Celebrate

i have mixed feelings about this..i think its great that people want to celebrate Jesus birth..its a great time to tell others about him,,and i love to hear all the music about him around Christmas time…but i also realise that its also about other things..commercial and well santa claus who is a lie? i have told my children the truth about him..and i love the lights , music and giving part..but i am worried that God will be angry at me if its some kind of idol worshipping or something…please only Christians reply..

There are two of us answering, here. She says that it doesn’t matter one bit. Jesus is nowhere near petty enough to care, just so long as we keep him right next to us. He cares far more that we "pray unceasingly". Jesus wants us to come to him with our joys and sorrows, our needs and our gratitudes. I think that it fits to remember Jesus’ birth at the time that we commemorate our own, every year, because isn’t that when his relationship with you, personally, began? I wholeheartedly agree with her answer.

I’m American, so I’ve sometimes wondered what it must be like to have Christmas during the summer instead of the winter. In the US and many other countries in the Northern Hemisphere, the ideal Christmas is a "White Christmas", as the song goes. Do people in the Southern Hemisphere often celebrate Christmas by swimming or engaging in some other outdoor activity? Do people in Australia or New Zealand ever sing "White Christmas"?

I am now living in Italy, but was born and raised in Australia, so I can tell you from my experience there is a big difference, apart from the obvious that it doesn’t snow. Xmas is much more commericalised in Aust, than in Europe, although as you’re American cosumerism must be even more evident. There is defintely a more Christmassy feel here than in a hot climate. More emphasis is on food, and you can definitely handle eating all the excess food when you’re wearing heavy coats, and layers of clothing. In Australia we would usually still have the usual turkey with all the trimmings, but we defintely don’t eat as much as in hot weather your body doesn’t want it! Remember that when you are wearing layers of clothes it doesn’t matter if you put on a bit of weight, you can hide it, but when you have to put on your bikini and head to the beach its another matter. Italians don’t just have Christmas and St. Stephen’s Day (Boxing day in Australia) they also have the Feast of the Epiphany on the 6th of Jan (another public holiday) which is also an important day, so Xmas goes from the 25th dec until 6 Jan, so it is just as the song goes, the 12 days of Xmas. In Australia Xmas sales start on the 26th Dec, so really its Xmas for just that 1 day and then its all about post- Xmas sales and getting ready for New years eve. I feel there its all about consumerism. People stress way too much about the hundreds of presents they have to buy for everyone, and get themselves into debt. It can be simpler and more meaningful than that if they wanted it to be.

I’m American, so I’ve sometimes wondered what it must be like to have Christmas during the summer instead of the winter. In the US and many other countries in the Northern Hemisphere, the ideal Christmas is a "White Christmas", as the song goes. Do people in the Southern Hemisphere often celebrate Christmas by swimming or engaging in some other outdoor activity? Do people in Australia or New Zealand ever sing "White Christmas"?

I am now living in Italy, but was born and raised in Australia, so I can tell you from my experience there is a big difference, apart from the obvious that it doesn’t snow. Xmas is much more commericalised in Aust, than in Europe, although as you’re American cosumerism must be even more evident. There is defintely a more Christmassy feel here than in a hot climate. More emphasis is on food, and you can definitely handle eating all the excess food when you’re wearing heavy coats, and layers of clothing. In Australia we would usually still have the usual turkey with all the trimmings, but we defintely don’t eat as much as in hot weather your body doesn’t want it! Remember that when you are wearing layers of clothes it doesn’t matter if you put on a bit of weight, you can hide it, but when you have to put on your bikini and head to the beach its another matter. Italians don’t just have Christmas and St. Stephen’s Day (Boxing day in Australia) they also have the Feast of the Epiphany on the 6th of Jan (another public holiday) which is also an important day, so Xmas goes from the 25th dec until 6 Jan, so it is just as the song goes, the 12 days of Xmas. In Australia Xmas sales start on the 26th Dec, so really its Xmas for just that 1 day and then its all about post- Xmas sales and getting ready for New years eve. I feel there its all about consumerism. People stress way too much about the hundreds of presents they have to buy for everyone, and get themselves into debt. It can be simpler and more meaningful than that if they wanted it to be.

Out of all the holidays (both federal and non federal), which one is your favorite holiday to celebrate and why?

Federal holidays are holidays such as Easter, Independence Day Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Non-federal holidays are like Valentine Day and Halloween

When I was a kid, it was Christmas of course. then it was Christmas and Halloween, then just Halloween, then it became any holiday that was a paid day off. Just lately, with my unemployment woes,(I’m actually employed now again, well at least till February) I’ve learned to accept every day as the same. Not like everyday is a holiday, more like holidays are now irrelevant.
EDIT:
Sweetest day makes me want to puke

Out of all the holidays (both federal and non federal), which one is your favorite holiday to celebrate and why?

Federal holidays are holidays such as Easter, Independence Day Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Non-federal holidays are like Valentine Day and Halloween

When I was a kid, it was Christmas of course. then it was Christmas and Halloween, then just Halloween, then it became any holiday that was a paid day off. Just lately, with my unemployment woes,(I’m actually employed now again, well at least till February) I’ve learned to accept every day as the same. Not like everyday is a holiday, more like holidays are now irrelevant.
EDIT:
Sweetest day makes me want to puke

how do they celebrate easter, any traditions that they have?

Since like 99.9% of Italy is Roman Catholic they go to mass(church) Easter Morning. Plus they start on Palm Sunday which is actually a week before easter, or wait, I think it started Ash Wednesday they’re supposed to fast for 40 days before Easter, but most just give up something they like to eat alot, like say veal or pasta or wine etc. Anyways on Easter Sunday there is a big meal served with red wine, and most gather with family and the women all wear black, as a sign of mourning for the death of Jesus. Not really a celebration though.

how do they celebrate easter, any traditions that they have?

Since like 99.9% of Italy is Roman Catholic they go to mass(church) Easter Morning. Plus they start on Palm Sunday which is actually a week before easter, or wait, I think it started Ash Wednesday they’re supposed to fast for 40 days before Easter, but most just give up something they like to eat alot, like say veal or pasta or wine etc. Anyways on Easter Sunday there is a big meal served with red wine, and most gather with family and the women all wear black, as a sign of mourning for the death of Jesus. Not really a celebration though.

are there any events in modern day that show how america is still independent?

There are celebrations every year all over the country.

but to those who Celebrate Chrismas….
Have a Merry Christmas….

Same to you and all ! …Better late than never…Happy new year too.

If there are family members of 2 different religions in the same house how do you celebrate holidays?

Mutual respect for both. You don´t mention what the religions are. Let´s say, for the sake of argument that its Christian and Judaism and we are talking about December.

Put up a Christmas tree, light a menorah, put some dradles out (sp?). Exchange gifts on the appropriate days for the appropriate people. Give the Jews their presents during Hanukkah and the Christians theirs for Christmas. Read from the appropriate Scriptures on the appropriate days. Go to the appropriate church/synagogue on the appropriate days. Have the appropriate meals on the appropriate days.

Or better yet, integrate the two. If your family is more open minded, engage all family members in the activities of both faiths and don´t keep them separate. Give the Jews a taste of Christmas and the Christians a taste of Judaism. It´s a great way to learn about a faith outside of your own and to understand your family members better.