Quoted in Cut & Paste in the Australian on Tuesday: Rob Brooks in the SMH referring to "...the cynical attempts by Christians to hijack the whole fiesta for their own religious ends".
"Hijack"? Come now, just who's done the hijacking here?
"Hijack"? Come now, just who's done the hijacking here?
Mr Brooks is surely a strong contender for Most Inane Comment of 2011.
ReplyDeleteThe hijack probably occurred by full authority of the Senate and People of Rome in the 4th century AD in dealing with the new established religion. "When was Christmas first celebrated? In an old list of Roman bishops, compiled in A. D. 354 these words appear for A.D. 336: "25 Dec.: natus Christus in Betleem Judeae." December 25th, Christ born in Bethlehem, Judea. This day, December 25, 336, is the first recorded celebration of Christmas.
ReplyDeleteHow did Christmas come to be celebrated on December 25th? Cultures around the Mediterranean and across Europe observed feasts on or around December 25th, marking the winter solstice. The Jews had a festival of lights. Germans had a yule festival. Celtic legends connected the solstice with Balder, the Scandinavian sun god who was struck down by a mistletoe arrow. At the pagan festival of Saturnalia, Romans feasted and gave gifts to the poor."
see http://bit.ly/viVDF2
Merry winter solstice everyone!
Point taken! However, I have a feeling that Brooks wasn't referring to events in the 4th century!
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