Christmas Coke Cans AKA Holliday PC (1 Viewer)

[Southern Belle]

Last year someone decided to keep Santa off the Coke cans and used the Polar bear instead. This year they have Santa giving a present to the polar bear and it says "Give. Live. Love." Now I think that that is cool of course but I'm just curious, how many REAL people are actually offended by little details like this, and how much of it is exaggerated by media? Crosses at Easter much? Jesus's ressurection + Easter eggs? Maybe being Southern protects me from the insanity if it actually exists... All the crazy articles start popping up but I've never seen it in person...

 

[Real Korimyr #9]

Even as a non-Christian-- and an outspoken one at that-- I feel there is only one appropriate response to someone complaining about Christmas decorations and Christmas traditions, especially the secular and commercialized version that most Americans are familiar with.

1) Using only the fingers of your left hand, get a firm grip on the collar of their shirt or the nearest reasonable section of cloth.

2) Using the flat of your right hand alternatingly with the back, slap them repeatedly across both cheeks until they apologize for having wasted your time and annoyed the entirety of civil society.

Christians celebrating Christmas is not offensive. Non-Christians celebrating Christmas-- and most do-- are not offensive. And a minimum-wage counter jockey wishing you a "Merry Christmas" on any day between the third Friday in November and around December 31st or so is only attempting to be friendly and help spread good cheer to his fellow human beings.

If you have an actual problem with this, kindly go home and drink yourself to death like any decent, civilized miserable **** would do and quit trying to ruin it for the rest of us.

 

[Befuddled_Stoner]

Dude, if Xians are happy to see corporations exploit their assimilated holy days for profit, why should I care? It’s not my religious symbol that is being used to peddle fizzy sugar water.

However, I voted 'yes' because I am deeply offended by all that crappy xmas music seeping out over radios, televisions, and loudspeakers all across America. That **** got old for me back when I was 12, and hearing the same ten songs played over and over again ‘til it sticks in your brain each year like some sort of malignant cancer has done nothing to endear the season to me.

 

[Real Korimyr #9]

Dude, if Xians are happy to see corporations exploit their assimilated holy days for profit, why should I care? It’s not my religious symbol that is being used to peddle fizzy sugar water.

Heh. Most of the traditions that people celebrate for "Christ's Mass" belong to my religion. Grand Winter feast? Check. Placing gifts under a fir tree for friends and family? Check. Burning a Yule log on your hearth? Check.

I mean, seriously. How many fir trees were there in turn of the era Judea?

 

[Kandahar]

Even as a non-Christian-- and an outspoken one at that-- I feel there is only one appropriate response to someone complaining about Christmas decorations and Christmas traditions, especially the secular and commercialized version that most Americans are familiar with.

1) Using only the fingers of your left hand, get a firm grip on the collar of their shirt or the nearest reasonable section of cloth.

2) Using the flat of your right hand alternatingly with the back, slap them repeatedly across both cheeks until they apologize for having wasted your time and annoyed the entirety of civil society.

Christians celebrating Christmas is not offensive. Non-Christians celebrating Christmas-- and most do-- are not offensive. And a minimum-wage counter jockey wishing you a "Merry Christmas" on any day between the third Friday in November and around December 31st or so is only attempting to be friendly and help spread good cheer to his fellow human beings.

If you have an actual problem with this, kindly go home and drink yourself to death like any decent, civilized miserable **** would do and quit trying to ruin it for the rest of us.

But people who are offended by Christmas celebrations don't actually exist. They are a phantom enemy created entirely by Bill O'Reilly.

 

[jfuh]

As Jon Stewart put it, "the war on christmas comes earlier and earlier"
The whole war against the christian christmas thing is only the figment of O'Rilley's imagination for the sole purpose of making a big deal out of nothing.
What's even more stupid? Ppl that actually believe there's some conspiracy against the christian belief.
BTW for those christians out here who believe you have a war on your hands? Take a wild guess at how the pentacle star of the christmas tree have anything to do with christ at all.

 

[jfuh]

Heh. Most of the traditions that people celebrate for "Christ's Mass" belong to my religion. Grand Winter feast? Check. Placing gifts under a fir tree for friends and family? Check. Burning a Yule log on your hearth? Check.

I mean, seriously. How many fir trees were there in turn of the era Judea?

Time of celebration so strangely close to the winter solstice? Check.

