> -----Original Message----- > From: Sam [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, May 06, 2005 6:03 PM > To: CF-Community > Subject: Re: been a while since we talked politics > > Well the 25th might have been a pagan holiday but Santa came from > Saint Nicholas of Myra, a 4th century bishop. > His day was December 6th but he's now celebrated on the 25th. Still > very Christian. > > You could associate him with the Nordic God Odin, but then I wouldn't > celebrate him either :)
Of course you can't forget to add the legend of Kris Kringle which was, for the most part, secular. It's unclear which influences the modern tradition more St. Nick or Kringle. You can also throw in the "King of Revels" and "Father Christmas" and several versions of Scandinavian "santas" going back to the time of the Vikings. None of were particularly solemn or religious. More often than the whole thing was just an excuse to party with hard drink and lots of food. We still see a small shadow of that in the "Milk and Cookies" tradition, but originally it was porridge and beer. ;^) As for St Nicholas it was tradition to give presents on his day - December 4th or 6th if I remember correctly. It took a long time for him (and presents!) to be associated with Christmas. As for the festival itself (normally a festival of the Winter Solstice) and presents that dates back well into Roman times. The festival was often associated with Bacchus or Pan (or other "party gods"). Personally we celebrate Christmas but none of the religious traditions. We're purely secular on that score. ;^) Jim Davis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:156688 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
