Posts: 8793
From: CA
Registered: Oct 2010

posted December 24, 2013 12:53 AM            

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Thought some might find this interesting:
http://www.history.com/topics/history-of-christmas-trees

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Posts: 8793
From: CA
Registered: Oct 2010

posted December 24, 2013 01:00 AM            

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Describing the pagan origins reminded of The Christians and the Pagans by Dar Williams, a cute and amusing song, IMO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9H9Fi4Qcus

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Posts: 21731
From: Bella's Hair Salon
Registered: Jul 2011

posted December 24, 2013 09:22 AM            

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We don't celebrate Christmas, but I miss the tree. That's like the best part. Instead we burn Balsam Fir Yankee Candles and let me tell you, it isn't the same.

As for the pagan origins I think the continuity from ancient times is nice. It's a little strange to me that more Christians don't object to basically carrying on pagan rituals...but at this point in my life, I don't even care. If people want to be inconsistent, that's their choice.

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Posts: 1071
From: kamaloka
Registered: Jun 2009

posted December 24, 2013 11:32 AM            

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The ancients had access to cosmic beings, of course, albeit their experiences were communicated in a more imaginative, pictorial form than modern man's. Whether it's the Scandinavian bringing evergreen wreaths into his home to honor Baldur or Christians decorating balsam trees, we're acknowledging the same sun god and the same spiritual rhythm of the season.

I like evergreens very much but my favorite Christmas tradition is keeping lighted candles or electric lights on the windowsill. It reminds me of the ancient Indians who placed oil lamps in their windows to guide home Lord Rama and his wife, Sita, after their great battle in Sri Lanka with the demon king Ravana. That tradition remains in the Hindu celebration of Diwali, the Festival of Lights.

These memories are truly universal.

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Posts: 76058
From: From a galaxy, far, far away...
Registered: Apr 2009

posted January 12, 2014 02:04 PM            

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And stockings hung on the fireplace also.

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Posts: 6296
From: Colorado
Registered: Sep 2014

posted February 27, 2017 11:25 PM            

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