Letter: Celebrate reason for holidays?

I am tired of all the hype of the “war on Christmas.”

With all due respect to Jasmine Doctorian Workman (in her letter Dec. 6), what we now call “Christmas” was once a pagan winter solstice festival co-opted by the Catholic Church to get all those pagans into church.

The Christmas tree, wreath and lights? All of pagan origin! Evergreens and lights battled back against the darkness of the shortest day of the year — the winter solstice. Jesus was likely born in August. Even in Bethlehem, shepherds are not out watching their flocks in December.

Given the pagan origin of what we now call Christmas, I’m very happy when the clerk at the store wishes me, “Happy Holidays!”

Maybe she is referring to Kwanzaa or the Jewish Festival of Lights (Hanukkah). Nobody has a monopoly on pagan winter solstice festivals.

Pat Johnson

homemaker

Baton Rouge

Comments

1) Comment by Tea_Slayer - 12/12/2012

@Whatnow: So????

2) Comment by Whatnow - 12/12/2012

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/11/american-atheists-christmas-billboard-times-square_n_2273314.html

3) Comment by nimby? - 11/12/2012

we're lucky this year , with Christmas and New Years falling on a Tuesday , Happy Taco Days , Nachos Navidad .

4) Comment by Bighug - 11/12/2012

Great letter, Ms Johnson. About the war on Christmas, has anyone ever attempted to prevent people from celebrating the holiday at home or at their church? Although I have no belief in any religion, I celebrate the Christmas season for the good will it instills in people, if only for a short time. Any well-meaning wish addressed to you should be taken politely. Jesus would have wanted it that way, and I'm sure Miss Manners would also approve.

5) Comment by DMJ - 11/12/2012

This is dumb. Christmas is a holiday is it not? Wouldn't the phrase Happy Holidays include Christmas?? What kind of a moron would get offended by that?

6) Comment by Tea_Slayer - 11/12/2012

jdk, at what point in Ms Johnson's letter dis she contradict your post? Most historians agree that Saturnalia is a celebration of the Winter Solstice. As far as protesting too much, Ms Workman was offended that anyone would wish her "Happy Holidays". her letter is a textbook example of protestation. Ms Johnson is just responding to Ms Workman's histrionics. Happy Holidays!!!

7) Comment by dday198 - 11/12/2012

here we go again with this horse **it meaningless debate

8) Comment by jdk944 - 11/12/2012

Mrs. Johnson: Roman pagans first introduced the holiday of Saturnalia, a week long period of lawlessness celebrated between December 17-25. In the 4th century CE, Christianity imported the Saturnalia festival hoping to take the pagan masses in with it. Christian leaders succeeded in converting to Christianity large numbers of pagans by promising them that they could continue to celebrate the Saturnalia as Christians. Your account of it's history is NOT totally accurate. Mrs. Workman's comments are still valid and her sharing of how she sees and recognizes Christmas is just as valid as YOURS!! Again, I think you and others on this subject protest to much!!!!!!!!!!!!

9) Comment by Being_Stupid - 11/12/2012

Happy Christmas and Merry Hanukkah.

10) Comment by DMJ - 11/12/2012

You roll the tube!!! Roll it!!!!

11) Comment by SacredCow - 11/12/2012

Happy Whateverdoesntoffendyou! Seriously, this is the dumbest fight since where to squeeze the tube of toothpaste.

12) Comment by DMJ - 11/12/2012

You forgot about Festivus!! Great letter, Pat.