Hey, I’ve been out for a while. Was down sick for a week, which ended up being from a parasite. The parasite had a name approximately 6000 times bigger than it was, so don’t ask. Anyway, I do feel better now. \u00a0There are some photos of all this on the pictures page under family and scroll down. now read my rant about the holidays.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We also had our fall festival and halloween stuff to do. Then I had training in Midland most of this week. So been running around.<\/p>\n
I just wanted to share my opinion on some things. Most of all Holidays such as Halloween, Christmas, Easter, etc. I find it a bit\u00a0ridiculous\u00a0and some what extreme the way some people take the holidays. Some are all out for it and some all out against them. Usually the ones against it, from what I see, will name it something different to keep from celebrating a holiday. For\u00a0instance\u00a0“Fall Festival” instead of Halloween.<\/p>\n
This I find is stupid. Most people that grow up dressing as a ghost, goblin, spider man, or a witch….do not grow up to cast spells, rule the dark side, or kill people. It does not\u00a0condemn\u00a0them to hell, or keep them from salvation. Changing the name of the holiday will not dismiss the meaning of the holiday.<\/p>\n
Lets look at some Holidays and their meaning: Sources from Wikipedia<\/p>\n
Halloween –\u00a0Halloween has its origins in the ancient\u00a0Celtic<\/a>\u00a0festival<\/a>\u00a0known as\u00a0Samhain<\/a>\u00a0(Irish pronunciation:<\/small>\u00a0[?s?aun?]<\/a><\/span>; from the\u00a0Old Irish<\/a>\u00a0samain<\/em><\/span>).[<\/span>2]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of theharvest<\/a>\u00a0season in\u00a0Gaelic<\/a>\u00a0culture, and is sometimes[<\/span>3]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0regarded as the “Celtic New Year.”[<\/span>4]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Traditionally, the\u00a0festival<\/a>\u00a0was a time used by the ancient\u00a0Celtic pagans<\/a>\u00a0to take stock of supplies and slaughter\u00a0livestock<\/a>\u00a0for winter stores. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, now known as Halloween, the boundary between the living and the deceased dissolved, and the dead become dangerous for the living by causing problems such as sickness or damaged\u00a0crops<\/a>. The festivals would frequently involve bonfires, into which the bones of slaughtered livestock were thrown. Costumes and\u00a0masks<\/a>\u00a0were also worn at the festivals in an attempt to copy the\u00a0evil spirits<\/a>\u00a0or placate them.[<\/span>5]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>6]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The term\u00a0Halloween<\/em>\u00a0is shortened from\u00a0All Hallows’ Even<\/strong>\u00a0(both “even” and “eve” are abbreviations of “evening,” but “Halloween” gets its “n” from “even”) as it is the eve of “All Hallows’ Day,”[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0which is now also known as\u00a0All Saints’ Day<\/a>. It was a day of religious festivities in various northern European Pagan traditions,[<\/span>8]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0until Popes\u00a0Gregory III<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Gregory IV<\/a>\u00a0moved the old\u00a0Christian feast<\/a>\u00a0of All Saints’ Day from May 13 (which had itself been the date of a pagan holiday, the\u00a0Feast of the Lemures<\/a>) to November 1. In the ninth century, the Church measured the day as starting at sunset, in accordance with the\u00a0Florentine calendar<\/a>. Although All Saints’ Day is now considered to occur one day after Halloween, the two holidays were, at that time, celebrated on the same day. Liturgically, the Church traditionally celebrated that day as the\u00a0Vigil<\/a>\u00a0of All Saints, and, until 1970, a day of fasting as well. Like other vigils, it was celebrated on the previous day if it fell on a Sunday, although secular celebrations of the holiday remained on the 31st. The Vigil was suppressed in 1955, but was later restored in the post-Vatican II calendar.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Christmas –\u00a0Christmas<\/strong>\u00a0(IPA<\/small>:\u00a0\/kr?sm?s\/<\/a><\/span>), also referred to as\u00a0Christmas Day<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0Christmastide<\/a><\/strong>, is an annual\u00a0holiday<\/a>\u00a0celebrated on December 25[<\/span>2]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0that marks and honors the birth of\u00a0Jesus of Nazareth<\/a>.[<\/span>3]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>4]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>5]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0His birth, which is the basis for the\u00a0Anno Domini<\/a>\u00a0system of dating, has been determined by modern historians as\u00a0having occurred<\/a>\u00a0between 7 and 2 BC. The date of celebration is not thought to be Jesus’ actual date of birth, and may have been chosen to coincide with\u00a0ancient Roman<\/a>\u00a0solar festivals that were held on December 25.