Here is an update to the home depot message I put up earlier today..I deleted the other one because it made me very sad that I had started a post that went so completely wrong..I couldnt believe it...it was worse than any anti political post I ever took part in..

I had thought that something different besides a political rant might bring people together and generate something positive. Sadly it created a monster that really shocked me when I finally read it this evening..all the negativity about Christmas coming from all those that signed on made me feel very sad for many you. I couldn't imagine feeling that way about a holiday as special as Christmas ....

I dont expect you to sign on this one.. I just needed to clarify my last post for those who felt they needed trash the last ones intent ..talk about feeling descriminated against..I appreciate it...topped off a really screwed up day..

to all that posted I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year..

I haven't seen the last post, but I'm a bit dissapointed that Christmas has become an issue over the last several years.  Yes, let's celebrate Christmas (the birth of our lord, Jesus Christ) and new year.  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you as well.

let's celebrate Christmas (the birth of our lord, Jesus Christ)

Christmas has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus.

No one knows what day Jesus Christ was born on. From the biblical description, most historians believe that his birth probably occurred in September, approximately six months after Passover. One thing they agree on is that it is very unlikely that Jesus was born in December, since the bible records shepherds tending their sheep in the fields on that night.

The answer lies in the pagan origins of Christmas. In ancient Babylon, the feast of the Son of Isis (Goddess of Nature) was celebrated on December 25. Raucous partying, gluttonous eating and drinking, and gift-giving were traditions of this feast.

In Rome, the Winter Solstice was celebrated many years before the birth of Christ. The Romans called their winter holiday Saturnalia, honoring Saturn, the God of Agriculture. In January, they observed the Kalends of January, which represented the triumph of life over death. This whole season was called Dies Natalis Invicti Solis, the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun. The festival season was marked by much merrymaking. It is in ancient Rome that the tradition of the Mummers was born. The Mummers were groups of costumed singers and dancers who traveled from house to house entertaining their neighbors. From this, the Christmas tradition of caroling was born.

In 350, Pope Julius I declared that Christ’s birth would be celebrated on December 25. There is little doubt that he was trying to make it as painless as possible for pagan Romans (who remained a majority at that time) to convert to Christianity. The new religion went down a bit easier, knowing that their feasts would not be taken away from them.

TSM, you can intellectualize it all you like but the truth is that we celebrate Christs birth on December 25.  No one I know of says it's THAT day that he was born  but rather the day chosen to honor it.  When my family gathers on that day for the exchange of gifts and to share a meal, Mark (motopoet) reads the story of Christs birth from my Mothers Bible before we sit to eat.  He does this to remind everyone the real reason we are gathering.

What other people do on December 25 has nothing to do with me or mine.  The fact that it has become a huge commercial season has nothing to do with me or mine.  I guess you could say I could be on Audreys list of not giving a rats patootie what Home Depot or any other store does simply because it has nothing to do with me or mine.

Christmas should be in your heart not in your wallet. I see people on here all the time stating unequiviquibly what Jesus would say or do.   I'm not quite that presumptious.  All I DO know is that Christmas is a time to be with family and come together with family and friends in the spirit of giving and remembering why we ARE gathering.  The gifts started with the Magi, we didn't invent that custom, we just expanded on it. 

I do have a problem with extravagance at this time because that wasn't the purpose of the gifts to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.  I'm pretty modest in my gift giving and have a limit for each person.  I also like to make sure the gift fits the person and is something they want or would enjoy.  My gifts to friends tends to be food, cookies, candy and that sort of thing and not material.

Christmas is as stressful and as complicated as we make it.  It also can be as simple as we make it.  For those who do not believe in the birth of Christ or in Christ at all then yes, it is nothing more than a retailers dream come true.  It's nothing more than an orgy of gifts because that's what the Joneses do.  A chance to buy your kids love and a chance for them to show their friends how much their parents love them because of "see what I got?"  If you don't believe in Jesus or his birth I have to wonder why you would celebrate that day at all.

Money can't buy Christmas for those of us who know what the day represents. 

