Originally posted by Melanerpes if Dec. 25 is the "first day of Christmas", then Jan 6 is the "thirteenth day" -- I guess Epiphany comes the day AFTER the 12 days of Christmas have been completed.
If Dec. 25 is the 1st day OF Christmas, then yes, Jan.6 would be the 13th day OF Christmas. The OP specifically said the thirteenth day AFTER Christmas. Epiphany (Jan. 6) is the Twelfth day AFTER Christmas. The night before (Jan. 5) is Twelfth Night.
However, there is evidence to support your idea too, that Epiphany comes after the 12 days have been completed. I believe it comes down to the tradition of your particular church. Further reading on this here:
Originally posted by Suzianne Some people do believe in taking the decorations down on Twelfth Night, which would be the night of Jan. 5.
Wait a minute. So your girlfriend is not atheist? I bet this yields some interesting discussions.
Fear not Suzianne, my girlfriend will be holding my hand on the train to hell. She was going to take them down on the 6th but took them down a day early as she wasn't going to be in on that day. I assume it's a matter of tradition rather than anything religious, my Mum does the same, and she's not religious in the slightest.
Originally posted by FabianFnas Today it is "Trettondag Jul" in Sweden!
"Trettondag Jul" means in English "the Thirteenth day after Christmas". It's a religious holiday in Sweden, and therefore we are free from work! I like it!
However, most of us in Sweden don't celebrate it in a religious way, we're just free fom work, and nothing else. For the most of us.
Is there a similar ...[text shortened]... ree from work today? Are you celebrating this day in any particular way where you live?
I'd like to see a holiday where we celebrate the freedom to work.
I farmed(dairy)for eight years. Everyday. It was very good. Once you got used to it.
Originally posted by Proper Knob Fear not Suzianne, my girlfriend will be holding my hand on the train to hell. She was going to take them down on the 6th but took them down a day early as she wasn't going to be in on that day. I assume it's a matter of tradition rather than anything religious, my Mum does the same, and she's not religious in the slightest.
I don't put new shoes on a table. But it has nothing to do with theism.
Originally posted by josephw I'd like to see a holiday where we celebrate the freedom [b]to work.
[/b]
Preaches work every holiday. Ice-creams vendors at the beaches at summertime works when everyone else is free from work. any works at sudays, not a big deal.
The 1st of May, every year, we have the labour day. It's the day when noones of them works.
I think everyone wanting to work, they are allowed to work. Ask my boss.
Originally posted by Proper Knob Fear not Suzianne, my girlfriend will be holding my hand on the train to hell. She was going to take them down on the 6th but took them down a day early as she wasn't going to be in on that day. I assume it's a matter of tradition rather than anything religious, my Mum does the same, and she's not religious in the slightest.
My wife and I did not have this problem for we never put up a tree or
any Christmas decorations for I believe Christ was born at the time of
the Passover. However, our family gathered together the Sunday before
Christmas and exchanged gifts. So all we had to get rid of was the
decorative wrappings on the gifts.
Originally posted by RJHinds My wife and I did not have this problem for we never put up a tree or
any Christmas decorations for I believe Christ was born at the time of
the Passover. However, our family gathered together the Sunday before
Christmas and exchanged gifts. So all we had to get rid of was the
decorative wrappings on the gifts.
And people complain about atheists trying to destroy Christmas ;-p
We, as always, did have a Christmas tree, with presents under it, the whole works.
Because it is traditional, and fun, no other reasons required.
Originally posted by googlefudge And people complain about atheists trying to destroy Christmas ;-p
We, as always, did have a Christmas tree, with presents under it, the whole works.
Because it is traditional, and fun, no other reasons required.
We still exchange gifts due to the traditon and the joy of doing so.
However, the JWs can not honestly accuse me of bowing down
before a Christmas tree as if in an act of worship.
Originally posted by RJHinds We still exchange gifts due to the traditon and the joy of doing so.
However, the JWs can not honestly accuse me of bowing down
before a Christmas tree as if in an act of worship.
We have a tree and nobody 'bows' before it, it's pretty and fun to decorate.
Why would you care what the JW's think?
The traditions that led to the Christmas tree pre-date Christianity and can be
viewed nowadays as wholly secular. You can enjoy a Christmas tree whatever
your faith or lack thereof.
Although the tradition may not work as well in the heat of Texas as it does in the cold north.
Originally posted by googlefudge We have a tree and nobody 'bows' before it, it's pretty and fun to decorate.
Why would you care what the JW's think?
The traditions that led to the Christmas tree pre-date Christianity and can be
viewed nowadays as wholly secular. You can enjoy a Christmas tree whatever
your faith or lack thereof.
Although the tradition may not work as well in the heat of Texas as it does in the cold north.
I wish them to be saved too. I don't wish to put a stumbling block before
them if I can help it.
Originally posted by RJHinds I wish them to be saved too. I don't wish to put a stumbling block before
them if I can help it.
If your god will throw you into hell for an eternity of fiery torment because once a year you decorate your house
with a brightly decorated spruce or pine fir tree and hand out presents then you really need a new god, or better
yet, no god at all.
Originally posted by googlefudge If your god will throw you into hell for an eternity of fiery torment because once a year you decorate your house
with a brightly decorated spruce or pine fir tree and hand out presents then you really need a new god, or better
yet, no god at all.
That is not the point. I am free to do it. But some like the JWs, who
believe in silly things like not taking blood transfusions because they
think it is a command from God also believe it is a command from
god not to cut the tree from the forest and decorate it like pagans.
There is no way I would refuse my family a blood transfusion for I
give blood for this purpose myself. However, there is no reason that
I should add fuel to the fire by doing everything they believe is wrong
for no good reason.