When [It] Strikes Me

Santa's red nose says he may have been drinking with Ted Kennedy.

We sure are fortunate to have brave elected leaders who are focused on the important things in life.  The below attached legislation was introduced to Congress this week by Rep. Henry Brown of South Cackalacky and co-sponsored by several other Republicans.  It essentially says that our pansy liberal country has been misappropriating Christmas and preventing people who observe Christmas from celebrating its true meaning.

Of course, Christmas, like Chanukah, is an observance of convenience and commercialism, and not really one of religion.  If it were of the Christian religion, it would not be celebrated as a continuation of harvest and pagan festivals that preceded Christianity and surrounded the Winter Solstice.

CLICK THROUGH TO KEEP ON LETTING ME RANT

It’s generally accepted in most circles that Jesus Christ, based on biblical accounts, would have been born in late summer or early autumn (although his birth has also been observed by Egyptians as early in the year as on May 20th).  December 25, conversely, is most associated with the celebration of the birth of Roman era pagan deities Mithra, Elah-Gabal and Sol, and is also known as Deus Sol Invictus Mithras or Dies Natalis Solis Invicti.  Rome reappropriated this pagan holiday to celebrate Saturn and the rebirth of the sun in the winter solstice (which falls on December 21).  Like so many Roman holidays, there was little piety at the time.

I have a feeling this one isn't on too many Republican coffee tables.

Later, Emperor Constantine chose to switch the official observance of Saturnalia to a celebration of the Christian holiday.  Many pagans and wiccans still celebrate the pre-Christian or naturalistic elements of Christmas (which is actually accurate to the calendar, unlike the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ).  Furthermore, in western culture, Christianity has taken on more importance as a commercial holiday that drives the economy and is celebrated as such.

Even Saint Nick (who was Saint Nicholas of the Greek town Demre/Myra — and is often considered a replica of the historic Basil of Ceaserea, also a Greek), is popularly characterized by the visage emblazoned by Washington Irving in “A Knickerbocker’s History of New York” and by New York cartoonist Thomas Nast in Clement Moore’s “A Visit from St. Nicholas” as a Jolly fat man with no connection to Christ, but a big connection to alcoholism and gift giving to children.  Furthermore, Saint Nick took more from the Dutch traditions of Sinteklaas, which is a Dutch holiday (also celebrated in other parts of Europe) around December 5th/6th which honors Saint Nicholas (who was the Patron Saint of Children).

Yule, itself, even has no Christian connection, as it is a term derived Germanic and Scandinavian pagan festivals related to the winter harvests.

So really, Christmas is a holiday with almost no real, tangible connection to the birth of Jesus Christ.  As a result, might it not then be considered prudent to institute some legislation ensuring by resolution that Christmas traditions be protected from the imposition of Christian religious ritual?

Oh, Congress.  Glad to see you’re keeping your priorities straight and trying to screw up the holidays at the same time you screw up the economy, health care, earmarks, and pretty much everything else you put your pen to.

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected for use by those who celebrate Christmas. (Introduced in House)

HRES 951 IH

111th CONGRESS 1st Session

H. RES. 951

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected for use by those who celebrate Christmas.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 8, 2009

Mr. BROWN of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida, Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. KINGSTON, Mr. CARTER, Mr. DUNCAN, Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina, Mr. INGLIS, Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky, Mr. BACHUS, Mr. JONES, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. SHIMKUS, Mr. SCALISE, Mr. MORAN of Kansas, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, and Mr. SOUDER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected for use by those who celebrate Christmas.

Whereas Christmas is a national holiday celebrated on December 25; and

Whereas the Framers intended that the First Amendment of the Constitution, in prohibiting the establishment of religion, would not prohibit any mention of religion or reference to God in civic dialog: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives–

(1) recognizes the importance of the symbols and traditions of Christmas;

(2) strongly disapproves of attempts to ban references to Christmas; and

(3) expresses support for the use of these symbols and traditions by those who celebrate Christmas.