On Mon, 24 Dec 2007 10:55:19 -0800, Allen Esterson wrote: >This being Christmas Eve, may I take the opportunity to wish >all North American TIPSters a merry Christmas and a jolly >good New Year!
Although I recognize Allen's intention to spread the Spirit of Chirstmas, that of Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All, I must point out that all right-thinking Christians recognize that January 6 is Christmas Eve and January 7 is Christmas (if one is following the Julian Calendar and not the johnny-come-lately new fangled Gregorian calendar; of course, Armenians and some other groups actually celebrate January 6 as Christmas). Some may complain about observing Christ's birth in December at all since it is now accepted among religious scholars that Chirst was probably born some time in the spring (for more fun Christmas facts, see: http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/holidays/christmas.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas ) There may still be others who would claim we should NOT celebrate Christmas at all. After all, the Puritans had outlawed the observance of Christmas in both England and Massachusetts (also, as the Wiki entry points out, Chirstmas fell out of favor in the U.S. after the revolutionary was because it was seen as an English custom). But leave it to those crafty New Yorkers Washington Irving and Clement Clarke Moore (among others) to rehabilitate Christmas into the child-centered, family oriented commercial holiday we all enjoy today. So, as a teaching moment: (1) Nobody really knows when Christ was born but if we're going to celebrate it, why not do it a few days after the shortest day of the year (i.e., the Winter Solstice) (2) Don't be surprised if some folks celebrate Christmas a couple of times (i.e., both December 25 and January 7) though this is becoming rarer (hey, it's expensive covering two Christmases but at least one might be able to get a Nintendo Wii in time for Christmas #2). (3) Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All. War is over if you want it. Yours in Holiday Diversity, -Mike Palij New York University [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---
