| Oct 30, 2006 @ 11:39 PM |
Can you celebrate Christian Holidays even if you are not Christian???
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ThorinTheSkald
Posts: 81
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For me, the answer is yes.....well....sorta. My sons and I attend the Easter and Christmas services at my parent's church, as I feel it's important to honor the faith you are raised in. For Pagans, our Holy Days pretty much coincide(SP) with those our Christian neighbors celebrate......we just call them by different names. Many of the customs, decorations, etc. that go along with Easter, Christmas, All Hallow's Eve, etc. come from ancient Pagan festivals that are still being celebrated.
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| Oct 30, 2006 @ 11:44 PM |
Can you celebrate Christian Holidays even if you are not Christian??? |
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SunBabe
Posts: 12,279
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Easter, Christmas, All Hallow's Eve
Thank you Pagans!!! 
(truly!  )
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| Oct 31, 2006 @ 8:41 AM |
Can you celebrate Christian Holidays even if you are not Christian???
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8Knots
Posts: 2,710
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These holidays in some countries have all but lost the connection to their origins and known wholly as Christian holidays despite attempts to bring back their original meanings.
Very sad.
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| Oct 31, 2006 @ 9:02 AM |
Can you celebrate Christian Holidays even if you are not Christian??? |
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Jankia
Posts: 11,895
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This is a good question Thorin,I'm glad you brought it up because I was going to in another thread that someone mentioned that for schools to celebrate various religious holidays, it's against the law.
All religion has not been removed from schools because school is never held on the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus.Yes, today its called winter break and Easter is called spring break but none the less they are religious holidays celebrated by all.
Remember exchanging Valentines with your classmates in school? St Valentine was a priest.Even non-Christains do that today...In school.
So,yes it can be celebrated by all and is.
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| Oct 31, 2006 @ 9:03 AM |
Can you celebrate Christian Holidays even if you are not Christian???
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Bj864
Posts: 3,958
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Sure we can. I know lots of people who take part in Christmas.
It is the season of giving and people enjoy giving gifts and the holiday spirit, even if their religion may be a different one. This is especially true of people who respect all religions, I think.
If they believe their way is the only way, they might not want to celebrate it.
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| Oct 31, 2006 @ 2:28 PM |
Can you celebrate Christian Holidays even if you are not Christian??? |
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LipGlossQueen9
Posts: 10,951
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Thorin you are right about the origin of the holidays. I don't think many people realise that the holidays were created to convert pagans to the Christian religion back during the days when the Church was struggling for power. Yule, Samhain, and Ostara are today celebrated as Christmas, Halloween, and Easter.
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| Nov 2, 2006 @ 10:21 AM |
Can you celebrate Christian Holidays even if you are not Christian???
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LisaRenee811
Posts: 123
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Why sure you can. You are with loving, non-judgemental friends and family that accept you for who you are. And the food is all good! 
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| Nov 4, 2006 @ 5:44 PM |
Can you celebrate Christian Holidays even if you are not Christian??? |
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Angel54214
Posts: 18,174
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Here is some history about "Christmas"
The traditional customs connected with Christmas have developed from several sources as a result of the coincidence of the celebration of the birth of Christ with the pagan agricultural and solar observances at mid-winter. In the Roman world, the Saturnalia, December 17 was a time of merry-making and exchange of gifts. December 25 was also regarded as the birth date of the Iranian mystery god Mithra the "Sun of Righteousness."
On the Roman New Year, January 1, houses were decorated with greenery and lights, and gifts were given to children and the poor. To these observances were added the German and Celtic rites when the Teutonic tribes penetrated into Gaul, Britain and central Europe. Food and good fellowship; the Yule log and Yule cakes, greenery and fir trees; gifts and greetings all commemorated different aspects of this festive season. Fires and lights symbols of warmth and lasting life have always been associated with the winter festival both pagan and Christian. Since the Middle Ages evergreens as symbols of survival have been associated with Christmas."
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| Mar 25, 2007 @ 2:04 AM |
Can you celebrate Christian Holidays even if you are not Christian???
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kjac
Posts: 8,163
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All the discussion of scriptures can be thrown out the window on this one. I'm not going to destroy the fairy tales of my 8 year old niece. If she wants to believe in Jesus, Peter Pan, Snoopy, and all the other children's characters, then I'll buy the presents, eat the meal, and keep my mouth shut. And the world will keep on spinning.
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| Mar 26, 2007 @ 3:59 PM |
Can you celebrate Christian Holidays even if you are not Christian??? |
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12knots
Posts: 6,400
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We dont have much choices. We have to celebrate Christian holidays whether we wish to or not!
