I started really not liking Christmas some time ago. I really do enjoy getting people stuff, only not the stuff that TV and internet are talking about. Thanks, I have imagination. I can think of things. The problem with Christmas is Dec. 25th (which by the way had two previous holidays on that day; more below) the due date. I'm not super good at "being good" on deadlines. I must make my mother happy on a specific day. I must give something to my sister by this day or else. Or else what? Exactly. Us Eastern Europeans (non-catholics) celebrate the New Year, during which gifts are distributed. Well, my mother and sister already put a bunch of gifts under our REAL TREE (about 5f tall) that smells like forest. This puts me in a pickle (somewhat under pressure) to get them something. I enjoy giving gifts at a time i am ready (and other aren't = surprised), not on Christmas. Perhaps i should start looking for gifts throughout the year with Christmas back thought. I'll try to remember considering it next year if i don't forget.
"The eventual choice of December 25, made perhaps as early as 273, reflects a convergence of Origen's concern about pagan gods and the church's identification of God's son with the celestial sun. December 25 already hosted two other related festivals: natalis solis invicti (the Roman "birth of the unconquered sun"), and the birthday of Mithras, the Iranian "Sun of Righteousness" whose worship was popular with Roman soldiers. The winter solstice, another celebration of the sun, fell just a few days earlier. Seeing that pagans were already exalting deities with some parallels to the true deity, church leaders decided to commandeer the date and introduce a new festival."
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/news/2000/dec08.html
Also, December 25 was the birthdate of Mithra, a Pagan God worshipped in the religion of Mithraism.
This is just some of beef if have with Christmas, shopping, gift giving, etc. Hopefully more to follow.
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