I was just thinking about how people confuse Christmas as baby Jesus's birthday or some such thing but will there be any religion involved in your Christmas or will it just be fun, food and family?
Originally Posted by contrarian: “I was just thinking about how people confuse Christmas as baby Jesus's birthday or some such thing but will there be any religion involved in your Christmas or will it just be fun, food and family?
”
Unless you count Jedi as a religion then yes, we have star wars themed baubles.
Originally Posted by KidMoe: “Well, mostly they are, aren't they? I guess some Christmas songs aren't, but most of the traditional carols I can think of have a religious theme:
First Noel
Away in A Manger
Ding Dong Merrily on High
Hark! The herald angels sing
etc”
Well they are songs that have religious references in them (as they would when they were mostly written) but i kind of meant they are not liturgy
I mean God save the Queen is not really a religious song
For me Christmas is just the midwinter festival which existed long before Christianity came to these shores and attached a story to it. Plenty of food, drink and celebration but no religion.
Originally Posted by contrarian: “Well they are songs that have religious references in them (as they would when they were mostly written) but i kind of meant they are not liturgy
I mean God save the Queen is not really a religious song”
Most carols are about the birth of Jesus so would be considered religious IMO.
Even though I'm not religious myself I do quite like the religious side of Christmas - carols, nativity play, notion of peace on earth etc - if that makes any sense. I find it preferable to the modern festival of shopping anyway.
Originally Posted by omnidirectional: “For me Christmas is just the midwinter festival which existed long before Christianity came to these shores and attached a story to it. Plenty of food, drink and celebration but no religion.”
Originally Posted by contrarian: “Well they are songs that have religious references in them (as they would when they were mostly written) but i kind of meant they are not liturgy
I mean God save the Queen is not really a religious song”
I'll probably have to go to church with my Dad as it keeps everyone happy but with luck that should be the only involvement I have with the sky fairy death cult. Mind you for balance I'm also hoping that the three days I'm visiting him and the company meal beforehand is all I experience of Christmas.
I have no objection to others celebrating but it's a free country and I reserve my right to enjoy a few days of work in peace and quiet.
Originally Posted by contrarian: “I dont think Carols are religious?”
Depends what you mean. Traditional English folk carols aren't religious but the religious nativity hymns (commonly called 'Christmas carols') are definitely and overtly religious.
O Come All Ye Faithful
Hark the Herald
O Little Town of Bethlehem
as long as we are not barred after last christmas I'll be going to midnight mass, me and my friends go every year after having a quiet drink in our local