Merry Chjristmas

merry Christmas, a greeting that is fast disappearing from our vocabulary and life. All we hear know from the PC brigade is “happy holidays” or “winter festival” or some such . Yes we realise that Christmas occurs in the bleak winter months.The question is where did it all begin and for what reason?

In pre roman britain Christmas as such was not celebrated, true that Druids held mistletoe as sacred, simply because it grew on trees with having any roots of its own. The Druids were astronomers ,mathematicians, as well as poets and bards.So first question : would they have seen the cosmic revelation announcing the birth of Christ.

It was spotted in the east by learned maegi: they might have even been from as far away as China. it is reported that they visited the Christ child in Bethlehem, but this was many weeks after the birth.Also possibly there was more than three wise men; it would have been difficult to travel thousands of miles following a cosmic phenomenum without logistic back up.The shepherds are another anomaly for a start they would not have been out in the fields during the winter months. So it is feasible that Christ was born in the spring time. Angels well they can appear at any time,so no problem there.

In pre-roman Brython, the natives celebrated Samhain which was the end of their fertile year and the descent into the darker non fertile months of winter. The Romans brought with them the celebration of “Saturnalia” where decorations were hung. During the Roman occupation, christianity came to Brython. the Celtic monks who traveled the country heard of all these celebrations and in order to convert the population to Christianity, gradually assimilated Christian events into the celebrations and events of the non christian community.There for Christ was born at the time of winter celebrations ,whether it was that time or not. The established church: by church I mean organised religion: assimilated the story of christianity into and onto the existing religious practises. I beleive that there are many things written about Christ and Christianity kept hidden from us, just as it was in ancient times. There are many books,parchments and such like hidden away in secret, from the eyes of us the so called ignorant peasants who cant possibly understand it all.

Christmas as we know it really began in victorian and edwardian times. Medieval scenes of festive celebrations became De Rigeur,Christmas as seen through rose tinted spectacles. We put up christmas trees festooned with lights, hang holly and ivy round our fire places etc and still call it a predominatly christian festival. Yet all our trees ,decorations are all “Pagan” in origin. Strange isnt it?

Anyway have a beautiful Christmas, dont stress about the money or gifts, enjoy the season and share good times with friends and family.