 

[Southern Belle]

But people who are offended by Christmas celebrations don't actually exist. They are a phantom enemy created entirely by Bill O'Reilly.

Maybe but then why did they take Santa off the cans last year? I remember reading an article that said they decided to do that.

 

[jujuman13]

Quote by Southern Belle
(Maybe but then why did they take Santa off the cans last year? I remember reading an article that said they decided to do that.)

Why does any manufacturer alter the adverts for any of their products, the obvious answer is that is their perception of how the advert is viewed as to whether it will affect their bottom line, so in reality they go with whatever trend the Media suggests is to be the fashion for that year.
CHRISTS MASS, renamed to be Christmas is not actually clebrating birth of Jesus or Christ.
Christmas is simply a time for feasting, gift exchange and general merriment to celebrate the end of the year.

Christmas was adopted by the Catholic Church in Europe as it was recognised that this festival would not be willingly given up by those who were forced to change their religious beliefs.

In actual fact, Jesus would have been born at the time of year that under Roman Occupation of Israel, the Tax collectors assessed the tax on every citizen, Lo and behold, that was then during what we now call Easter.

You don't believe me, go look in the Bible.
So that means that Christmas is simply a so called barbarian festival.
So no problem if whoever wants to over advertise it.
If you get sick of the over commercialization, tough.
Write to the companies that advertise and complain.

You know what theywill say.......................HUMBUG

 

[Southern Belle]

Quote by Southern Belle
(Maybe but then why did they take Santa off the cans last year? I remember reading an article that said they decided to do that.)

Why does any manufacturer alter the adverts for any of their products, the obvious answer is that is their perception of how the advert is viewed as to whether it will affect their bottom line, so in reality they go with whatever trend the Media suggests is to be the fashion for that year.
CHRISTS MASS, renamed to be Christmas is not actually clebrating birth of Jesus or Christ.
Christmas is simply a time for feasting, gift exchange and general merriment to celebrate the end of the year.

Christmas was adopted by the Catholic Church in Europe as it was recognised that this festival would not be willingly given up by those who were forced to change their religious beliefs.

In actual fact, Jesus would have been born at the time of year that under Roman Occupation of Israel, the Tax collectors assessed the tax on every citizen, Lo and behold, that was then during what we now call Easter.

You don't believe me, go look in the Bible.
So that means that Christmas is simply a so called barbarian festival.
So no problem if whoever wants to over advertise it.
If you get sick of the over commercialization, tough.
Write to the companies that advertise and complain.

You know what theywill say.......................HUMBUG

Yes I understand and I don't refute that, that happened long ago. But today we Christians who remember His birth use this time to celebrate because that's just how things turned out. We do both at the same time. I focused too much on the cans because that's what gavbe me the idea for the poll. They probably got the idea from hearing about all the other stuff that went on last year. Oh well. This year's design is cute. ^^

 

[jujuman13]

I have not as yet noticed the design, so am unable to comment, will take your word for it being 'cute', whatever that means.

 

[earthworm]

Even as a non-Christian-- and an outspoken one at that-- I feel there is only one appropriate response to someone complaining about Christmas decorations and Christmas traditions, especially the secular and commercialized version that most Americans are familiar with.

1) Using only the fingers of your left hand, get a firm grip on the collar of their shirt or the nearest reasonable section of cloth.

2) Using the flat of your right hand alternatingly with the back, slap them repeatedly across both cheeks until they apologize for having wasted your time and annoyed the entirety of civil society.

Christians celebrating Christmas is not offensive. Non-Christians celebrating Christmas-- and most do-- are not offensive. And a minimum-wage counter jockey wishing you a "Merry Christmas" on any day between the third Friday in November and around December 31st or so is only attempting to be friendly and help spread good cheer to his fellow human beings.

If you have an actual problem with this, kindly go home and drink yourself to death like any decent, civilized miserable **** would do and quit trying to ruin it for the rest of us.

Well put, Mr Korimyr
As usual, I did not vote, this is too "silly"..

 

[Topsez]

I think businesses will put whatever they think will sell the most of their product on the label. Yet, America is a Christain nation so it seems to me that if they wanted to put a navitiy scene they could and no one should take offence. Why get upset, that is like getting upset when you drive by a church? If it bothers you to see religious stuff then move to Korea or some place where Christain symbols are a rare thing.

