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Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays

RandFan said:
:)

Secular Jews, AIU, are more likely to follow religious prescriptions (keep Kosher as well as others). ... I have two close friends who are atheist and strictly observe the prescriptiosn of Passover and other religious holy days but they don't strictly keep Kosher during the non-Holy days.
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Close, but not quite.

As a secular Jew myself, I have found that those (secular Jews) who keep kosher do so for reasons other than religious prescription. For many, despite not accepting the religion, the culture and identity are still very important, so keeping kosher is part of that. This is also why my family always celebrated Hannukah during the season.

Also what food you are raised on affects your preferences for your entire life. My grandfather never mixed milk with meat, not because he was religious, but because he never did so as a child and as a result doing so as an adult upset his stomach. For similar reasons, I do not eat ham or most pork cuts, but have no problem with bacon or shellfish.

Oh, and if somebody wishes me a Merry Christmas, I thank them for thinking of me during the season, but I will usually choose to wish somebody a Happy Holidays instead.
 
cwalner said:
Close, but not quite.

As a secular Jew myself, I have found that those (secular Jews) who keep kosher do so for reasons other than religious prescription. For many, despite not accepting the religion, the culture and identity are still very important, so keeping kosher is part of that. This is also why my family always celebrated Hannukah during the season.

Also what food you are raised on affects your preferences for your entire life. My grandfather never mixed milk with meat, not because he was religious, but because he never did so as a child and as a result doing so as an adult upset his stomach. For similar reasons, I do not eat ham or most pork cuts, but have no problem with bacon or shellfish.

Oh, and if somebody wishes me a Merry Christmas, I thank them for thinking of me during the season, but I will usually choose to wish somebody a Happy Holidays instead.
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Thank you.

When I was on my mission we had a missionary from India. Someone asked her at a BBQ (they were serving beef ribs) why she wouldn't eat beef if she wasn't Hindu. Her reply, "There are cultures that eat dog meat, would you eat dog meat?" "How about horse meat?"
 
This thread got me thinking of some cute personal Christmas/Hannukah stories.

When I was little, probably about 6 or 7, I knew that I celebrated Hannukah and my presents came from my parents. However, most of my friends in school were Christian, so Santa came and brought them thier presents on Christmas Eve (to a 7 year old, this is an indisputable fact). I can still remember the expression on my parents' faces when I asked them how Santa knew that he did not have to stop at our house, because I already got my presents from them. I didn't understand the expression at the time, but I never forgot it.

More recently, my niece, Katie (who was about 7 or 8 at the time) was talking about the holidays. She was talking about how she would go to her Grandpa Kenny's and Grandma Patty's house (my Sister-in Law's parents) and they celebrate Christmas. Then she would go to her Grandpa Barry's and Grandma Bonnie's (my father and stepmother) house and they celebrate Hannukah.

Bonnie then asked her what they celebrate in her house. Her face lit up with the unmitaged greed that only a small child can display as she happily and emphatically announced 'BOTH'.
 
RandFan said:
When I was on my mission we had a missionary from India. Someone asked her at a BBQ (they were serving beef ribs) why she wouldn't eat beef if she wasn't Hindu. Her reply, "There are cultures that eat dog meat, would you eat dog meat?" "How about horse meat?"
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I look forward to trying each of these when an opportunity presents itself.
I was fortunate enough to get to try an excellent iguana soup while in Curacao.
 
AvalonXQ said:
I look forward to trying each of these when an opportunity presents itself.
I was fortunate enough to get to try an excellent iguana soup while in Curacao.
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I am intrigued by the idea of iguana soup. What did it taste like?
 
Happy Holidays...

I love rubbing the fact that this is multicultural society into the faces of the Christian vermin.

It hacks them off off soooooo much to point out that the superstitious, fascist, frackers don't have a monopoly on the month of December.
 
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sg1985 said:
I am intrigued by the idea of iguana soup. What did it taste like?
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The meat was lean and moist, not too different from pulled chicken (closer to frog legs if you've had them). Some of the chunks of meat, of which there were plenty (almost stew), still had a little bit of green skin attached.
The soup itself was savory; it reminded me of the spicy smell you often get walking into a Mexican restaurant here in the States. There was also a large chunk of corn still on the cob. Very hardy and flavorful. I very much approve.
What I'm learning is that when it comes to eating new things, especially meats, it's all in the preparation.
 
AvalonXQ said:
The meat was lean and moist, not too different from pulled chicken (closer to frog legs if you've had them). Some of the chunks of meat, of which there were plenty (almost stew), still had a little bit of green skin attached.
The soup itself was savory; it reminded me of the spicy smell you often get walking into a Mexican restaurant here in the States. There was also a large chunk of corn still on the cob. Very hardy and flavorful. I very much approve.
What I'm learning is that when it comes to eating new things, especially meats, it's all in the preparation.
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My throat hurts, I'm nauseous, and now I'm hungry. Thanks.
 
Pure_Argent said:
My throat hurts, I'm nauseous, and now I'm hungry. Thanks.
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The more these problems of yours come up, the more I feel like a 6th-level cleric would do the job nicely.
"Remove disease. Create food and water. Lesser Restoration. Anything else?"
 
AvalonXQ said:
The more these problems of yours come up, the more I feel like a 6th-level cleric would do the job nicely.
"Remove disease. Create food and water. Lesser Restoration. Anything else?"
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In the meantime, a constant supply of ice water, ibuprofen and Star Trek is keeping me alive. Not particularly comfortable, and not particularly sharp of mind (I can barely concentrate. I think the ibuprofen is wearing off), but alive.

...And sweaty. I hate these hot-cold feelings.

Anyway, enough derailing of this thread. I'm going to go pass out.
 
In Norway, we avoid the problem by not celebrating Christ Mass, but Yule.. :)

But even if there was a Norwegian phrase similar to Merry Christmas, I doubt I'd be offended and would probably use the term myself.
 
I am happy with either. I was raised in a secular household and have never been religious so one imaginary character is no sillier than another to me.

I look at Xmas as the original ComiCon, that is, a celebration of fictional characters. Christians are like trekkies and, like trekkies, range from fans that don't follow the story that closely to obsessive geeks.

My sole exception is if I am confronted by one of the "War on Xmas" types. Then it is Happy Holidays all the way just to hack them off.

Instead of any of that horrible Christmas music though I keep a collection of Bob River's parodies in the car to play instead.
 
Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our lord.

Or their Lord, if you aren't one of them.

Though some say that 12/25 isn't the real birthday of our (or their) lord's birthday...that the date was co-opted, or compromised for the sake of more ancient rituals, and not wanting to offend.

Others claim a lack of evidence to suggest that the historical Jesus even existed, much less was born on x-mas day, however co-opted it may have been.

One thing is certain:

A young man with lofty ideals was tragically put to death by the State.

I can totally get behind this, as a punk-rocker.
















(Send presents soon.)
 
Ryokan said:
In Norway, we avoid the problem by not celebrating Christ Mass, but Yule.. :)
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But don't you guys actually have some herds of Reindeer in Scandanavia (not sure if Norway or one of your neighbors). What more proof do you need that the Jolly old Elf exists and should be honored.
 
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