As I understand it, the only appropriate way to properly honor the Winter Solstice is to honor the date of Christ's birth. After all, we are a nation built by Christians, as Christians, for Christians. Anything that seems to be contrary to that notion is a part of the "War On Christmas."

Hmmmmm.

The fact is that for this country's first 200 years (early 1600s to early-mid 1800s), Christmas celebrations were rare. In many parts of the land, Christmas celebrations were outlawed - by code or by the equally powerful customs of, ummmmm, Christians who had immigrated from Europe.

Those Founding Fathers? Well, Congress was in session most Christmas Days from the beginning (1789) until ~1855. Why? It was a work day because Christmas was NO BIG DEAL to the FFs - or to the rest of "Christian" America.

Another fact: for the 1st 400 years of Christianity, Christmas as a day of feasting (or worshiping) did not exist. Even the most devout of Christians celebrated various pagan festivals and holidays involving the Winter Solstice. Around 400 AD the Christian church created a Holy Day in an effort to redirect the flock's attention to matters more Holy. The effort backfired, but that's a whole other story. The pagan celebrations continued - in Europe - to this day. In the colonies - and later in the USA - Christian celebrations of Christmas didn't catch on until well into the 19th century (the 1800s).

While we're at it.... scientists and Bible scholars agree:

• Christ was not born in the year 0
• Christ was not born on December 25 (however, several people of note - including your favorite blogger - were born on 12/25). The above-mentioned action by the Church is what pegged the day as December 25 - during the pagan feasts.
  
• The "manger story" is highly suspect; several elements of the story defy logic and the prevailing customs of Palestine 2000 years ago.
• The "Christmas Star" was probably not a star. More likely it was an astronomical phenomenon that only existed in the context of viewing the skies from the planet Earth. That same phenomenon would not display from any other angle, from anywhere else in the universe.
  
  The Christmas Star's only real significance would have been to astrologers.... people who explain everything in terms of how stars and planets appear in the sky (and only from the Earth). Astrologers are an anathema to Christians and to scientists. The "3 Wise Men" were simply astrologers who became curious about an astronomical anamoly. I hear they wrote fortune cookie texts and had an astrology-based advice column in the Daily Papyrus. They were what we would today call "Iranians" because they lived (and wrote their advice column) in what we now call Iran.
  

None of this screed is intended to diminish the significance of Christmas. My intention is to strip away the hogwash surrounding Christmas. With reality in mind, you readers can now contemplate or celebrate or ignore Christmas - for all the right reasons.

As for the "War on Christmas," it is simply a propaganda campaign designed to direct hate and discontent at people with whom some people disagree.

Take that, Bill O'Reilly¹ - and your fellow-traveling band of morons.

¹ Why Christmas Matters (by Wee Willy O'Reilly)

Labels: astrology, christian, christmas star, pagan, paid holidays, solstice, War on Christmas

Liberals, Liberals, Liberals

Joe begins his work day. He has a good job with excellent pay, medical benefits, retirement, paid holidays and vacation because some lazy liberal union members fought and died for these working standards. Joe's employer pays these standards because Joe's employer doesn't want a confrontation with a union that is dedicated to improving their members' workplace and standard of living.

Labels: Liberals, medical benefits, paid holidays, pay, retirement, union, vacation