Yea, and Walmart is druming up Christmas music and welcomes and they are also sending thousands to gay movement endorcing gay marriage... what ever makes the most sales is good to go with businesses.

In the public square I say let every religion in the community be represented and if you don't like it then do like you were at home and switch the channel... public displays hurts no one... Stupid complaints by those who don't share the belief is simply that stupid... it's like demanding no one plays jazz, I think jazz sucks, I think rap, gangsta rap sucks but I don't demand it go away because I'm in a minority and I have the option to go away from the things that bother me. Life, liberty and the guarantee of happiness, NOT!

 

[jamesrage]

Last year someone decided to keep Santa off the Coke cans and used the Polar bear instead. This year they have Santa giving a present to the polar bear and it says "Give. Live. Love." Now I think that that is cool of course but I'm just curious, how many REAL people are actually offended by little details like this, and how much of it is exaggerated by media? Crosses at Easter much? Jesus's ressurection + Easter eggs? Maybe being Southern protects me from the insanity if it actually exists... All the crazy articles start popping up but I've never seen it in person...

I do not think any one is really offended by religious holiday symbols.I think that people who say they are offended are just really pitching fit for the hell of it or for attention.

 

[Kandahar]

Maybe but then why did they take Santa off the cans last year? I remember reading an article that said they decided to do that.

That hardly means that they're shunning Christmas. Santa doesn't have anything to do with Christianity anyway.

 

[CoffeeSaint]

I do not think any one is really offended by religious holiday symbols.I think that people who say they are offended are just really pitching fit for the hell of it or for attention.

When I lived in California, we had a city building that had a carillon that rang different songs at noon every weekday. At Christmas time, the bells were set to play carols, until 1998 or so. They had to stop p[laying carols because somebody complained that it violated the separation of church and state, since the bells belonged to a city building.

People are offended by Christmas decorations and carols and such. They do complain. They do need, as Korimyr described, to be slapped repeatedly.

I wonder, though, how much this general disdain for political correctness would last if it was a more sacred symbol being used to sell stuff. What if Jesus was used to sell a hammer and nails, for instance. Then would everyone still be saying that a company has the right to put whatever they want on their product?

 

[tecoyah]

I say let the happy Christians celebrate Solstice however they want....as long as I get my Mint m&m's

 

[jamesrage]

When I lived in California, we had a city building that had a carillon that rang different songs at noon every weekday. At Christmas time, the bells were set to play carols, until 1998 or so. They had to stop p[laying carols because somebody complained that it violated the separation of church and state, since the bells belonged to a city building.

People are offended by Christmas decorations and carols and such. They do complain. They do need, as Korimyr described, to be slapped repeatedly.

I do not think these people are really offended by Christmas decorations,they may hate the fact that there is a Christian holiday that is being celebrated or they may be saying the hate something for attentions like the ACLU nuts but I think any claims of being offended are false.

 

[doughgirl]

Christmas becomes Battleground
WorldNetDaily: Christmas in America becomes battleground


School bans saying 'Christmas'
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=29977

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=30077


No Christmas celebrations but Halloween and Day of the Dead celebrations are ok.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=29436





Interesting poll…….“Don't believe in God? Have some eggnog anyway”

“Barrier said he and many other atheists enjoy celebrating the slew of early winter holidays: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and even the winter solstice.
"There is that old tradition that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. I certainly don't want to be an isolationist," Barrier said. "Christmas is seductive. I love this time of year. And it does seem that people behave a little better around the holidays, and that's always a good thing."

http://www.knoxstudio.com/shns/story.cfm?pk=XMAS-POLL-12-09-02&cat=AN


The atheist want due attention.

"At this season of the Winter Solstice may reason prevail.
"There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell.
"There is only our natural world.
"Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

http://www.ffrf.org/news/2002/solsticesign.html


They want their worldview displayed on a sign but don’t want the Christian Christmas message displayed.

Arent both just are opinions?