[<\/span>6]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Modern customs of the holiday include\u00a0gift-giving<\/a>, church celebrations, and the display of various decorations\u2014including the\u00a0Christmas tree<\/a>,lights<\/a>,\u00a0mistletoe<\/a>,\u00a0nativity scenes<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0holly<\/a>.\u00a0Santa Claus<\/a>\u00a0(also referred to as\u00a0Father Christmas<\/a>, although the two figures have different origins) is a popular\u00a0mythological figure<\/a>\u00a0often associated with bringing gifts at Christmas. Santa is generally believed to be the result of a\u00a0syncretization<\/a>between\u00a0St. Nicholas of Myra<\/a>\u00a0and elements from\u00a0pagan Nordic<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Christian mythology<\/a>, and his modern appearance is believed to have originated in 19th century media.<\/p>\n Christmas is celebrated throughout the\u00a0Christian<\/a>\u00a0population, but is also celebrated by many non-Christians as a secular,\u00a0cultural<\/a>\u00a0festival. The holiday is widely celebrated\u00a0around the world<\/a>, including in the United States, where it is celebrated by 96% of the population.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n A\u00a0Christmas tree<\/strong>,\u00a0Yule tree<\/strong>,\u00a0holiday tree<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0Tannenbaum<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0(German<\/a>:\u00a0fir tree<\/em><\/span>) is one of the most popular\u00a0traditions<\/a>\u00a0associated with the celebration ofChristmas<\/a>. It is normally an\u00a0evergreen<\/a>\u00a0coniferous<\/a>\u00a0tree<\/a>\u00a0that is brought into a home or used in the open, and is decorated with\u00a0Christmas lights<\/a>\u00a0and colorful\u00a0ornaments<\/a>\u00a0during the days around Christmas. An\u00a0angel<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0star<\/a>\u00a0is often placed at the top of the tree, representing the host of angels or the\u00a0Star of Bethlehem<\/a>\u00a0from the\u00a0Nativity<\/a>\u00a0story.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Santa Claus<\/strong>, also known as\u00a0Saint Nicholas<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Father Christmas<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Kris Kringle<\/a><\/strong>, or simply “Santa<\/strong>“, is the figure who, in\u00a0Western cultures<\/a>, is described as bringing\u00a0gifts<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Christmas Eve<\/a>,\u00a0December 24<\/a>[<\/span>1]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0or on his\u00a0Feast Day<\/a>,\u00a0December 6<\/a>.[<\/span>2]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The legend may have its basis inhagiographical<\/a>\u00a0tales concerning the historical figure of Saint Nicholas.<\/p>\n The modern depiction of Santa Claus as a fat, jolly man (or\u00a0gnome<\/a>) wearing a red coat and trousers with white cuffs and collar, and black leather belt and boots, became popular in the\u00a0United States<\/a>\u00a0in the 19th century due to the significant influence of caricaturist and political cartoonist\u00a0Thomas Nast<\/a>.[<\/span>3]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0This image has been maintained and reinforced through\u00a0song, radio, television, and films<\/a>. In the United Kingdom and Europe, his depiction is often identical to the American Santa, but he is commonly called\u00a0Father Christmas<\/em>.<\/p>\n One legend associated with Santa says that he lives in the far north, in a land of perpetual snow. The American version of Santa Claus lives at the\u00a0North Pole<\/a>, while Father Christmas is said to reside in\u00a0Lapland<\/a>. Other details include: that he is married and lives with\u00a0Mrs. Claus<\/a>; that he makes a list of children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behavior; that he delivers presents, including\u00a0toys<\/a>,\u00a0candy<\/a>, and other presents to all of the good boys and girls in the world, and sometimes\u00a0coal<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0sticks<\/a>\u00a0to the naughty children, in one night; and that he accomplishes this feat with the aid of\u00a0magical elves<\/a>\u00a0who make the toys, and eight or nine flying\u00a0reindeer<\/a>\u00a0who pull his sleigh.[<\/span>4]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>[<\/span>5]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n There has long been opposition to teaching children to believe in Santa Claus. Some\u00a0Christians<\/a>\u00a0say the Santa tradition detracts from thereligious origins<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0purpose of Christmas<\/a>. Other critics feel that Santa Claus is an elaborate lie, and that it is unethical for parents to teach their children to believe in his existence.[<\/span>6]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Still others oppose Santa Claus as a symbol of the\u00a0commercialization of the Christmas holiday<\/a>, or as an intrusion upon their own national traditions.