My church has always done this....they have a christmas eve service for those that want to attend, and the church is open on christmas day, but there is no "church" service that morning

The one thing I don't recall from the New Testimont, is where it said to go to church on Sundays.

Though I may well have missed it.

I wasn't trying to be serious but thought the reports were rather funny. :)
Megachurches Cancel Christmas

Why didn't that ever happen to me as a kid? Christmas and Easter masses were the worst. Not only were they longer but they were so damn crowded.

Christmas was always best on a Sunday because that meant you didn't have to go to church a second time that weel

Saturday Christmasses were my favorite - could go to midnight mass on saturday and you're covered for sunday and for christmas...

easter was a hateful service- -never any seats and too danged long... :) all the good little heathens put on their sunday best and trotted out for sunday mass when they never saw the inside of the church since last easter... :)

The consumerism promoted by comercial interests being linked to christmas is in my opinion a larger threat to christmas.

I can remember having to go to the midnight service as a kid... I remember the heat and the crush of people and then having to exit to go throw up. I was convinced I was evil because church made me barf.

Wednesday is the Solstice.....we will celebrate it as we always do....no church, just family, no Wars, just love, no long service, just a short ritual of thanks, no heated debate, just a few minutes of silent devotion, no plasic trucks, just cookies hung on the trees for the fairies (squirrels), no fire and brimstone, Just a few candles to represent the light of coming spring.
I always look forward to this celebration, as it reminds me to be happy, and rekindles the warmth of family in my soul.

Happy Solstice Everyone

The worst thing about Easter Mass was that there was one Mass in particular that would have a lot of baptisms for new converts. It would easily add a half hour to the Mass. My family learned to avoid that Mass like the plague.

Boy, that's not at all like what I remember from childhood...poor Charlatan.

We would always have the Christmas pageant Christmas Eve, about 8pm or so. Following the pageant there would be cookies in the fellowship hall, and after cookies, the candlelight Christmas Eve service would start. My church was a big old-fashioned one with enormous stained glass windows running down either side and an elaborate altar with a giant portrait of Jesus hanging above it. The candlelight turned an already beautiful church into a magnificent, magical place--those Christmas Eve services will always live on in my memory.

Easters were also good--the church would always be packed, there would be lively music, and it was generally a celebratory, joyful time.

Now I am hundreds of miles away from my childhood church, and I've yet to find anything that remotely comes close, but I'm trying.

Here is a picture of the altar from the church (I still think it's beautiful):
http://www.oregonstate.edu/~jansenli/altar.jpg

Totally agree- this is such a non-issue. I saw Merry Christmas, but I happen to like Christmas. If I happen to know that someone celebrates a different holiday, then I recognize it - otherwise, I just stick to Christmas. I don't think I am being insensitive. It's not like I;m asking them to convert or anything.

I don't think anyone but extremist are ever offended by what Holiday term people use.

I'm a Christian, and I've never been offended when someone says Happy Xmas, Happy Hannakuh, Happy Winter Solstice, Kwanzi (spelling?) or whatever holiday they celebrate. On the contrary!

I am not a jew but have no problem at all wishing someone that is a Happy Hannakuh.


There are Christians upset that Christmas is actually a peagan Holiday, and there are atheist upset that a Christian Holiday is being forced on them. Idiots.

The holidays are what you make them. Regardless of the term you use, Christmas has become, for me anyway, a family and friends holiday. A time to honor your friends and family and show appreciation towards them. To me that has nothing to do with my religion and everything to do with being a good person.

People complaining about the terms are just bitter little people imo and need to just go back to bed and leave everyone else alone.

There is NO ISSUE!

That practice is from a lot further back than the New Testament! Second Commandment: "Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy." Church services are how Jews and Christians have kept that commandment since the days of Moses.

I think it's a little ridiculous that they'd cancel Christmas Day services. Christmas is quite literally the one day of the year I might be at all interested in attending a service.

I thought the old testimont says on the seventh day you shall rest. How did that become day one?

depended on the ruler who decided the calendar :)

look, "happy holidays" is said out of respect for those who don't celebrate Christmas per se...how can being respectful be an "act of war"?

The jews (which is what people in the old testement were) observed the sabbath on Saturday, not sunday (actually sundown on friday to sundown on saturday)

which would be the 7th day on our present calendar

Who benefits from the non-War On Christmas? Look at Bill O'Reilly's topic list from foxnews.com:


Merry Christmas, Maybe...
November 29, 2005

Three Victories For Christmas Traditionalists
November 30, 2005

What Would Jesus Do?
December 01, 2005

The Yuletide Has Turned...
December 05, 2005

Christmas Humbugs Strike Back
December 06, 2005

What Christmas Controversy?
December 07, 2005

Sears and Target see the Christmas Light
December 12, 2005

Christmas and the Media...
December 14, 2005

War on Christmas!
December 14, 2005 - yes, that's right, two topics about Christmas on the same show

Is the American Catholic Church Running Away from the Christmas Controversy?
December 15, 2005

The American Catholic Church and the Christmas Controversy
December 20, 2005

Plano, Texas and the War on Christmas
December 21, 2005

And my favorite:

Is O'Reilly Talking Too Much About The War On Christmas?
December 13, 2005

Notice the absence of topics on anything going on at the oval office. Shock and awe. Shock and awe.

All is explained here
The article is quite long, but the section titled "Why and When the Weekly Sabbath was Moved" more directly talks about this.

Silly Christians insisting it has something to do with a long deceased liberal Jew rather than the winter solstice or a fat house-breaker in a red suit constitute a war on Christmas. Have some sense folks. Leave well enough alone. Happy holidays, y'all, and a Merry Cristmas to boot.

Ok, I just spent ten minutes writing something and my internet cable fell out before I hit the post button. Heres the short version.

Happy Holiday's is a plural word. Christmas and New Years are the implied holidays. If you want to wish someone a happy christmas, you say "Merry Christmas". If you wanna wish someone a happy christmas and new year, you say "Happy Holidays". Does this make sense? Im guessing most people have a couple weeks off for both Christmas and New Years. Being as you probably wont see people until after new years you wish them a Happy Holdiay, which includes Christmas AND New Years.

This is ridiculous. I also heard that Walmart cashiers arent allowed to say it to the customers.

Huh? I'm guessing that most people don't. A couple of weeks? Damn, where do you work? Oh...wait a minute. You're still in school, aren't you?
And I think that the "Holidays" can be a little more inclusive than just Christmas and New Year's. Although...I would also hazzard that there lies the origination of "Happy Holidays".

Where do I work? Obviously a better job than you. Shit, I used to get a week vacation when i was working part time in retail when i was 19. And before you insult someone, why dont you get some facts to back up your bullshit. HAPPY HOLIDAY'S!!

Yeah! I like Bill O'Reilly but his harping on this topic irritated me. I've said Happy Holidays for years, mainly because it encompasses everything between Thanksgiving and New Years.