Welcome to my cosy little attic. I hope you feel at home. Feel free to navigate. I hope my insanity is catching. Comments are more than welcome.
What's Up (so don't ask)
30/10/04 The Dude left us - RIP
15/03/05 I turn 18... start counting my grey hairs
16/05/05 Last Exam. Forever, I hope.
21/05/05 Jack Johnson Concert - KickAss
25/05/05 I graduate... maybe
07/06/05 Kaz turns 18. About time bro.
Someone once asked me, and this wasn't too long ago, if I though non-Christians should celebrate Christmas. I said yes. Let me explain.
Although Christmas is, in theory, based around the birth of Christ, a demigod who is the undisputed lord of all Christianity. I won't argue that... yet. So, Christmas is Christ's birthday. Is that what we celebrate?
Yes. Some people see Christmas as the celebration of the Lord's birthday. They celebrate through the spirit of giving, of seeing friends, of being happy. However, is it possible to celebrate those spirits without the need for God? Yes. What I, and many others, do, is celebrate Christmas from it's philosophic standpoint, not its religious one. For Christmas, I spend the day with my family, exchanging gifts, laughs and love. Then we go to a friends house for the afternoon, where many family congregate to enjoy the feeling of warmth and love that surrounds Christmas. We spend the day talking, playing, (drinking) and generally remembering all that is good with us. There is no talk (or little talk) of school, work, and responsabilities. All that exists is us, our friends and our family. Our loved ones.
Christmas is a day of love, not a day of Christ. Heck, I spent Christmas with quite a few Jews... including my father and, possibly, my mother. Her Jewry is still a question mark. I do not argue with those who feel connection to Christ through this day, heck, even my parents when to midnight mass on Christmas eve. That's beautiful. Christianity is just another way of people coming together through love, and were it not for the blatant bigotry and hipocrisy of it, I would be happy to be a part of it. We can love without Jesus and the star over bethlehem. We can love with just each other. That's love as a verb, not 'make love'... that's sick. I mean with our families there...
Now, my second point, which isn't as *happy hpappy* as before. To the Christians: Christmas as Jesus' birthday? It is a known fact that when Christianity was expanding (sorry, I mean enforcing itself) throughout the world, they adopted many *ahem* pagan celebrations and gave them new reasons. Christmas as Jesus' birthday? It is a known fact that Jesus wasn't born in December, but in late February of early March. Of course, this is disputed and, to be honest, his birthday is unkown, but it is rather well established that a birthday of December 25 is,for the most part, covering up another tradition. Watch some Simpsons Christmas Specials to learn more. I got a DVD full of those today, so I know. Christmas was a time, in the years yonder, when, in the deepest part of winter, people would come together to remember when the shit really did smell sweet. This was, of course, before central heating. Now people don't care that it's raining outside, or there's snow falling. Toasty-warm is the word of the day these Christmases. So, as for Christmas as Jesus' birthday... I don't think we can really think his birthday was today. It's too... random. The motives (love and all that) are great, but the guilt (being a Christian) are not. So enjoy your gifts.
Now I'll go on to bitch about the ideal Christmas. The image of what Christmas is supposed to be is painted in many forms: carols, cards and Home Alone (I and II, the rest aren't worth remembering). It should snow. That's the main idea... however, living in Portugal, (South-West Europe) the weather is just too... nice, is the word... to snow. We get sun. So, how can we feel Christmassy? It's bleeding annoying... Also, the whole *snow* idea doesn't really work for the about half of the world... the *ahem* southern hemisphere, where Christmas is a summer thing. Poor sods, they have to go to the beach is they want to make angel shapes on the ground. Sand-Angels just don't have the same ring to them, though... shame. Anyway, I propose an ammendment to all carols which mention snow ('White Christmas' and whatnot), all cards that show snow (you know the type) and all Christmas movies that feature snow (or Macauly Culkin...). I say we cut out all the snow, and replace it with wrapping paper. That's the only thing that's universal about Christmas. Except in poor, poor countries where a slice of bread is rated higher than actually meeting Santa.
Anyway, I love Christmas. It's great, like a second birthday, and I get to spend the day with friends and get drunk and play board games. And for those who have no Christian blood whatsoever (remember, I'm a half-Christo), you should celebrate Christmas, too. Why? In the paraphrasic words of South Park: "Because it's the best holiday"
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
Geertie
