas is a secular attempt to remove the religious tradition from Christmas by taking the “Christ” out of “Christmas”. While “Xmas” is considered to be an informal abbreviation, and should never be used in formal writing, it is historically correct.

Maybe Dan should have done his homework!

Your own words or from a link? May I share this, please?

From the Googles, so share away!

I was told that at Sunday School about a hundred years ago! Well, 70 at least.

Cabbie21

Yesterday Dan Walker on Classic FM , announcing a competition or something, asked people to text in with the word Christmas. He added “Not Xmas, put Christ back into Christmas”.

Hear, hear Cabby21, I couldn't have put better myself. 🙂

Ilovedogs22

Cabbie21

Yesterday Dan Walker on Classic FM , announcing a competition or something, asked people to text in with the word Christmas. He added “Not Xmas, put Christ back into Christmas”.

Hear, hear Cabby21, I couldn't have put better myself. 🙂

X is Christ

To quote Daddima:

"Xmas” is a common abbreviation of the word “Christmas”. The “-mas” part is from the Latin-derived Old English word for “Mass”, while the “X” comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός, translated as “Christ”.

Perhaps the person who posted on social media saw the comment that Yvette Cooper made and decided to make a statement.
She said anyone who puts a tree in their window is displaying that they are racist and right-wing and should expect retaliation.
I am a Christian and I have a nativity scene as part of my decorations. I don’t go to church but I observe in my own way. Christmas and Easter are always observed by the family. We all went to school and all know the story of the Nativity, even the younger ones.

She777
Is that really true? Did Yvette Cooper actually say that if we put a tree in the window we are racist?
Does that mean all of us who decorate a tree are racist? Or is it only if we put the tree in the window?

It seems unlikely to me. Is it the person replying who actually said it?
DH has just asked if that means anyone who puts lights outside their house is racist, or is it just a tree?

Somehow I don’t think Yvette Cooper would have said that.

Thankyou Daddima and Fleurpepper for your insights.. I've always felt uncomfortable with Xmas so that's lovely to know.. I haven't celebrated Christmas for years being a buddhist but I do love to go to carol services and really respect all other religions.. I would be sad if we became a secular society

Apparently that's fake news ( Yvette Cooper)

Not remotely. We (like many) consider it to be a mid-winter festival to break up the dark, cold days and nights. We are atheists. Don’t like how excessively forced and over-commercialised it is though.

She777

Perhaps the person who posted on social media saw the comment that Yvette Cooper made and decided to make a statement.
She said anyone who puts a tree in their window is displaying that they are racist and right-wing and should expect retaliation.
I am a Christian and I have a nativity scene as part of my decorations. I don’t go to church but I observe in my own way. Christmas and Easter are always observed by the family. We all went to school and all know the story of the Nativity, even the younger ones.

What rubbish. She didn’t say that at all. You sound like a member of Reform spreading disinformation

We attend the candlelit Advent Service, and get out the olive wood nativity scene we bought iin Bethlehem. But Baby Jesus isn't in it till Christmas Day, and the Wise Men are a bit apart.

We attend Midnight Mass, which to me is the real start of Christmas, the Cathedral is beautifully decorated, candles aglow and I can give thanks that Christ came among us.

That's not to say I don't go overboard on the presents, make too many mince pies and sausage rolls, and spend a lot of December preparing food!

yggdrasil

Christmas belongs to the Christians now. But the Romans brought the worship if Mithras here, and 25 Dec was his birthday. Also the old festival of Yule (21 Dec) has given us most of the traditions that go along with Christmas.
It can't be the birthday of Jesus, because no sensible shepherd would be looking after their flocks at night at that time of year. :-)

Quite right.

Apparently Jesus's birthday is probably Spring about 6 BC.

I was raised Lutheran and went to parochial school through 8th grade, so my Christianity was deeply embedded since childhood. I married and switched to Methodist in my adult life but when I divorced and had to work full time, my weekends became very precious to me for recuperating. There went the Sunday services.

In light of politics and Christian Nationalists making big, bad headlines I wasn’t all that cracked up about going to church anymore. Also learning more about the Catholic Church scandals really made me wonder about the whole organized religion movement.

It’s never stamped out my belief in God and I admit that I still hover between Jesus and the Christmas story, etc and also taking a more critical eye about it all. I pray and am currently listening to all the beautiful carols right now and other Christmas music. I start early. I’ve always been a Christmas nut with seven step-grandkids, and my nieces, nephews. Santa wins when it comes right down to it. I love it ALL. Either way it’s joyous.