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Post by pim on Nov 19, 2017 11:31:53 GMT 10
"Christmas" is a relic. The year in England used to be divided up into several feast days ending in "-mas". From memory they were Candlemas in February, Lammas in August, Michaelmas in September (pronounced "micklemas"whith the last syllable unstressed so that the /a/ in "mas" is the unstressed vowel or "schwa") and finally Christmas to mark the winter solstice. There were others but I don't know them. But of all those "masses" Christmas is the last one left standing. I've no doubt whatsoever that they all hark back to a pre-christian pagan origin. I think Dutch is the only other Germanic language to mark the winter solstice with a word like "Christmas". In Dutch they call it "Kerstmis". But in other Germanic cultures their word for it is nothing like "Christmas": Weihnachten in German - unpack that one! I don't speak any of the Scandinavian languages but I do know that our word "yule" has a Viking origin. Noël in French - pronounced "Nowell". It's when you get into the Latin languages, especially Spanish and Italian, that the Christian references surface again: natale in Italian, So the Green senator Ricardo di Natale - are you gonna get him to change his name to something that doesn't mean "Christmas"? How boring. In fact why are we even spending any time on this stupid topic?  |
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Post by KTJ on Nov 19, 2017 12:56:24 GMT 10
The last time I celebrated Christmas was on 24th June this year, three days after the winter solstice.
I headed up to my old stomping ground of Gisborne for the weekend and a group of us old friends decorated a house and went for it. Basically, it was just an excuse for a feast and a winter piss-up. The various kids (and grand-kids) of the adults taking part all loved it though, especially when they discovered a Xmas Tree with a shitload of presents for them beneath it.
As for the adults, after the feast and the kids opening their presents, we ripped into a case of a dozen bottles of Louis Roederer and followed that up with two bottles of Glenlivet 18-year-old single malt. Eventually, the kids sussed it out that all the adults were totally pissed, so they ran riot around the place until well into the wee hours (including the toddlers). Then they tormented the hung-over adults the next day, but it was all a load of fun.
As for Christmas in December? I can take it or leave it. I cannot really be all that bothered. Other people may run around getting all stressed out over it, but I just kick back and mostly ignore it.
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Post by fat on Nov 26, 2017 23:25:46 GMT 10
Christmas in December in Australia?
Too busy
Too hot
Too tired
KTJ - your weekend in June has a lot going for it.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2017 6:56:30 GMT 10
“secularisation and modern life will continue to launder the church”. ... Meanwhile the church continues to launder the money.  Oh, I do love this!  |
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Post by matte on Dec 6, 2017 19:41:54 GMT 10
I only wish I could sing as good as him.
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Post by Yassir Rebob on Dec 9, 2017 17:40:14 GMT 10
Given that Xmas falls in the Middle of our Summer, there is a uniquely Australian way to celebrate the Big Day.
A seafood feast, rather than the traditional roast Turkey and Ham.
Also seeing the houses decorated with Xmas lights, into the long summer twilight adds another dimension to the Festival that they really miss out on in the Northern Hemisphere.
When you also consider that as you can celebrate NYE with an outdoor BBQ/Party etc, we really do have it over our northern cousins.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2017 4:43:20 GMT 10
Its a pagan tradition that goes well back thousands long before Christianity...so it must be good, Christians simply hijacked it....bring back Paganmas I say.
And if you live on Christmas Island then everyday is Christmas Day.
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