Interesting facts about Christmas
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Guess how many gifts altogether were sent in the song "12 days of Christmas". It's a significant number.
365
#5. What an awesome Colonel.
Did you know of another big influence of Christmas? The big roman holiday in honour of the god Saturn. The Saturnalie-party. It was held every year between the 17,th and the 25,th of december since at least 400 BC. A lot to eat and drink was a given. Some sexual things took place too. These things are nowadays toned down too just the chaste kiss under the mistletoe. When the Romans turned Christian during the 4,th century the christian leaders promised that they could continue to celebrate their party as long as they did to Jesus instead. So was his birthday placed on that (the 25,th) date. Noone really know when he was born since it isn't mentioned in the Gospels so the early churchleaders thought it was a good idea to place the date in an already existing festivity to help christianity along.
Wasn't he what the whole meaning of Christmas represents?
I'm an atheist, and don't even think JC even existed. But I do love reading up on religion and its origins.I've read a few books that have the theory that Moses and Akenhaten were one in the same person. Would love to know your thoughts on this Kurben.
Why would you think Akenhaten was Moses? I cannot figure that one out lol.
I'll try and condense 2 quite long books into one sentence.
.Both important figures in Egypt, both inventors of monotheism. Hope this helps. I'll post pics of books when I get home. Not saying I believe it 100% ,but very interesting concept imo.
The other day I learned on NPR of a Christmas tradition in Sweden about the burning of the Gävle Goat by vandals each year (a giant version of a traditional Swedish Yule Goat figure made of straw). Perhaps Kurben could enlighten us to the tradition... and let us know if he's got a little pyromaniac in his blood .
.Highly unlikely! It is based on the, rather selfish, assumption that noone could come up with the idea of a monoteistic religion except the jews. Akhenaten(died 1334 bc) was a big religious founder of the first statereligion that also was a monoteistic one. But his ideas died out, in egypt at least. Moses wasn't born when he lived i should say. An interesting thing about Moses is that he have an Egyptian name!. Moses, Mosis in Egyptian, means he who serves and was a usual hanger on name for pharaohs. example Tothmosis (He who serves Toth). The name is a usual name given to servants in Egypt. Researchers think that Moses lived about 1200 BC. Alhenaten and the glory of the new Kingdom was long gone and Egypt was In decline even if the New Kingdom had som 100 years left. They had a miliutery defeat in a war witrh the Hittites in 1258 (well a draw really but to egypt at that time that was defeat). I don't have any problem with the story that he either ran away or was given free by his egyptiian master. There was a lot of jews in Egypt because of the wars they had had with the Hittites. The Land that became Israel was on the way. But i don't believe in the rRed Sea story and the drowning of the soldiers. When it comes to JC there is, i think, more proof that he existed than not. But i, personally, don't believe in gods son and allthat. I think he was a charismatic profet that there a few of in Israels history.
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That is certainly a strange tradition but it has only survived two years in my lifetime to my knowledge. The rest of the time it has burned. But i'm innocent, Sir! Haven't even been to Gävle actually (although my fave hockey team comes from there.The other day I learned on NPR of a Christmas tradition in Sweden about the burning of the Gävle Goat by vandals each year (a giant version of a traditional Swedish Yule Goat figure made of straw). Perhaps Kurben could enlighten us to the tradition... and let us know if he's got a little pyromaniac in his blood
Oh, I know more about Akenhaten than I do Moses....that is shocking lol. I love anything about Egypt. I often wished I had taken Egyptology.I'll try and condense 2 quite long books into one sentence.
Same here, wi
Same here, wish I'd took more interest in religious education at school as well.
Same here, wish I'd took more interest in religious education at school as well.
Oh, I would like to have been born during the time of all these exciting digs in the Valley of the Kings. Imagine seeing Howard when he opened King Tut's tomb.
...my favorite myth centers around SantaSquatch...
You're a mine of information Kurben.I wish I had the intelligence to be able to have a full blown conversation with you on this subject.I love your posts,keep up the good work.
Indeed. This was a repeated theme with a few of the holidays, Christianity being easier to accept when it didn't actually entail many real changes. Some things never change ...
That being said, I'm a big fan of eating, drinking, and sex, so sign me up!
Little is more engaging than meeting someone who knows a lot of things you don't, amirite?