Winter Solstice..

...has been celebrated since pre-historic times, when our ancestors observed with dismay that the Sun seemed to be going away, so they created rites to make it return.

Among many Websites

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explains a few of the ones we know --like Christmas,* Chanukah, Saturnalia, etc. and some that we may not know about.

  • birth of Christ would have been in the Spring at lambing time: "...there were shepherds abiding in the fields...keeping watch over their flocks by night..."

Christianity methodically took over and rebranded "pagan" festivals and their sacred sites.

Whatever you celebrate, (if you do), may it be meaningful.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

And may there be peace on Earth.

HB

Reply to
Hypatia Nachshon
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Hi Higgs,

Our (Christian) choice of the date for Christmas comes from scripture: the Gospel of Saint John 3:30: "He [Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease [Saint John the Baptist]."

As the length of the days after the Winter solstice increase, the Winter solstice was chosen at Jesus' birthday ("He must increase") and as length of the days after the Summer solstice decrease, the Summer solstice was chosen as Saint John the Baptist's birthday ("I must decrease").

It was all about symbolism (virtually no one could read at the beginning of our church).

That was precisely our intention. Good family fun replacing drunken debauchery. And it was far more "replacing" than "rebranding".

Now we need to get the materialism thing under control. (Kind of got out of our hands.) I have heard of a family that all volunteers at a soup kitchen on Christmas Eve -- the true spirit of giving. It is a good start.

You as well Higgs!

-T

p.s. I would love it if you told us the story behind Chanukah. I know, we/I could look it up on the web ourselves, but those are not our friends.

Reply to
Todd

Interesting ambiguous phrase "not our friends". Deeper meaning?

There are literally hundreds of Web sites under "story of Chanukah" and "Chanukah" and "Jewish festivals' etc. explaining Chanukah much more eloquently than could your correspondent.

HB

Reply to
Hypatia Nachshon

No. Just means I don't know them. Doesn't mean they mean any harm

True. But not Higg's personal take on it.

Reply to
Todd

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