How Christian is your Christmas?

escaped

Cabbie21

Yesterday Dan Walker on Classic FM , announcing a competition or something, asked people to text in with the word Christmas. He added “Not Xmas, put Christ back into Christmas”.

Always.

"Xmas” is a common abbreviation of the word “Christmas”. The “-mas” part is from the Latin-derived Old English word for “Mass”, while the “X” comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός, translated as “Christ”.
There is a common misconception that the word Xmas is a secular attempt to remove the religious tradition from Christmas by taking the “Christ” out of “Christmas”. While “Xmas” is considered to be an informal abbreviation, and should never be used in formal writing, it is historically correct.

Maybe Dan should have done his homework!

Thank you Daddima, I didn't know this. I believed it was an American import. Very interesting.

Maybe Dan should have done his homework!
No need to be facetious. I said earlier on this thread, that I, and no doubt Dan too, aren't complaining or belittling what others do, or how they express it.

vampirequeen

I'm not a Christian so there is no Christianity in my Christmas. Although it's now referred to as Christmas, mid-Winter festivals have been held for thousands of years. So in our house it's simply that. Lots of greenery, lots of food and lots of fun.

Similar to our family. We do try to accentuate the giving to others side of the festival.

My approach to Christianity has switched about over my 73 years. I was brought up as Catholic, attending Catholic schools (no brainwashing) and married in church. I neglected my religion until children came along and both were baptised and confirmed though only one attended a Catholic secondary school. Neither is sure they believe on God and both married in hotels. The elder had her children christened in the C of E, which I couldn't fathom as she had no knowledge of that faith and though her DH and his family regarded themselves as C of E, none of them ever attended church - and his sister was married in a Catholic church!

Whilst we don't regard it as a religious festival as such we do sing Carols and I have a nativity scene on display. But really nowadays it is just an excuse for families to get together and for some to get drunk at parties, so not religious at all.

Thank you Daddima - I always thought it was laziness!

Thank you Daddima,

I’m not a churchgoer but, like others, I do keep a few small rituals to remind me what Christmas is about. I always like to have the crib on display, and never miss the Nine Lessons and Carols. I also have a favourite poem that I read on Christmas Eve - T.S. Elliot’s ‘The Journey of the Magi’. On Chirstmas Day there is Bach’s ‘Jauchzet, frohlocket’ to kick start my day. I really couldn’t have Christmas without that. From then on, anything goes.

We celebrate the Christmas Festivities despite me being a “Good Jewish Girl” we live in Christian society so we go with it. Have hopefully taught my lot kindness and despite their learning disabilities are very keen to donate to the homeless! Happy Christmas all of you.

Daddima

escaped

Cabbie21

Yesterday Dan Walker on Classic FM , announcing a competition or something, asked people to text in with the word Christmas. He added “Not Xmas, put Christ back into Christmas”.

Always.

"Xmas” is a common abbreviation of the word “Christmas”. The “-mas” part is from the Latin-derived Old English word for “Mass”, while the “X” comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός, translated as “Christ”.
There is a common misconception that the word Xmas is a secular attempt to remove the religious tradition from Christmas by taking the “Christ” out of “Christmas”. While “Xmas” is considered to be an informal abbreviation, and should never be used in formal writing, it is historically correct.

Maybe Dan should have done his homework!

Your own words or from a link? May I share this, please?

Same as ginny and VP for me.

'Happy Christmas' to you too Fartooold .

I always learnt the X was a cross and is therefore symbollically associated with Christ. But I'm more than happy to accept alternatives knocking about. ✝️

Fartooold

We celebrate the Christmas Festivities despite me being a “Good Jewish Girl” we live in Christian society so we go with it. Have hopefully taught my lot kindness and despite their learning disabilities are very keen to donate to the homeless! Happy Christmas all of you.

And to you too, Fartooold.

We enjoy both the Christian part of Christmas and the secular celebrations. We go to church during Advent and we light our Advent candle daily. We will go to the lovely evening carol service at the church nearby on the Sunday previous to Christmas, and we go to church on Christmas Eve at night. We no longer stay up to attend Christmas mass because as we’ve got older we find it tiring. We used to take our children to Christmas morning church, but we don’t go to church on Christmas morning now.

We celebrate with family on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day by meeting together at one another’s houses and sharing food and games (and a little alcohol.) We’re going to the pantomime with the grandchildren and we’ll be doing other things with them too.

I can’t wait for this Christmas because my daughter and three children are coming for four weeks from New Zealand. One week, over new year will be spent with her brothers and families at a big rental house in Cornwall. All together.

Happy Christmas Fartooold and happy Hanukkah too.

Your Christmas sounds Heavenly, madelene, if I'm allowed to say that!! And Cornwall at New Year, divine!

I suppose that would depend on what being a Christian means, and that would vary from person to person.

Thank you escaped. I think there’ll be more than a little family events going on in your family too.

It will be especially lovely for us all to be together this Christmas. If only she could come home to live, but her ex will never agree, and she won’t leave her children. This Christmas will be the first with us all together since before Covid.

I play carols all through December, and we attend a church carol service, plus a little Nativity set is part of our decorations, so as far as I’m concerned, although we’re not churchgoers, those are certainly Christian aspects of Christmas.

And like a pp, I love the Nine Lessons And Carols! To me it’s not Christmas Eve without that - accompanied by mulled wine and a mince pie, naturally.

It’s worth remembering that the Christian festival merged with the old pagan Midwinter festival, so IMO we have the best of both worlds.

vampirequeen

Smileless2012

Good for Dan Walker Cabbie, if not for Jesus there wouldn't be Christmas.

But there would still be a mid-winter festival. We'd just call it something else.

Maybe,but it's Christmas. A Christian holiday, to remember the birth of Christ, demeaned by many , celebrated by those who believe in the true meaning.
Wonder if other Religions get demeaned as much during their religious holidays.
Good from Dan Walker. My little nativity scene will be on display in my window from 1st day of Advent.

Who is demeaning it at all? No-one.

Wonder if other Religions get demeaned as much during their religious holidays

Goodness me, of course not, NO!!

Fartooold

We celebrate the Christmas Festivities despite me being a “Good Jewish Girl” we live in Christian society so we go with it. Have hopefully taught my lot kindness and despite their learning disabilities are very keen to donate to the homeless! Happy Christmas all of you.

And to you Fartooold.

Our Christmas is like our everyday - Christian Catholic. From the first Sunday of Advent through to Epiphany - celebrations of Christmas.