Merry Tree Day

Santa Claus and his elves probably came from pagan Scandinavian traditions. The Swedish Julbukk (yule goat) started out as a beast of burden for Thor, the god of thunder; eventually, it became the transport for the yule elf, who exchanged gifts for a serving of porridge. Now Santa leaves presents and takes his milk and cookies.
"Yule" is generally believed to mean "feast." The yule log was a special piece of wood selected to kick off the winter-solstice feast by lighting a fire to symbolically encourage the rapid return of the sun. Bits of ash and burnt wood were saved as talismans to protect the house throughout the next year.
The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah warned the Israelites against decorating their homes with cut trees as the pagans did: "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are in vain; for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not." (Jeremiah 10:2-4, King James Version)

I got a chain letter the other day talking about how corporations are using Happy Holidays on decorations, and asking some employees to say Happy Holidays rather than Merry Christmas---and how liberals are slowly trying to strip the country of this "Christian" holiday. Is it not enough that we have a Santa Claus in every mall in America? (Which, by the way, is kind of ironic, because Santa has nothing to do with Christianity--and in fact actually is a pretty pagan substitute for the birth of Christ--same with the "Christmas" tree--we might as well call that a Holiday tree). Funny how most of the people that are upset about "happy Holidays" wouldn't have to think twice about letting their child get a picture with Santa or the Easter bunny.

There are many other Holidays this time of year, and it just so happens that there are other Americans that celebrate those other "vile" holidays--so why the hell should they have to conform to what you think is the right holiday to celebrate? Happy Holidays covers Kwanza, Hanukah and Christmas. I already know what most of you people are thinking--this is America, so they should be celebrating Christmas", etc, etc. Actually, it's quite the opposite--this is America, so people have the freedom to celebrate whatever the hell they want.

I celebrate Christmas, so don't assume that I'm trying to eradicate the word from our everyday vernacular--just try being a little more open minded. Nobody is going to take your religion and values away from you--so don't force everybody to celebrate what you celebrate. Speaking of religion, I am not even sure if God commanded us to celebrate his birth.

That' said, I hope you guys have a Merry Christmas, or if you don't celebrate that--have a happy Kwanza or Hanukah--and lets get real, you guys don't really give a poop what it's called as long as you're off work; so stop kidding yourselves!