Allow me to introduce the day's controversy.....

My DH and I are not religious. I'm a lapsed Catholic and he is nothing... yes, nothing- never baptized or indoctrinated into a religion. We celebrate presents and decorations. We call our religion 'Holiday'...

I am sorry for Christians that are upset that their holiday is being ruined- but that is what America is about- tolerance and understanding. You want to celebrate otherwise- fine with us. Just don't shove it down our throats. The constitution was created to protect the minority from the majority- not the other way around.

Edited to say- why does anyone care who thinks about God on December 25th- religion is a personal thing. No one should think they are better than anyone else because they are more religious (um, isnt' that a sin anyway?)

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Posted by Xelindrya

What I don’t get are the Jews (pardon me.. I know I’ll get flamed for this) but.. for Xmas people get nuts if the tree is left up more than a week or so after xmas. Take it down.. blah blah.. but the Menorah and the celebration of lights (which correct me if Im wrong) is about a prayer for oil to last which ended up lasting 8 days and the celebration of this miracle. This holiday doesn’t really have a calendar date like Dec 25, but it’s more of a moving target. However, once the lights are lit, they stay there. NO ONE takes them down, which oddly enough goes in the face of the miracle doesn’t it?

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I know if I were Jewish I would keep my menorah up as long as possible...to bring awareness of the holiday...

if you are going to play by those rules the tree should only go up on the 24th...and down the 25th (but I personally would give you until 1/6 - the 12th day - right?)

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Posted by tammyjill

many sit around the tree and open gifts all day but probably do not even think of God, not all but some do I am sure

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this was my family growing up and I have NO problem with it

Whose to say that the Christian meaning is the 'real meaning'? I think that is the problem. Believing that one way is the right way and everyone else is wrong. It leaves no room for people who dont believe in Christ. Should athethists hide in a cave for the month of December?

Anyway - agree to disagree

I guess no one liked those songs... how about:

Dominic the Donkey - eehaw eehaw eehaw....

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Posted by endlessluv429

god bless you tammy for clearing that up--words were just not coming out properly

thanks for the songs stef

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ALISON- I know what you meant and that you didnt mean anything bad to anyone!

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Posted by yabbobay
if you are going to play by those rules the tree should only go up on the 24th...and down the 25th (but I personally would give you until 1/6 - the 12th day - right?)

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Actually my tree does.

It's a one day thing.

If I leave it up it's cause I forget it..but as stated above.. it's NOT a religious item for me. I find the Holiday Season of Giving to have NOTHING to do with the birth of Christ.

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Posted by yabbobay

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Posted by tammyjill

many sit around the tree and open gifts all day but probably do not even think of God, not all but some do I am sure

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this was my family growing up and I have NO problem with it

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Mine as well Yabbobay....and I have no problem with it either for the exact reasons that Stef posted in her post below

Posted by SonicStef:

'Whose to say that the Christian meaning is the 'real meaning'? I think that is the problem. Believing that one way is the right way and everyone else is wrong. It leaves no room for people who dont believe in Christ. Should athethists hide in a cave for the month of December?'

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its widly accepted that Jesus Christ was born in the spring - but that would have been too close to Easter so it didnt fit the schedule!!!)

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To me Christmas, Xmas, whatever you want to call it, is about family, spending time with loved ones, and holiday cheer. It never was or will be about jesus being born. If people want to celebrate his birth go for, I could care less, but if someone wanted to stop you, it would be a war. Why is it okay for Religous zealots, to make me stop celebrating the way I want.

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Posted by yabbobay


if you are going to play by those rules the tree should only go up on the 24th...and down the 25th (but I personally would give you until 1/6 - the 12th day - right?)

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Ohhhhhhhhhhh you are so right on that one!! I remember in my family, we used to get a real tree and put it up only a few days before Christmas and it would come down right after New Year's day.

Our tree is up so early this year...and I think I know why that is. We have been bombarded by Christmas commercials and what not since Halloween and I think that I thought I was late with doing all my 'Christmas' stuff!! I think that we are rushing the seasons too fast. Christmas commercials and decorations should not be out until AFTER thanksgiving.
Does anyone else feel that Thanksgiving took a back seat this year and that Christmas pushed it right out of the way??

Stef...I actually really like Feliz Navidad (I was just too caught up) and now DH taught me the words (not like there are many - I can sing along!!)

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What I don’t get are the Jews (pardon me.. I know I’ll get flamed for this) but.. for Xmas people get nuts if the tree is left up more than a week or so after xmas. Take it down.. blah blah.. but the Menorah and the celebration of lights (which correct me if Im wrong) is about a prayer for oil to last which ended up lasting 8 days and the celebration of this miracle. This holiday doesn’t really have a calendar date like Dec 25, but it’s more of a moving target. However, once the lights are lit, they stay there. NO ONE takes them down, which oddly enough goes in the face of the miracle doesn’t it?

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Ok. I'm not flaming, but allow me to punch some holes here.

Who exactly gets nuts when a tree is left up after Christmas? I don't, no one I know does...no matter how 'jewish' they are.

You are correct about the reasoning behing Chanukah, however, the date is a 'moving target' because the Jewish calander is based upon the earth you live on. Every holiday on the jewish calender is a different date every year, because they are not celebrated based upon the date they happened, rather the earth, the sun, the moon, and time. It is based upon seasons, sundown and sun up. Not dates. It is actually one of, if not the most acurate calenders in the world, counting from the very beginning of time and not stopping.

