Thank you for pointing out the fact that the celebration of Christ's Mass, or feast day, isn't his actual birthday. It is though, to celebrate his coming into the world as the Light of the World, so, it makes sense to celebrate it around the other celebrations of light. And it also makes sense to celebrate his arrival as his birth. So wh…
Thank you for pointing out the fact that the celebration of Christ's Mass, or feast day, isn't his actual birthday. It is though, to celebrate his coming into the world as the Light of the World, so, it makes sense to celebrate it around the other celebrations of light. And it also makes sense to celebrate his arrival as his birth. So while we are celebrating his coming, or birth, his actual birthday is irrelevant. People who think the feast and his birthday are one and the same are only making the mistake of applying our traditions of a birthday celebration with a feast day celebration. The mistake makes sense. But I wouldn't call it a hijacking.
Anthony, my thinking followed similar lines as yesterday was the Winter Solstice, the darkest day of the year; it seems appropriate that the coming of Jesus, as the Light of the world would come when we need light most...in the depth of winter.
Agree! The first church (Catholic/Orthodox) church chose it for that reasin, also replacing the pagan holiday. Then other historical feast day commemoration rememberances followed on the calendar falling in line with that date. In many countries Christmas was and still is a lesser feast to the Resurrection/Pascha/Easter.
Thank you for pointing out the fact that the celebration of Christ's Mass, or feast day, isn't his actual birthday. It is though, to celebrate his coming into the world as the Light of the World, so, it makes sense to celebrate it around the other celebrations of light. And it also makes sense to celebrate his arrival as his birth. So while we are celebrating his coming, or birth, his actual birthday is irrelevant. People who think the feast and his birthday are one and the same are only making the mistake of applying our traditions of a birthday celebration with a feast day celebration. The mistake makes sense. But I wouldn't call it a hijacking.
Anthony, my thinking followed similar lines as yesterday was the Winter Solstice, the darkest day of the year; it seems appropriate that the coming of Jesus, as the Light of the world would come when we need light most...in the depth of winter.
Agree! The first church (Catholic/Orthodox) church chose it for that reasin, also replacing the pagan holiday. Then other historical feast day commemoration rememberances followed on the calendar falling in line with that date. In many countries Christmas was and still is a lesser feast to the Resurrection/Pascha/Easter.
Hijackingvwas meant for making a church calendar holy day into a secular and debauched unholyday that has nothing to do with Christ.
I agree with that part Angela. I was responding to Phillips assertion that a hijacking took place 900 years ago.