[Off-topic]Politically Correct Google.

Christmas has been celebrated in this Constitutional democracy from
its inception.
Curious that now it's considered a faux pas to mention it:

www.google.com

- Bob

FWIW, from
http://www.historychannel.com/exhibi...mas/real3.html

" The pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were
even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result,
Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the
celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston. Anyone
exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. "

and

" After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor,
including Christmas. In fact, Congress was in session on December 25,
1789, the first Christmas under America's new constitution. Christmas
wasn't declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870."

OTOH, the birthday of Mithra (ancient deity) has been celebrated on
December 25th since about 1400 BCE.
From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithra

"Mithra was believed to have been the son of God (Ahura Mazda).
According to Persian tradition, Ahura Mazda sent his son Mithra to
defend humanity from evil and from the Adversary, Ahriman. Aside from
that, the mythology and lore surrounding Mithra is very similar to that
surrounding Jesus - Mithra was believed to have been born on the 25th
of December, was concieved by Ahura Mazda and his virgin mother
Anahita, had 12 disciples/apostles, sharing a "last supper" with them
as well, died for the sins of humanity and arose ressurected several
days later."

Tom Davidson
Richmond, VA

"tadchem" wrote in message
oups.com...
FWIW, from
http://www.historychannel.com/exhibi...mas/real3.html

" The pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were
even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result,
Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the
celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston. Anyone
exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. "

and

" After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor,
including Christmas. In fact, Congress was in session on December 25,
1789, the first Christmas under America's new constitution. Christmas
wasn't declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870."

OTOH, the birthday of Mithra (ancient deity) has been celebrated on
December 25th since about 1400 BCE.
From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithra

"Mithra was believed to have been the son of God (Ahura Mazda).
According to Persian tradition, Ahura Mazda sent his son Mithra to
defend humanity from evil and from the Adversary, Ahriman. Aside from
that, the mythology and lore surrounding Mithra is very similar to that
surrounding Jesus - Mithra was believed to have been born on the 25th
of December, was concieved by Ahura Mazda and his virgin mother
Anahita, had 12 disciples/apostles, sharing a "last supper" with them
as well, died for the sins of humanity and arose ressurected several
days later."


Over the years I have read a lot about the links between the cult of
Mithra(s) (I have seen both used and suspect that there is no correct
version) and the cult of Christ. Its interesting to see other people have
noticed it as well :-)

"tadchem" wrote in message
oups.com...
FWIW, from
http://www.historychannel.com/exhibi...mas/real3.html

" The pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were
even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result,
Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the
celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston. Anyone
exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. "

and

" After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor,
including Christmas. In fact, Congress was in session on December 25,
1789, the first Christmas under America's new constitution. Christmas
wasn't declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870."

OTOH, the birthday of Mithra (ancient deity) has been celebrated on
December 25th since about 1400 BCE.
From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithra

"Mithra was believed to have been the son of God (Ahura Mazda).
According to Persian tradition, Ahura Mazda sent his son Mithra to
defend humanity from evil and from the Adversary, Ahriman. Aside from
that, the mythology and lore surrounding Mithra is very similar to that
surrounding Jesus - Mithra was believed to have been born on the 25th
of December, was concieved by Ahura Mazda and his virgin mother
Anahita, had 12 disciples/apostles, sharing a "last supper" with them
as well, died for the sins of humanity and arose ressurected several
days later."

Which of course fits snugly with the winter solstice and with the greek
pantheon of heavenly gods, and with three clever blokes from the Orient
trading in frankinsense and myrrh for gold who knew how to navigate
by the stars, and with children's stories everywhen.
Astronomy is the oldest science, astrology the oldest fairy tale in all
its religious forms. TV and sleep-to-work-the-next-day have deprived
us of star gazing.
Androcles.

tadchem wrote:
OTOH, the birthday of Mithra (ancient deity) has been celebrated on
December 25th since about 1400 BCE.
From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithra

I'm sure you post this in good faith, but on matters of religion and
politics the content of Wikipedia is worthless, as it merely reflects
the uneducated opinion of the bigot willing to fight longest for his
edit. This is an example.

"Mithra was believed to have been the son of God (Ahura Mazda).
According to Persian tradition, Ahura Mazda sent his son Mithra to
defend humanity from evil and from the Adversary, Ahriman. Aside from
that, the mythology and lore surrounding Mithra is very similar to that
surrounding Jesus - Mithra was believed to have been born on the 25th
of December, was concieved by Ahura Mazda and his virgin mother
Anahita, had 12 disciples/apostles, sharing a "last supper" with them
as well, died for the sins of humanity and arose ressurected several
days later."

Mitra or Mithra was a Persian deity. But the remainder of the comments
are all bunk, and involve a certain amount of confusion with the Roman
cult of Mithras -- about which many of the same things are said, but
are likewise untrue.

In such cases I always ask to see the ancient source that says x, y, z.
I have found, from experience, that those posting this stuff about
'Mithra' never know. On the other hand, when I read up on it using
some real authorities -- Manfred Clauss, "The Roman Cult of Mithras",
and David Ulansey's books -- and looked up all the ancient literary
references I could find (and scanned them:
http://www.tertullian.org/rpearse/mithras) then a very different
picture emerges. That "12 disciples" thing comes from a bas-relief of
Mithras, surrounded by 12 symbols. The symbols are... the zodiac! (He
was wearing a cloak of stars in the relief, so no wonder).

All the best,

Roger Pearse

"Robert Clark" wrote in message
oups.com...
Christmas has been celebrated in this Constitutional democracy from
its inception.
Curious that now it's considered a faux pas to mention it:

www.google.com

- Bob
What constitutional democracy is that?
Hope you had a happy "lowly cow shed where mother laid her
baby" day (cow sheds they are full of bull****), and please don't
say "zulu time", it's not "African American" time, it is still
Greenwich Mean Time; but it's ok by this democracy if you
want to call it "universal" time as well to **** off your buddy
Einstein no matter how jealous you are.
You guys live in a constitutional dictatorship, bound too tightly
by your own laws. We break ours (not the sensible ones,
of course).
Androcles.