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Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 8:22 pm
by sowhat
I got some nice presents from "foreign" friends... thank you all guys... still, "chez nous", it's a week before the NY (NOT New York!) celebration & two weeks before Christmas... no kiddin' we celebrate it on Jan 6-7... wonder why... so the food & booze is yet to come...
Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 8:28 pm
by shinynewtoy
None of us have it right anyway... cross-referencing biblical passages with historical astronomy it's been widely theorized that Christ was born in the early Spring, most likely April...
Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 10:28 pm
by winston
Bob I believe that the date is closer to September 21 or 22 based on astronomical calculations that I have read. That would also appear to explain why there were still shepherds in the fields. It does get very cold in the holy land in December at night.
Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 10:40 pm
by winston
Sheena,
as a former student of theology, comparative religions and eschatology I can answer your question but prefer to do it off line. There is also an explanation available that will shed light on Bob's comment with respect to why we all have it wrong. Assuming you are genuinely interested just drop me a line and I promise that I will fully explain why we observe Christmas when we do. Your date of observance BTW Sheena is referred to as Ukranian Christmas over here. My wifes family observes Ukranian Christmas.
Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2005 8:58 am
by joeyr
Happy Christmachanukwanzakuh
Peace to all
Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2005 9:09 am
by shinynewtoy
Joe...
I'm glad someone else posted that, I thought about it and no way was I going to try to spell it!
Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2005 3:11 pm
by stubby
Some also call Ukranian Christmas "Little Christmas." Not sure why.
Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2005 3:55 pm
by winston
Ukrainians and many others from the Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on January 7, On Christmas Eve, January 6 a lighted candle is placed in the window to guide travellers, in memory of Mary and Joseph's journey.
The holiday begins with the first star on the horizon. Perhaps as this observance begins with the substitution for the "little" Star of Bethlehem, it may have given rise to the term "Little Christmas". No one seems to really be sure of the origin of the term.
I am not the definitive expert on this subject. Others may have a clearer understanding.