No hatred towards Christians and their holiday message? :rofl

Our secular public schools fair to all? :rofl

Plano school bans Christmas Colors

The war on Christmas in public schools gets curiouser and curiouser. School officials in Plano, Texas, not content to neuter Christmas by blotting out angels, Mary, and the Baby Jesus, have now banned the colors red and green. According to the Alliance Defense Fund, Plano Independent School District policy "prohibits students from wearing red and green at their ‘winter break’ parties because...they are Christmas colors. Even the plates and napkins must be white.”
Also banned: Candy canes and pencils with religious messages on them, reindeer symbols, and writing “Merry Christmas” on greeting cards to U.S. soldiers. Parents involved in school activities must also toe the secularist line: District policy bars them from exchanging “religious” Christmas items with other parents.

http://www.worldmagblog.com/blog/archives/011412.html
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=19738





Wisconsin bans Jesus but installs Christmas witch. They ban Christmas songs….crosses but allow menorahs, kwanza symbols and labafana the new Christmas witch.


Wisconsin School Bans Jesus, Installs 'Christmas Witch'


And its happening everywhere.
Canada
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2002/dec/02121305.html



See any anti-Christian bigotry yet?

 

[CoffeeSaint]

Christmas becomes Battleground
WorldNetDaily: Christmas in America becomes battleground

From the same link:

What may be surprising, though, is that some devout Christians, many dating all the way back to the days of Jesus, never celebrated the birth of Christ, nor sought to. America's early colonists banned observance of Christmas, and still today, there are many Christians abstaining from what millions more of their brethren joyfully celebrate as God's coming in human form.

School bans saying 'Christmas'
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=29977

Same link:

The San Juan Unified District, which serves over 50,000 students in 85 schools, is where the alleged Christmas ban is centered. Its director of communications, Deidra Powell, tells WorldNetDaily she's heard nothing about the principal's purported action, but doesn't think the district's policy on religious matters would preclude the mentioning of holidays.

"You can say 'Christmas,' you can say 'Hanukkah,'" she stated. "It is nowhere written in any policy; I don't think our board of education or superintendent would prohibit that."

Powell says the policy is designed to protect all students and make them feel safe in their environment, adding "not everybody is a Christian. We're using public funds, [so] we can't endorse [Christmas]."

Hmm. Maybe this isn't entirely true?

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=30077


No Christmas celebrations but Halloween and Day of the Dead celebrations are ok.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=29436

From the first link:

Neither Sage Canyon's principal, Jeff Swenerton, nor the district superintendent, Tom Bishop, returned repeated requests for comment, but the district did provide a fax of its policy regarding recognition of religious beliefs and customs.

According to the policy:

Special school events, assemblies, concerts and programs must be designed to further the board-approved curriculum and may not focus on any one religion or religious observance;

School employees are permitted to teach about religious holidays but are not permitted to celebrate religious holidays during school hours;

School employees may not endorse, advance, or inhibit a specific religion;

The use of religious symbols is permissible as a teaching aid or resource. Religious symbols may be displayed on a temporary basis provided that the symbols that are displayed are examples of the cultural and religious heritage of the holiday.

And from the second link:

In response to USJF's "cease and desist" letter, school attorney Robert Henry offered assurances that "students will be learning about the holiday, not observing it or celebrating it."

Specifically, according to Henry:

"Students will not be making altars" but will "hear about and see examples (in an educational video) of how altars are used in Day of the Dead traditions."

"Students will not celebrate loved ones' lives in the context of Day of the Dead rituals or religious practices."

"Students are not required to bring pictures of dead relatives and animals."

"Offerings are not being made" but "students will learn about the traditional cultural uses of flowers, food and other symbolic artifacts."

"Students are not directed to create art with religious themes" but "will, on the afternoon of Oct. 31, be given choices to include: masks, jumping 'mariachi style' skeletons, marigolds and sugar skulls."

Henry further states in his letter that "no student will be forced to participate in any activity that parents feel may be in conflict with the personal beliefs of the family" and "alternate activities will be provided."

Perhaps the Christmas incident in question violated board policy, but the Day of the Dead celebration did not.

Interesting poll…….“Don't believe in God? Have some eggnog anyway”




http://www.knoxstudio.com/shns/story.cfm?pk=XMAS-POLL-12-09-02&cat=AN


The atheist want due attention.


http://www.ffrf.org/news/2002/solsticesign.html


They want their worldview displayed on a sign but don’t want the Christian Christmas message displayed.

Arent both just are opinions?

Same link:

"We think it is important during December that the nonreligious views held by at least 14% of the Wisconsin population be represented at our State Capitol," commented Foundation president Anne Gaylor. The capitol so often is taken over with symbols and events reflecting only the majority Christian viewpoint, she pointed out.