[<\/span>7]<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Easter –\u00a0The modern English term\u00a0Easter<\/em>\u00a0developed from the\u00a0Old English<\/a>\u00a0word\u00a0?astre<\/em>\u00a0or\u00a0?ostre<\/em>, which itself developed prior to 899. The name refers to theEostur-monath<\/em>, a month of the\u00a0Germanic calendar<\/a>\u00a0which may have been named for the\u00a0goddess<\/a>\u00a0?ostre in\u00a0Anglo-Saxon paganism<\/a>, attested by\u00a0Bede<\/a>.[<\/span>5]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>Bede describes the pagan worship of ?ostre among the\u00a0Anglo-Saxons<\/a>\u00a0as having died out before the time he was writing. In 1835,\u00a0Jacob Grimm<\/a>proposed an equivalent\u00a0Old High German<\/a>\u00a0name,\u00a0*Ostara<\/a><\/em>, in his work\u00a0Deutsche Mythologie<\/a><\/em>. An amount of scholarly theory and speculation surrounds the figure.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Easter<\/em>\u00a0(Greek<\/a>:\u00a0?????,\u00a0Pascha or Pasxa<\/em><\/span>) is the most important religious feast in the\u00a0Christian<\/a>\u00a0liturgical year<\/a>.[<\/span>1]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Christians believe that\u00a0Jesus<\/a>was\u00a0resurrected<\/a>\u00a0from the dead two days[<\/span>2]<\/span><\/a><\/sup>\u00a0after his\u00a0crucifixion<\/a>, and celebrate this resurrection on\u00a0Easter Sunday<\/strong>, two days after\u00a0Good Friday<\/a>. The year of this resurrection is variously estimated between the years 26 and 36 AD (see also\u00a0Chronology of Jesus<\/a>). Many non-sectarian cultural elements, such as the\u00a0Easter Bunny<\/a>, have become part of the holiday’s modern celebrations, and those aspects are often celebrated by many Christians and non-Christians alike.<\/p>\n Easter also refers to the\u00a0season<\/a>\u00a0of the church year called\u00a0Eastertide<\/a>\u00a0or the\u00a0Easter Season<\/a>. Traditionally the Easter Season lasted for the forty days from Easter Day until\u00a0Ascension<\/a>\u00a0Day but now officially lasts for the fifty days until\u00a0Pentecost<\/a>. The first week of the Easter Season is known as Easter Week or the\u00a0Octave of Easter<\/a>. Easter also marks the end of\u00a0Lent<\/a>, a season of prayer and penance.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n If you read this far then you can see that most of the “famous” holidays are both linked to very good Christian values and\u00a0pagan\u00a0rituals. So, this is my thought.\u00a0<\/p>\n I grew up believeing in Santa Claus….did not know that much about him and did not really care except the old guy would usually bring me something once a year….good or not. I feel it is safe to say that a child growing up believeing in santa is not permantly harmed in any way. If they grow up dressing up and something scarey or watching horor films when they are teenagers…does not harm them permanatly in anyway….(except me when I watch the original exorsist the first time…still scares me). \u00a0<\/p>\n It is all about when those children get older and they ask the questions or when you, as the parent, decided they are ready to know (while remembering they are the kids). I feel it is not as bad as some make it out to be. For goodness sake they are kids. If you have one that has an imagination, if don’t then get worried. If your child starts shooting imaginary indians, or space creatures….I am almost certain he can still be saved by the grace of God and can graduate to a PHD in due time.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Anyway….if you don’t like the holidays or try to find the evil in them…do me a favor…do it at your house with your kids and do not ruin the\u00a0occasion\u00a0for my family. I got a better thing for you to do also, so you don’t sit on your dead butt for 90% of the year. Find the evil in going out to eat or tv, or blaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hey, I’ve been out for a while. Was down sick for a week, which ended up being from a parasite. The parasite had a name approximately 6000 times bigger than it was, so don’t ask. Anyway, I do feel better now. \u00a0There are some photos of all this on the pictures page under family and scroll down. now read my rant about the holidays.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-rants"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/clarksite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/clarksite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/clarksite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clarksite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clarksite.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=662"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/clarksite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/662\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":712,"href":"https:\/\/clarksite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/662\/revisions\/712"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/clarksite.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clarksite.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clarksite.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}[edit<\/a>]<\/span>Origin of name<\/span><\/h3>\n