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Dec. 23rd, 2004 11:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jianantonicSometimes I want to SCREAM at people. One of the downsides of working in customer service is that I'm never allowed to do that. At least not at work. A woman told me today that I ruined Christmas because I told her if she wanted clean towels, she'd have to wash the ones she had (we don't do towel exchanges). Let's see, what's worse? Finding out your grandfather has cancer on Christmas, or using the same towel two days in a row? Fuck off, snooty bitch.
Also, to confirm an earlier statement:
"It was not until A.D. 350, that December 25 was declared the official date for celebrating Christmas by Pope Julius I. When the fathers of the church decided to settle upon a date to celebrate the event, they wisely chose the day of the winter solstice, since it coincided with some rival religions' celebrations and the rebirth of the sun (see Year of the Sun Calendar), symbolized by bon-fires and yule logs. December 25 was a festival long before the conversion of the Germanic peoples to Christianity, it seemed fitting that the time of their winter festival would also be the time to celebrate the birth of Christ. The darkness that had frightened and threatened to defeat the ancient pagans, was forever defeated by the coming of Christ" (Ruth Reichmann and Max Kade German-American Center, IUPUI) In 313CE, Constantine converted to Christianity and officially outlawed persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. By 350CE, Christians were no longer persecuted in the Roman Empire. It was only 23 years later that it was made the official religion of the empire.
From another source:
"In 350, Pope Julius I declared that Christ’s birth would be celebrated on December 25. There is little doubt that he was trying to make it as painless as possible for pagan Romans (who remained a majority at that time) to convert to Christianity. The new religion went down a bit easier, knowing that their feasts would not be taken away from them" (Kelly Wittmann, (c) 2002, pagewise).
I searched the web and didn't find much variation to this. It's also what I've been taught in my classes. It's what my degree is in. And regardless of why it's the 25th, my main point is that there shouldn't be a specific day. It should be an everyday feeling. To me, the only thing that really makes it different is that people expect presents one particular day of the year. I mean, that's what's different about it for me, anyway. Not very Christian, if you ask me.
In the future, please keep in mind that disabling comments means I don't want comments. I'm just not in a very Christmassy mood. Anyway I'm done talking about this, so let's drop it now. I've already ruined towel lady's Christmas. I wouldn't want to go into a huge rant and ruin everyone else's.
Just remember that if you don't get that perfect gift and you're really bummed because you wanted it soo bad...it could be worse. At least you didn't get cancer this year.
Also, to confirm an earlier statement:
"It was not until A.D. 350, that December 25 was declared the official date for celebrating Christmas by Pope Julius I. When the fathers of the church decided to settle upon a date to celebrate the event, they wisely chose the day of the winter solstice, since it coincided with some rival religions' celebrations and the rebirth of the sun (see Year of the Sun Calendar), symbolized by bon-fires and yule logs. December 25 was a festival long before the conversion of the Germanic peoples to Christianity, it seemed fitting that the time of their winter festival would also be the time to celebrate the birth of Christ. The darkness that had frightened and threatened to defeat the ancient pagans, was forever defeated by the coming of Christ" (Ruth Reichmann and Max Kade German-American Center, IUPUI) In 313CE, Constantine converted to Christianity and officially outlawed persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. By 350CE, Christians were no longer persecuted in the Roman Empire. It was only 23 years later that it was made the official religion of the empire.
From another source:
"In 350, Pope Julius I declared that Christ’s birth would be celebrated on December 25. There is little doubt that he was trying to make it as painless as possible for pagan Romans (who remained a majority at that time) to convert to Christianity. The new religion went down a bit easier, knowing that their feasts would not be taken away from them" (Kelly Wittmann, (c) 2002, pagewise).
I searched the web and didn't find much variation to this. It's also what I've been taught in my classes. It's what my degree is in. And regardless of why it's the 25th, my main point is that there shouldn't be a specific day. It should be an everyday feeling. To me, the only thing that really makes it different is that people expect presents one particular day of the year. I mean, that's what's different about it for me, anyway. Not very Christian, if you ask me.
In the future, please keep in mind that disabling comments means I don't want comments. I'm just not in a very Christmassy mood. Anyway I'm done talking about this, so let's drop it now. I've already ruined towel lady's Christmas. I wouldn't want to go into a huge rant and ruin everyone else's.
Just remember that if you don't get that perfect gift and you're really bummed because you wanted it soo bad...it could be worse. At least you didn't get cancer this year.
