Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
A creche. The rest of what you describe is secular nonsense and is not Christmas at all.


What a silly thing to say when the whole point of this thread is that everybody's idea of Christmas is subjective. If your family ate Chinese every year on Christmas Eve but at no other time, you might associate Chinese food with Christmas even if it's not "Christmas" to most people.

The word Christmas originated as a compound meaning "Christ's Mass." Reindeer, bells and all of the other nonsense have nothing to do with Christmas. The statement isn't silly at all.

Christmas was originally a pagan holiday. The early Christians, being the consummate hucksters that they were, jumped on board, and used it to sell their product to the masses. Now they're upset that all the other cheap salesmen are doing the same. "This is my corner! Find your own!"

Whatever.

Anonymous wrote:A creche. The rest of what you describe is secular nonsense and is not Christmas at all.

Dang shoes, secular nonsense! And that sweater, more secular nonsense! If it's not a hair shirt and a self-flogger, keep it away from me!

A creche. The rest of what you describe is secular nonsense and is not Christmas at all.

Thanks for your wonderful holiday sentiment! You must be lots of fun to celebrate with. What a great way of showing how loving Christians are supposed to be!!

OP here -

This thread stems from another thread in which the OP who didnt celebrate Christmas didnt want to dress her child in red/green bc they were Chrsitmas colors and other posters said red/green had nothing to do with Christmas, which I found ridiculous bc if I saw someone in red/green in July, i would think "Wow, a little early for Christmas!"

So I was looking for secular things which are objectively Christmas, even though they have nothing to do with the actual holiday - religiously or otherwise.

PP again --

Oh, and the singing of Handel's "Messiah"; the Nutcracker ballet, pointsettias, candy canes, and flickering colored lights on a string are all more or less associated with Christmas, although stings of lights are certainly seen at other times.

It would be weird for someone to schedule a "singalong" of the Messiah in, say, August; or for the Nutcracker ballet to be performed in March.

The holiday known as "Christmas" in the US is commonly associated with many secular symbols -- among them Santa, reindeer, wrapped presents under a tree with ornaments, the colors green and red, silver bells, mistletoe, certain types of cookies, stockings, wreaths, garlands of popcorn and cranberries, etc.

It is also associated with many religious symbols and retelling of Bible stories -- the angel Gabriel visiting Mary, Mary riding a donkey to Bethlehem, "No room at the inn", the Posadas, nativity scene, baby Jesus in a manger, Midnight Mass (these are from my Catholic religion -- I'm sure other denominations have different traditions)

Anonymous wrote:I am not asking if they are religious symbols, or if christmas is religious, only if there are certain normal everyday things that are and automatically evoke thoughts of Christmas.

For me:
red/green combo
reindeer
ornaments
jingle bells
egg nog

Can you honestly think of these things and not think Christmas? Any others?

Are you declaring War on Christmas?

Anonymous wrote:
A creche. The rest of what you describe is secular nonsense and is not Christmas at all.


What a silly thing to say when the whole point of this thread is that everybody's idea of Christmas is subjective. If your family ate Chinese every year on Christmas Eve but at no other time, you might associate Chinese food with Christmas even if it's not "Christmas" to most people.

The word Christmas originated as a compound meaning "Christ's Mass." Reindeer, bells and all of the other nonsense have nothing to do with Christmas. The statement isn't silly at all.

Anonymous wrote:A creche. The rest of what you describe is secular nonsense and is not Christmas at all.

What a silly thing to say when the whole point of this thread is that everybody's idea of Christmas is subjective. If your family ate Chinese every year on Christmas Eve but at no other time, you might associate Chinese food with Christmas even if it's not "Christmas" to most people.

A creche. The rest of what you describe is secular nonsense and is not Christmas at all.

Anonymous wrote:OP, what you've listed are not necessarily "normal everyday things." What OTHER time of year does one even think about reindeer, ornaments, jingle bells, or egg nog? I know I don't. For me, it's the scent of pine, holly, gingerbread, certain kinds of candles... I could go on and on.

IA with candles. Those red apple/cinnamon or any combination along those lines is Christmas to me. In summer I burn clean, fruity, fresh candles. In winter, only pine, cinnamon, earthy fragrances.

My husband is thinking about egg nog all year long, till it finally reappears in November.

OP, what you've listed are not necessarily "normal everyday things." What OTHER time of year does one even think about reindeer, ornaments, jingle bells, or egg nog? I know I don't. For me, it's the scent of pine, holly, gingerbread, certain kinds of candles... I could go on and on.

The red cups at Starbucks

I am not asking if they are religious symbols, or if christmas is religious, only if there are certain normal everyday things that are and automatically evoke thoughts of Christmas.

For me:
red/green combo
reindeer
ornaments
jingle bells
egg nog

Can you honestly think of these things and not think Christmas? Any others?