***Very OT*** CHRISTMAS ***OT***

You lucky thing - I lost mine years ago. I think that ours had the school crest on too - a Viking Ship with a beacon on the mast, and the words Vitae Lampada Tradamus (We pass on the torch of life). That was when it was a grammar school and uniform was VERY strict. Now they wear what they like.

Pat P

Well that is good to know. A couple of people sent it to me and my reaction was, kill !

Did anyone else watch the Jingle Bells light show (small link near bottom of page)? I loved it.

Cheryl

But:

1) French songs do not involve what many may perceive as participating in another religion.

2) Miss Alcee made you sing songs to familiarize yourself with an unfamiliar culture. It'd be a *huge* stretch to suggest that non-Christians in the US are somehow in need of more exposure to Christmas.

Best wishes, Ericka

I don't see the point in changing lyrics. I think there are plenty of great non-religious songs to sing such that it's completely unnecessary to do so. As far as singing a Latin Mass goes, I think that depends on the age of the kids. I think religious music should be avoided in public school for younger students who aren't yet of an age to understand how to navigate in a multicultural world. For older students who are studying music, of course they should be exposed to the great musical traditions of all cultures. I think age and purpose makes a big difference. Similarly, I don't have a problem with public schools having older students reading religious texts from various religions in the context of understanding the importance of those texts within their respective cultures, but I think it's a very different thing to, say, start each day with a public Bible reading.

Best wishes, Ericka

Well, I don't see the point in changing the words either. It's not like there's a shortage of great music to sing such that this is necessary.

Sure, but that hardly needs to be tied to Christmas, per se, for those who do not celebrate Christmas. I mean, if there are non-Christians who want to celebrate a secular Christmas, that's certainly their prerogative (though it's not one I particularly understand), but it's not like Christians or those who celebrate Christmas have some sort of exclusive lock on "peace on earth, goodwill towards men." And I also agree about the trying to rationalize celebrating Christmas anywhere and everywhere by insisting that it's really about "winter holidays" and, of course, everyone's got one of *those*. If we were

*really* all that inclusive and respectful of other traditions, we'd make a fuss over their important holidays *when they happen*, not just trot them out at Christmastime as a thinly veiled rationalization for making a big to-do over the "real" holiday "everyone" is really interested in. It's sort of like having four kids with September birthdays and one with a March birthday (such that the "half birthday" is in September), and always celebrating all their birthdays on the day in September of the oldest kid's birthday. It doesn't take the other kids long to figure out they're getting the short end of the stick.

Best wishes, Ericka

I see no difference in the secular who confiscated Christmas just as the christians confiscated the soltice.

Dianne

but it's not like

As a non-Christian, I celebrate Yule aka Winter Solstice.

We put up a Yule tree, and we have a Sun Return Wreath which we light a candle in for each of the 4 Sundays before Yule (yes, we stole the Advent Wreath from the Christian custom). When we light the candles, we read a story from a book of myths about the Sun.

I don't reallly understand what the fuss is about -- if I know someone is Christian, I'll wish them a Merry Christmas, if I don't know a person's faith, THEN I wish them Happy Holidays. Shouldn't manners trump political correctness?

Lori Coulson

The voice of reason. Thanks Lori, and a Merry Yule. Dawne

Lori May you have a happy and glad Yule mirjam who celebrates Hanuka .. But my City Haifa has a Festival for Hanuka < Cristmas and Ramamdan ,

en" wrote:

I totally agree. As long as it`s a celebration and people are feeling more kind and generous to each other, who cares what the original reason was. Choose your own - after all we need to cheer up the darkest days of winter!

Pat P

Many christians feel that their holiday has been stolen. They also feel that retailers have ruined it with their "Happy Holidays" greeting. I'm on another group and this topic has been hashed about and there are some really strong feelings from christians about this. It has to do with their feelings that America is christian. They identify "America/Christian" and are upset. Truly upset.

It reminds me of the bitterness/rivalry between the catholics and the protestants when I was growing up in small-town America. For some families, it was heresy to even have the "other" as a friend. Dianne

I think the music was redubbed in the video on the web, the sound is far too clear on that video. And if you go to Trans Siberian Orchestra's home page, it's the exact same song,same volume, etc.

The article on Snopes said that the homeowner had the audio rigged to a low-powered FM station and they psted signs telling people to turn their car radios to that station to listen along as they drove by.

Thanks Dawne.

Lucille

"Dianne Lewandowski" wrote

I find this so odd. I am an observant Christian, and no one has "stolen" anything from my celebration. I can (and will) attend the services of Christmas (4 Sundays of Advent, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Epiphany) with all the appropriate seasonal colours, candles, music and liturgy. That other people chose to celebrate other things, instead or in addition, does nothing to diminish that. And only a real genuine Scrooge would find the season "ruined" by someone wishing them a Happy Holiday. Beats "Have a nice day", doesn't it?? Dawne

Can anyone tell me what the statistics are relating to Christian and other beliefs in the US (ratios), and what happens in Moslem countires - do they also cancel their religious practices to accommodate Christians living in their country?

Catherine

From another point of view, it`s the Christians who stole Christmas and a lot of the festivities at that time from the pagans!

I thought that America was formed mainly so that everyone could celebrate whatever form their religion took in their own way - so how can anyone possibly object to how, what and when they celebrate? It comes back to that ancient quotation I mentioned before "An it harm none, do what thou wilt".

England is supposed to be a Christian Country - the Queen is "Defender of the Faith" (although at the time this title first came into being it was actually the Catholic Church it referred to). However the churches are nearly empty, locked up because people have so little respect and awe that they just get robbed if left open and unattended. I`m sure that our great cathedrals are only maintained because they are a great money spinner to the tourists - I confess that I love our cathedrals and abbeys - if only because of their archtecture and history.

The Churches who preach peace, humility and generosity to the poor are the wealthiest of landowners and landlords, and certainly not humble (I refer to the "Church" as an entity, not the many ill paid and hard working clergy). As for "peace" - as has often been said before - more blood has been shed in the name of God .......... etc.!

Pat P

It sure does, Dawne! I`m horrified to here that "farewell" cropping up over here - it just never sounds genuine, somehow!

Pat P

Anything beats the insincerity of someone who doesn't know you saying "Have a nice day" - I have quite a few selected sayings for people who say that to me. Gowdom sort of flares up instantly lol