Tell HN: Merry Christmas

Since we have this day off because it is a Christian high holy day, and since Christianity was the primary religion of our civilization for the last 1,700 years or so, I don't have any problems celebrating Christmas as an unbeliever. I even went to a Christmas service and listened to some solid carol performances and a nice little speech by a priest. It makes me feel connected with my history.

For somewhere around 1,500 years (since the Christians co-opted Christmas), people have been doing almost exactly the same thing on December 25th. That's kind of cool to think about and participate in.

On the down side, it makes me realize just how radical the coming post-religious world is. This is going to be a century that is more eventful than we would probably like.

DanielBMarkham2• 18 years ago

We've been through several anti-religious periods in history, so I doubt we're anywhere near "post-religious". The arguments today are basically the same as two hundred years ago.

I'm with you that it is interesting and pleasurable to participate in historical traditions and ceremonies revolving around religion/philosophy -- as long as no coercion is involved. And it isn't.

Most of western thought came out of either Athens or Jerusalem (or a combination of the two). It's neat to see what parts of modern thought are still in various religious traditions and vice-versa.

Cool stuff.

ArleneJ• 18 years ago

As the time comes for sharing and giving of special gifts to our beloved ones and even to the neighborhood, we are also having the chance to forgive people we used to feel bad before. What could be our minor problems regarding the season holiday and celebration? A lot of people are really fed up with the commercial aspect of Christmas. The decorating and advertising for it begins earlier and earlier every year. If it ever gets to the point where we start advertising for Christmas right after New Years, I am going to swear Christmas off forever, and I'm going to start celebrating Festivus. I remember seeing the episode of Seinfeld on TV, where they describe the made up holiday. That is starting to hit pretty close to home every year with that Christmas stuff starting earlier and earlier. . For more about The Festivus for the Rest of Us, check out this article on the <a> http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2008/12/23/the-festi...;

unalone• 18 years ago

I like the green-and-red numbers that've shown up.

andreyf• 18 years ago

And also from xkcd: http://xkcd.com/521/

tlrobinson• 18 years ago

Computer-controlled Christmas light shows: a great holiday tradition.

I just wish people would use some other song besides Trans-Siberian Orchestra's "Wizards in Winter"... http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%22wizards+in+wi...

Prrometheus4• 18 years ago

There's a stick sex scene in the last panel, knowing xkcd.

lionheart• 18 years ago

Merry Christmas, and happy 4th night of Hanukkah too!

dmoney• 18 years ago

Merry Secular Christmas!

DanielBMarkham2• 18 years ago

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the stack

Not a pointer was dangling, the place was a hack

The coders were all zonkered and crashed out on couches

With their screens all dimmed out and hands on their mouses

And I in my Code Monkey Shirt, and Maw in her cap

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap

When out on the quad there arose such a clatter

I sprang to the window to see what's the matter

When what to my wondering eyes did appear

But PG riding a sleigh, and giving out free gear!

That's all I got folks -- it's late and time to do the dad duties before sacking out. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

jfornear2• 18 years ago

You need to throw baby Jesus in there somewhere

Maybe before the part where you're in your underwear

jfornear2• 18 years ago

- on Xmas...

This wasn't supposed to come off sarcastic or anything. If you knew me you would know I'm pretty religious, but whatever maybe that's why it got downvoted.

arjungmenon• 18 years ago

That's a very nice song.

paraschopra• 18 years ago

Merry Christmas. May you have tons of startups next year! (so that one of them gets successful by pure chance) :)

river_styx• 18 years ago

Bah, humbug! :)

bkrausz• 18 years ago

Happy Christmahannikwanzikah!

speek2• 18 years ago

Does anybody else here think the phrase should be changed to "Happy Christmas?"

Prrometheus4• 18 years ago

I believe that is what they say in England, judging from movies.

speek2• 18 years ago

just to keep consistent with "Happy Hanukkah" "Happy Halloween" and "Happy New Years."

BFalkner• 18 years ago

No.

nailer• 18 years ago

He's not asking, he's wishing.

PStamatiou3• 18 years ago

http://isitchristmas.com/

gaius• 18 years ago

Is this site being smart about GeoIP and timezones?

DXL• 18 years ago

Looks like it's using geolocation. It says here "JA," yes in Dutch.

fhars• 18 years ago

Actually, Dec 25 == Oct 31, so Happy Hackers Halloween :-).

PStamatiou3• 18 years ago

ahahah took me a while but i got it. :-)

might be better worded as 25 Dec == 31 Oct

axod• 18 years ago

Merry Christmas everyone :D

eisokant• 18 years ago

Feliz Navidad!

pavelludiq• 18 years ago

hah, Jeph should totally make this in to a shirt :D

visitor4rmindia• 18 years ago

Merry Christmas Everyone! Hope everyone's having a great holiday.

est• 18 years ago

I don't celebrate ancient pagan festival of saturnalia

juliend2• 18 years ago

Joyeux Noël!

jimbokun• 18 years ago

メリークリスマス

jamesbritt• 18 years ago

Frohe Weihnachten, y'all.

Tell HN: Merry Christmas

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