Sis,
Happy to see you so happy!
FD says:
Its interesting that you feel that way and rightly so, since Christmas is a Pagan holiday and since I learned that about 25+ years ago, I have chosen not to celebrate Christmas, although I have numerous childhood memories of Christmas' past.
I find more balance and joy in gift giving from the heart at all times of the year, and living in a way that pleases God.
Googled The Origins of Christmas :
http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/christmas-origin.htm
However, most of what we witness on December 25th each year has absolutely nothing to do with that blessed day, which probably occurred in late summer or early fall about 2,000 years ago. In fact, most of the customs and traditions of Christmas actually pre-date the birth of Jesus, and many of them are downright deceptive in their meaning and origin. Here are a few examples:
The date of December 25th probably originated with the ancient "birthday" of the son-god, Mithra, a pagan deity whose religious influence became widespread in the Roman Empire during the first few centuries A.D. Mithra was related to the Semitic sun-god, Shamash, and his worship spread throughout Asia to Europe where he was called Deus Sol Invictus Mithras. Rome was well-known for absorbing the pagan religions and rituals of its widespread empire. As such, Rome converted this pagan legacy to a celebration of the god, Saturn, and the rebirth of the sun god during the winter solstice period. The winter holiday became known as Saturnalia and began the week prior to December 25th. The festival was characterized by gift-giving, feasting, singing and downright debauchery, as the priests of Saturn carried wreaths of evergreen boughs in procession throughout the Roman temples.
Variations of this pagan holiday flourished throughout the first few centuries after Jesus Christ, but it probably wasn't until 336 AD that Emperor Constantine officially converted this pagan tradition into the "Christian" holiday of Christmas.
( I picked this one at random. These are historial facts, not legends.)
It's no secret now, but I did not know this when I celebrated Christmas
and I am not a Pagan so I don't celebrate it any more. Nowadays my favorite thing about Christmas is when it's over.
I believe that all the sensations that you describe smells, sights, baking cookies, music, etc., can and should be enjoyed at every opportunity, as it's God's gift to all mankind manifest in His Creation. (To each his own.)
Thats funny you should be stargazing with your puppies, as I have been doing the same thing with Carly, only in connection with house/potty training, she cannot hold it all night so I have had a real treat stargazing several times every night ...yaaawwn
Is. 40:25,26 But to whom can YOU people liken me so that I should be made his equal? says the Holy One. Raise YOUR eyes high up and see. Who has created these things? It is the One who is bringing forth the army of them even by number, all of whom he calls even by name. Due to the abundance of dynamic energy, he also being vigorous in power, not one [of them] is missing.