No hatred towards Christians and their holiday message? :rofl

None.

Our secular public schools fair to all? :rofl

They try.

[/B]

​

The war on Christmas in public schools gets curiouser and curiouser. School officials in Plano, Texas, not content to neuter Christmas by blotting out angels, Mary, and the Baby Jesus, have now banned the colors red and green. According to the Alliance Defense Fund, Plano Independent School District policy "prohibits students from wearing red and green at their ‘winter break’ parties because...they are Christmas colors. Even the plates and napkins must be white.”
Also banned: Candy canes and pencils with religious messages on them, reindeer symbols, and writing “Merry Christmas” on greeting cards to U.S. soldiers. Parents involved in school activities must also toe the secularist line: District policy bars them from exchanging “religious” Christmas items with other parents.

http://www.worldmagblog.com/blog/archives/011412.html
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=19738

The ban was on religious items. That would include Hanukkah gifts, menorahs, and dreidels. The only reason the lawsuit centers around Christian religious icons is that the plaintiffs are all Christian. Want to bet that most if not all of Plano, Texas is Christian? This policy is not specifically anti-Christian, though it may be anti-religious. Notice, however, that it is a government organization, and should reflect the separation of church and state.

Wisconsin bans Jesus but installs Christmas witch. They ban Christmas songs….crosses but allow menorahs, kwanza symbols and labafana the new Christmas witch.


Wisconsin School Bans Jesus, Installs 'Christmas Witch'

Are you kidding me? It's "La Befana," and it's part of the Italian celebration of Epiphany. You know: the Christian holiday that commemorates the day the Three Magi arrived at Bethlehem?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Befana

And its happening everywhere.
Canada
[/B]http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2002/dec/02121305.html

Interestingly enough, a Google search on "Canadian school principal bans Christmas" brings up only an identical article on Catholic World News. In both cases, despite, the big scary headline, the article points out:

A school board superintendent in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island wrote an email memo discouraging school principals from using the word "Christmas" in referring to the holiday season.
Carola Lane sent the e-mail to principals and vice-principals, underscoring the district's "strong commitment" to diversity. "As we look at the celebration of 'Christmas Concerts,' we need to be sensitive to ensure that no one feels excluded," she wrote. "I appreciate your co-operation in ensuring that holiday festivities at schools do not discriminate against any students or their families," she said.

From your link.

See any anti-Christian bigotry yet?

No. A great big persecution complex, and a whole lot of irony -- those I see.

 

[Southern Belle]

THOSE are the crazy articles I was talking about, lol, thanks doughgirl. Hehe, as for the colors, the joke's on them cuz White is a Christmas color too, lol! And...they INVENTED a WITCH to replace Jesus AND Santa? That's so insane it's funny in a sad way... Poor them...

And Kandahar, they aren't stopping at banning the religious part, as you can tell from the articles, they're going to extreme measures to ban Christmas itself, and Santa is just one of the symbols, but if he's left out that's still leaving out Christmas. I like the one with both of them together with the slogan, now THAT's nice and fair.

The only reason why I care about the Coke santa is because it's always been there, I'm not saying Coke HAS to a Santa for their cans, merely defending it since it's there already. If they wouldn't try to ban anything and just let everyone make suggestions when they want their holliday displayed, these articles wouldn't happen. ^_^

 

[CoffeeSaint]

THOSE are the crazy articles I was talking about, lol, thanks doughgirl. Hehe, as for the colors, the joke's on them cuz White is a Christmas color too, lol! And...they INVENTED a WITCH to replace Jesus AND Santa? That's so insane it's funny in a sad way... Poor them...

And Kandahar, they aren't stopping at banning the religious part, as you can tell from the articles, they're going to extreme measures to ban Christmas itself, and Santa is just one of the symbols, but if he's left out that's still leaving out Christmas. I like the one with both of them together with the slogan, now THAT's nice and fair.

Go back and read my reply, dear. La Befana has been around for hundreds of years as part of a good Catholic Christmas celebration. As for banning Christmas, the Puritans are the ones who started that trend here in the New World.