(I have to qualify my above statement by saying that even for people who don't celebrate Christmas as the time to remember Christs birth, it's a time when families can get together to share a meal and exchange gifts if they choose and it should be a happy time not a stressful one.)

edited

Sioux--I am in disbelief.  I thought our comments would crack you up.  I can't believe you took what was supposed to be funny as something negative.  Are we in Opposite World here?   We weren't trashing Christmas, or Jesus, or The Reason for the Season, or Goodwill Toward Men, or Decking the Halls--we were complaining (humorously, I might add) about Christmas shopping in general.  Complaining about Christmas shopping (the crowds, lines, etc) is an American tradition that I KNOW, if you've EVER been Christmas shopping, YOU have done yourself. 

We were just trying to have fun, and your blog did indeed bring people together in a non-partisan way--just probably not in the way you intended.  You original post was a NEGATIVE COMPLAINT--admit it.  When you start with a negative complaint, there's nowhere to go but up, and we did.

This isn't the first time you took something personal that wasn't personal and misunderstood what was going on.  I am sincerely sorry that you didn't enjoy what was meant to be a little levity in an otherwise bitter election season.

Sioux--I am sorry if I hurt your feelings.  I am totally shocked that your reaction was the opposite of what I thought it would be.  Where's that Sioux sense of humor that is always so much fun?  I really thought you were gonna crack up.  I can't believe it.

I know what the day represents to me as well~ for me it is not a "Christian" day,simply because I am not a Christian. I can accept that those who identify themselves as Christan's hold this day as sacred . I do not feel sorrow for those who have found their answers in the Christian faith,it is a wonderful belief.

I just others could hold the same respect for me.

*edit*

Sioux~ I want to be very clear with you. My comments yesterday were not directed at you. We have had this conversation twice now,the third time will do the trick.  I can disagree with you or any other person here,but consider no one a "big jerk" nor do I hate them.

In fact my time here has taught me some valuable lessons,one being ,behind each screen name is a complex human being with feelings,passions and external pressures.

Merry Christmas Everyone and May All Your Holidays be Bright.

Christmas should be in your heart not in your wallet.

Amen Nancy

No one I know of says it's THAT day that he was born  

You can't be serious, or you don't get out much.

Casooner said it two posts before yours.  Wayfarer/Sojourn/Buffoo says it all the time.

And I hear people say it all the time trying to justify their religious beliefs.

TSM..nununununu...you DON'T hear people say Christ was born on December 25 in year..0000.   As for me getting out more?  LOL...I spent all my early years in retail and later years in the food and beverage biz along with a few years at WM while going to school.  It's a CELEBRATION of the birth of Christ.  Tsk.

This year my group of 4 whose birthdays all fall within 10 days of each other had one barbeque with cake for all and it didn't fall on ANYONE'S birth DAY.   Get a grip there fella.

Of course you do, Nancy.  You've heard the lyrics of "God Rest ye Merry," right?  "...was born upon this day?"

Christmas was set when it was because of the pre-existing pagan Winter Solstice holiday.  Modern Christmas, with its Black Friday and red-tag sales and Santa Visits Saturdays and fighting over the last sweater in an extra-large, was set to take over the existing Christian holiday.

I'm sure the pagans felt the same way when they saw Christians stuff decorated trees into their homes--hey, that's *OUR* thing!--but Christianity had a pretty good run, and nothing lasts forever, even religions.

Nancy--we've got a lot of birthdays bunched up together, too.  My son, my dad and me are all within 11 days of each other in Sept, and then we've got my hubby, baby, and my mom bunched around the holidays (Dec 20, 26, and Jan 2.)  My mom said there was no worse day to be born that the day after New Year's, and then my daughter came along the day after Christmas and proved her wrong, haha!  The only other birthday for the rest of the year is my sister in July.  Everyone gets their own special day, though, and the rest of the year is a breeze!

Nancy---> I also like to make sure the gift fits the person and is something they want or would enjoy.  My gifts to friends tends to be food, cookies, candy and that sort of thing and not material.

I like cookies!! LOL!!