The menorah is left up for 8 days, and then some because maybe whomever has it up feels like it, just like a Christmas tree. Personally, my menorah goes up a few days before and comes down sometime after the end of the holiday. Usually when I remember to take it down. Each light is lit and a prayer is said each evening at sundown to portray and reflect what the Macabees went through and the miracle that the oil lasted for 8 straight days. It's a pretty accurate and necessary representation don't you agree? I'm not quite understanding what is going 'in the face of the miracle' here? We aren't trying to recreate a miracle, just trying to pay homage.

Has anyone seen the move Love, Actually? I think that is such a perfect holiday movie no matter how you celebrate (except for festivus ) Really sweet. I especially liked the very beginning where they say if you are feeling low just go to the arrival gate at an airport and you will feel the love all around us.

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Posted by Misty

Ok. I'm not flaming, but allow me to punch some holes here.

Who exactly gets nuts when a tree is left up after Christmas? I don't, no one I know does...no matter how 'jewish' they are.

The menorah is left up for 8 days, and then some because maybe whomever has it up feels like it, just like a Christmas tree. Personally, my menorah goes up a few days before and comes down sometime after the end of the holiday. Usually when I remember to take it down. Each light is lit and a prayer is said each evening at sundown to portray and reflect what the Macabees went through and the miracle that the oil lasted for 8 straight days. It's a pretty accurate and necessary representation don't you agree? I'm not quite understanding what is going 'in the face of the miracle' here? We aren't trying to recreate a miracle, just trying to pay homage.

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Who gets nuts.. not the Jews, didn't mean to imply that I meant Joe Public.

Poke holes all you'd like. I find it an intellecutal stimulant.

'In the face'
Let see if I can clearly explain.

I come from a family with lots of ceremony, traditions, rites, rituals and sacred holidays that must (to us) be honored. A lot of them include dates (not in a calendar but in a sense of time). The Mourning for example depending on who it is can last the 3 days or the full year. For mine it was the full year. Where it was only 3 days, it is traditional to put it behind you. Appropriate time has been spent in true earnest reflection. To extend the symbolism on such a thing would be to mar or diminish it’s importance. It would in our family become an everyday common event. We take our stuff seriously, I guess. To each celebration is given it’s own time.

If I were Jewish, which again I’m not so I fully understand that I understand nothing. Hehe. But if I were, and if I understood the miracle and celebration correctly I’d honor my ancestors by removing the Menorah when it’s celebration was complete. Much like they, there should be no more light from those sacred pillars. I guess it is one of those… “It is today as it was then” idealistic points of view I have. Hence it’s in the face, for me in my interpretation to be left up longer. But I wouldn’t know.

That’s a terribly awkward way of trying to explain it, but I hope it makes sense.

also people with alzheimers's, and now memory imparied.

I can't believe it is no longer called indian style.

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Posted by Lisa Rose

Our tree is up so early this year...and I think I know why that is. We have been bombarded by Christmas commercials and what not since Halloween and I think that I thought I was late with doing all my 'Christmas' stuff!! I think that we are rushing the seasons too fast. Christmas commercials and decorations should not be out until AFTER thanksgiving.
Does anyone else feel that Thanksgiving took a back seat this year and that Christmas pushed it right out of the way??

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I feel like we are being rushed into Christmas (the gift giving, celebrating family friends and love holiday) this year.

As for what or how people celebrate, that's a personal choice and I feel I am respectful of other people's beliefs. I would like for people to be respectful of mine.

It annoys me to see a Season's Greetings banner hung over the Menorah and Happy Chanakah banner in my mother's building. If one faith is represented I think all should be represented.

I used to carol as a child!

Jenny: NOW that is my type of family! Can I come!?

Let's sing Stef....All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth....or my personal favorite 'Please Daddy don't get drunk this Christmas' by John Denver. Really loved that song as a child and I don't know why!!!

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Posted by stacedz
....or my personal favorite 'Please Daddy don't get drunk this Christmas' by John Denver. Really loved that song as a child and I don't know why!!!

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There is a song like that???

Oh My!

Just curious then.....this whole song is about Jesus being born on a day he wasn't born on???

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born upon this day,
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray.

O tidings of comfort and joy,
For Jesus Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas day.

In Bethlehem in Jury
This blessed babe was born,
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn;
The which his mother Mary
Nothing did take in scorn.

O tidings of comfort and joy,
For Jesus Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas day.

From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came,
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same,
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name.

O tidings of comfort and joy,
Jesus Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas day.

Fear not, then said the Angel,
Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Saviour
Of virtue, power and might;
So frequently to vanquish all
The friends of Satan quite.

O tidings of comfort and joy,
Jesus Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas day.

The Shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a feeding
In tempest, storm and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway,
This blessed babe to find.

O tidings of comfort and joy,
Jesus Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas day.

But when to Bethlehem they came,
Whereas this infant lay,
They found him in a manger
Where oxen feed on hay,
His mother Mary kneeling
Unto the Lord did pray.

O tidings of comfort and joy,
Jesus Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas day.

Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All others doth deface.

O tidings of comfort and joy,
Jesus Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas day.

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Posted by WhatNow?

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Posted by stacedz
....or my personal favorite 'Please Daddy don't get drunk this Christmas' by John Denver. Really loved that song as a child and I don't know why!!!

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There is a song like that???

Oh My!

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Yes, and my Dad wasn't a DRUNK by any means!!!!

Does anyone else know that song or is it just me???