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| Mar 26, 2007 @ 9:55 PM |
Can you celebrate Christian Holidays even if you are not Christian???
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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Well I celebrate Halloween and remember when Christians burned Witches.
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| Mar 26, 2007 @ 10:01 PM |
Can you celebrate Christian Holidays even if you are not Christian??? |
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Angel54214
Posts: 18,174
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I use to live about 2 hours from Salem Mass. I grew up in the east coast; seen it all and read it all about the witch tortures, etc. The legends the graves, the North church, the houses and even the documents written back then. I even met and knew some of the families of both sides too. It's a lot different of the true history from what some tell tales of. But it is interesting none the less.
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| Mar 26, 2007 @ 10:11 PM |
Can you celebrate Christian Holidays even if you are not Christian???
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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Angel,
someone one this site who responded to one of my blogs had an ancestor burned as a witch. That did happen. Was it all religious fervor brought on by a few little girls or was all the grain infected with ergot fungus and all were hallucinating? Seems to be some of both given the history of the Inquisitions.
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| Mar 26, 2007 @ 10:15 PM |
Can you celebrate Christian Holidays even if you are not Christian??? |
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 18,605
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Hammer, if I remember rightly, there weren't actually any witches burned in Salem, that was only done in Europe.
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| Mar 26, 2007 @ 10:29 PM |
Can you celebrate Christian Holidays even if you are not Christian???
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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They were hung in Salem. Oppss. I keep getting my inquisitions mixed up.
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| Mar 26, 2007 @ 10:46 PM |
Can you celebrate Christian Holidays even if you are not Christian??? |
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 18,605
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Just trying to keep the record straight here...and at least in Europe, I think it was less about religion than trying to acquire the old ladies' property.
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| Mar 26, 2007 @ 11:21 PM |
Can you celebrate Christian Holidays even if you are not Christian???
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Angel54214
Posts: 18,174
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Hammer, they never did know the cause of the illness in Salem. Due to it being in the late 1600's, when witches were highly being put to death in England, many of the Puritans in Massachusetts came and settled in America on the New England coastlines.
To answer your question of the egot fungus, which it is actually called Claviceps (spelling?). And known as St. Anthony's Fire, that I will never forget! It caused such burning in the arms and various other parts of the body, even the face. Rye bread was a daily part of a meal and was eaten in abundance after harvest. Theses seeds were originally brought from England and then planted in the Salem Village (border of Salem Town). The thing is with this type of seed and grass, it needs dry climate! East coast is high humidity.
I remember when we had Rye bread at home, my mom always took great care as to where it was grown. I never would it eat though!
As far as the witch burning in Salem, there was none. The few that were put to death of the accused, were hanged. One man named Corey I remember, he was crushed with rocks. He was an old guy too! Many of them died waiting for trial in prison, many of them were sick.
The Salem villagers mostly the women, made an ointment to sooth on the skin of the family members when they got the illness. They made special herbs and so forth the combat naturally infections, sicknesses, etc. They were accused of witchcraft on these home made remedies.
This whol witch trial and witch hunt escalated due to the high church envolvement of the Salem Towns puritians. That's where it all started due to them believing in the devil as an actual physical person belief back then. The governor then wouldn't step in and investigate all this further until a new governor came into replace him, (I forget their names at the moment).
Well, anyways, this only happened in Salem, the St. Anthony's Fire did not spread to other surrounding towns.
Hope I answered some of your questions Hammer...  Hehee
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| Mar 26, 2007 @ 11:47 PM |
Can you celebrate Christian Holidays even if you are not Christian??? |
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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The Salem villagers mostly the women, made an ointment to sooth on the skin of the family members when they got the illness. They made special herbs and so forth the combat naturally infections, sicknesses, etc. They were accused of witchcraft on these home made remedies. This is similar to witches in europe being burned. When someone got sick they figured it was some old lady castings spells and because she knew herbs and healing.
That was an excellent post. The puritans believed women, who were sensual, were more likely to be seduced by the devil. Oh really, as if that was a bad thing. Why is sexuality so much of a big problem? Did you ever read about St Augustine? What a conflicted fellow. Why couldn't he just have fun.
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| Mar 26, 2007 @ 11:54 PM |
Can you celebrate Christian Holidays even if you are not Christian???
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 18,605
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St. Augustine...yep,..one of my favorite quotes: Lord, please give me the grace to be celibate, but please, not yet!
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| Mar 26, 2007 @ 11:55 PM |
Can you celebrate Christian Holidays even if you are not Christian??? |
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Angel54214
Posts: 18,174
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Lol hammer! Also back then children were to be QUIET too.
Wish I could show some of the old puritan household items I have from back there. I bought a hand made broom from a 93 old man that I talked with while he made it for me.
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