Christmas losing its meaning?

Generally speaking, has Christmas lost its religious meaning?

To me it seems to be portrayed more of as a time of gathering, reflection about the highs and lows of the year, a time of expectation, etc rather than a holiday marking the birth of Jesus, which is really what the original purpose of the holiday was. Santa Claus is often used to mark Christmas by many yet most don't even believe he exists!

It has become so commercialized (and I think the Pope brought this up too) that it seems to be more of a universal holiday rather than a Christian one.

People commenting on BBC were having this discussion and I fount it rather interesting (even though it's from 1999): http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/566629.stm

Christmas was not a religious holiday to being with...

Santa Claus isn't really an old tradition if you count how long Christmas as been celebrated.... Santa Claus is only around 200 years old...

and i think Christmas lost it meaning many many years ago...

and there are still many places in the world that Celebrate Christmas on Jan 6th or 7th....which was the old date

RedOranje wrote:Christmas was not a religious holiday to being with...

Care to elaborate? AFAIK, it was started by Mesopotamians as a New Year celebration, in particular for one of their gods. It wasn't started as a Christian holiday, but I thought it was always a religious holiday.

The traditions and timing that make up the current Christmas are largely pagan celebrations aimed at nature, rather than gods.

Ah I see, learned something today. From what I'm reading it started as a winter festival essentially.

As Red said it started out as a pagan tradition and then evidently became Christianized (read: sprinkled with glitter for materialistic purposes under the guise of celebrating Jesus' birthday).

Merry Christmas, sinners!

santa clause was invented by coca cola...........................................

Jesus wasn't even born on Christmas.

spanky489 wrote:santa clause was invented by coca cola...........................................

santa clause has been around much longer than coca cola its just they are responsible for the red and white beardy version of santa that we all see today.

DagenhamDave wrote:

spanky489 wrote:santa clause was invented by coca cola...........................................

santa clause has been around much longer than coca cola its just they are responsible for the red and white beardy version of santa that we all see today.

+1

The 1950's called.... they want their argument back.

DagenhamDave wrote:

spanky489 wrote:santa clause was invented by coca cola...........................................

santa clause has been around much longer than coca cola its just they are responsible for the red and white beardy version of santa that we all see today.

That's only an urban legend.

I'm not Christian, but I like how it brings family and the closest friends together. Celebrated with my girlfriend and my parents. It's just great how it's a time where EVERYONE's got a couple days off. Usually it's a drag to gather your loved ones, on christmas it basically happens by itself. I would love it as well if it just happened on any other day for no reason.

I just love eating tons of ridiculously great food and chatting with the people that I love.

That's why I'll visit zelaous with some lemon grass spiced meatballs and a large bottle of lube some day.

It had a meaning? It's basically an excuse to not work, and to party, drink and eat like a monster.

And this is a 99% Catholic country.

Although filled 99% with heathens.