 

[1069]

The liberal academia has never, in my experience, promoted a lot of secular or nonsecular "Christmas" stuff, anyway.
They have not, as a general rule, conspicuously or blatantly avoided it (up until now, if in fact they are doing so now), but it's always been considered inclusive, tasteful, appropriate, and polite to wish people "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas".
On the other hand: barking at, lecturing, or ignoring people who wish one a Blessed Christmas or whatever is not tasteful, appropriate, inclusive, or polite.
One ultimately controls one's own actions, not other people's.
It's likely nobody will be offended or even particularly notice, in all the holiday commotion, if you avoid religious appellations, implications, and sentiments altogether and stick with "Have a joyous holiday/ terrific season/ prosperous new year/ whatever."
Also, only a jerk would be offended if, upon being wished a "Merry Christmas", you responded with, "Thank you for your good wishes; actually, I'm a Muslim/Jew/Hindu/atheist/pagan, so I don't celebrate Christmas per se... but I certainly intend to make the most of the holidays, and I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season as well."

 

[tecoyah]

See any anti-Christian bigotry yet?

Just to Piss you off...Doughgirl:

"In fact, if truth be known, the holiday of Christmas has always been more Pagan than Christian, with it's associations of Nordic divination, Celtic fertility rites, and Roman Mithraism. That is why both Martin Luther and John Calvin abhorred it, why the Puritans refused to acknowledge it, much less celebrate it (to them, no day of the year could be more holy than the Sabbath), and why it was even made ILLEGAL in Boston! The holiday was already too closely associated with the birth of older Pagan gods and heroes. And many of them (like Oedipus, Theseus, Hercules, Perseus, Jason, Dionysus, Apollo, Mithra, Horus and even Arthur) possessed a narrative of birth, death, and resurrection that was uncomfortably close to that of Jesus. And to make matters worse, many of them pre-dated the Christian Savior.

Ultimately, of course, the holiday is rooted deeply in the cycle of the year. It is the Winter Solstice that is being celebrated, seed-time of the year, the longest night and shortest day. It is the birthday of the new Sun King, the Son of God -- by whatever name you choose to call him. On this darkest of nights, the Goddess becomes the Great Mother and once again gives birth. And it makes perfect poetic sense that on the longest night of the winter, 'the dark night of our souls', there springs the new spark of hope, the Sacred Fire, the Light of the World, the Coel Coeth.

That is why Pagans have as much right to claim this holiday as Christians. Perhaps even more so, as the Christians were rather late in laying claim to it, and tried more than once to reject it. There had been a tradition in the West that Mary bore the child Jesus on the twenty-fifth day, but no one could seem to decide on the month. Finally, in 320 C.E., the Catholic Fathers in Rome decided to make it December, in an effort to co-opt the Mithraic celebration of the Romans and the Yule celebrations of the Celts and Saxons.

There was never much pretense that the date they finally chose was historically accurate. Shepherds just don't 'tend their flocks by night' in the high pastures in the dead of winter! But if one wishes to use the New Testament as historical evidence, this reference may point to sometime in the spring as the time of Jesus's birth. This is because the lambing season occurs in the spring and that is the only time when shepherds are likely to 'watch their flocks by night' -- to make sure the lambing goes well. Knowing this, the Eastern half of the Church continued to reject December 25, preferring a 'movable date' fixed by their astrologers according to the moon.

Thus, despite its shaky start (for over three centuries, no one knew when Jesus was supposed to have been born!), December 25 finally began to catch on. By 529, it was a civic holiday, and all work or public business (except that of cooks, bakers, or any that contributed to the delight of the holiday) was prohibited by the Emperor Justinian. In 563, the Council of Braga forbade fasting on Christmas Day, and four years later the Council of Tours proclaimed the twelve days from December 25 to Epiphany as a sacred, festive season. This last point is perhaps the hardest to impress upon the modern reader, who is lucky to get a single day off work. Christmas, in the Middle Ages, was not a SINGLE day, but rather a period of TWELVE days, from December 25 to January 6. The Twelve Days of Christmas, in fact. It is certainly lamentable that the modern world has abandoned this approach, along with the popular Twelfth Night celebrations. "


And yet....you dont see a single Pagan B!tching about you celebrating baby Jeebus.

 

[Southern Belle]

Go back and read my reply, dear. La Befana has been around for hundreds of years as part of a good Catholic Christmas celebration. As for banning Christmas, the Puritans are the ones who started that trend here in the New World.

Oh sorry, I missed that... I've never heard of La Befana before, I'll have to see about that...^^