Telling kids the truth about Santa?

The X part comes from Hristos which means Christ in Greek. The X is the letter H in the Cyrillic alphabet. So the X actually does a have religous meaning behind it.

 

Thanks for pointing that out, learn something new everyday.

 

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I have no problem not using an X, out of respect for those who believe Christmas is a Holy Day, however He is Christ, Savior to all Christians... since that is what being a Christian is.. believing that Christ died for the sins of all mankind. However some Christians believe that if we were supposed to keep Christmas as a Holy Day, the Bible would have told us to do so. Saying X-mas isn't saying Christ is unimportant. It simply means that not everyone believes it to be a Holy Day. I'm a little surprised that this is an issue for you. I could see it maybe being an issue for someone who isn't strong in their faith (this is jmo btw), but I know first hand that you are.. so it does surprise me a bit. So maybe I need to rethink who might have issues with using an X.

You are right, I am strong in my faith! And I do beleive that Christmas is a Holy Day. And I also agree with others who have said that His birth did not really occur in December, this is just when we celebrate it. I just think that BECAUSE Christmas is a Holy Day for many Christians, that Christ should be in the word CHRISTMAS.

I guess I can see where some ppl would not include it if it is not a special day for them, but I would appreciate it if ppl would include it out of respect for those of us who do see it as a Holy Day.

 

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And I also agree with others who have said that His birth did not really occur in December,
I just want to be clear.. it's not that I don't believe He wasn't born in December (I don't, but that is beside the point), Jesus was very clear about us keeping the day of His death a Holy Day, but at no time did he tell us to keep His birthday a Holy Day. When Jesus was born doesn't really matter since we were never instructed to remember and keep that day Holy. I don't mean to be nitpicky here, but to me those differences a biggies.

 

QUOTE(Donita @ Dec 10 2007, 05:41 PM) [snapback]528429[/snapback]
I just want to be clear.. it's not that I don't believe He wasn't born in December (I don't, but that is beside the point), Jesus was very clear about us keeping the day of His death a Holy Day, but at no time did he tell us to keep His birthday a Holy Day. When Jesus was born doesn't really matter since we were never instructed to remember and keep that day Holy. I don't mean to be nitpicky here, but to me those differences a biggies.


In the Bible it also does not say YOU/WE can not keep birthdays as special days..his or our own. I know there are some religions who do not believe in celebrating any day other then the day Jesus died on the cross. But have a celebration of any kind with knowing he is still important is NOT wrong.


Brandy

 

I'm confused- why is it important to some of you that your children know Jesus' real birthday isn't in December?

I am honestly curious. I grew up Catholic and the actual date of Jesus' birth was never stressed in any way to me, and I don't get why that is particularly significant. If it is significant, do you celebrate it on the actual day or on Dec. 25th?

I'm learning lots here...

TIA.

 

QUOTE(twindependent @ Dec 11 2007, 02:16 AM) [snapback]528632[/snapback]
I'm confused- why is it important to some of you that your children know Jesus' real birthday isn't in December?

I am honestly curious. I grew up Catholic and the actual date of Jesus' birth was never stressed in any way to me, and I don't get why that is particularly significant. If it is significant, do you celebrate it on the actual day or on Dec. 25th?

I'm learning lots here...

TIA.


I am not really sure the importance of it???? I just knew as a child that we picked that day to celebrate even though we really didnt know what day it was. Now I have a friend who grew up Catholic also and she insists that Jesus' real birthday is Dec. 25 and that the Vatican claims so to (I have no idea if that is true or not) based on the placement of the North star in the sky on that day of the year.

Now my best friends' grandfather does not celebrate Christmas on any particular day, although he is a Christian. He lives his life in a way that 'everyday is a celebration of the birth and death of Jesus'. He gives his granddaughters presents at random and will join them for dinner a few weeks after the holiday so he can have his family to celebrate with after all the festivities have died down.

I too am curious about the date thing. I am a Christian and raise my children accordingly so I would like all info on the subject. LOL I guess my best friend is married to our pastor and my dad is a deacon I suppose they would have my answeres!! LOL

ETA: Two different bestfriends I am talking about there... sorry if I am too confusing! Actually 3 different friends.... :blbl: LOL

 

For me it is a matter of history for one thing. When the Catholic church designated Dec. 25th as "the" day, it was a way to get more Pagan's to convert to Christianity. They didn't have to give up their most important celebration.

Secondly, I don't think man should go around making up Holy Days. Birthdays (yours and mine) are hardly Holy Days, so for me there is no comparison. Neither Jesus, nor GOD told us to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Just his death.

We celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25th, the date is truly unimportant to me, but it is a purely secular holiday, not a Holy Day.

 

QUOTE(Donita @ Dec 11 2007, 02:41 AM) [snapback]528656[/snapback]
For me it is a matter of history for one thing. When the Catholic church designated Dec. 25th as "the" day, it was a way to get more Pagan's to convert to Christianity. They didn't have to give up their most important celebration.

Secondly, I don't think man should go around making up Holy Days. Birthdays (yours and mine) are hardly Holy Days, so for me there is no comparison. Neither Jesus, nor GOD told us to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Just his death.

We celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25th, the date is truly unimportant to me, but it is a purely secular holiday, not a Holy Day.



I have to tell you that when we are celebrating the birth of Jesus I am constantly thinking of his death and what that means for me. I guess I see it as, he couldnt die for me if he were not born for me. Our pastor said something really cool last night about how God 'humbled' himself that day as he entered the world as a HUMAN when he didnt have to do that. It was the begining of a life of love that ended with his death on the cross for me and my sins. I think that is pretty awesome. I wonder sometimes how it became such a crazy crazy holiday instead of a celebration, the commercialism of it sometimes makes me sick, but of course I am right there alongside everyone else buying presents for my children. Althought I do know that this is symbalic of the Wise men bringing gifts to Jesus. Anyway I try to emphasize that to my kids.

Thanks for all the great input.

 

QUOTE(twindependent @ Dec 10 2007, 06:16 PM) [snapback]528632[/snapback]
I'm confused- why is it important to some of you that your children know Jesus' real birthday isn't in December?

I am honestly curious. I grew up Catholic and the actual date of Jesus' birth was never stressed in any way to me, and I don't get why that is particularly significant. If it is significant, do you celebrate it on the actual day or on Dec. 25th?

I'm learning lots here...

TIA.



Its not "important" its just something that my kids know. It came up, so I told them. We still celebrate Jesus' birthday on Christmas because that is the day that we get together with family and spend time carrying on traditions.