[GCFL-discuss] Fw: [GCFL.net] Seasons Greetings!

[Discussion of the Good, Clean Funnies List]

Cute.

After reading an article on various traditions and celebrations common to
this time of year, I noticed that in fact what has happened is NOT that
Christians started celebrating the birth of Jesus, and secular or simply
greedy pursuits hijacked the occasion. More accurately, large parts of
the the world's population have ALWAYS had a big party, or series of
parties, around this time of year. When some of our pagan ancestors
became Christian, they had a bright idea, "Hey, as long as we're having a
party, let's party in the name of Jesus." Naturally, as traditions and
habits die hard, a number of pagan rituals were imported wholesale into
the new party, and some people stuck to the old habits without bothering
with the new focus. Which is probably why the Pilgrims made it a criminal
offense to celebrate Christmas.

So by all means, let everyone celebrate the party of your choice.

But if you send a Christmas card, make it a Christmas card.

And if I wish you a Merry Christmas, and you are not Christian, by all
means greet me in the name of any holiday you celebrate. But its not one
big party. I'm sharing my party with you, and you are sharing your party
with me.

Amen.

Siarlys

P.S. I see everyone is already responding to the Christmas card. I didn't
check my email from Dec. 23 until Dec. 26, and I have to use a different
account to go online and read the card. So I will read it sometimes
before Epiphany, and I'm sure I will have something nice to say once I
do. Meantime, Merry Christmas John.