Paging Bill O'Rly: The War on Christmas is OVAH!

[Chovexani]

Thanks to our friends in Lithuania.

Pagans, Christians unite for advent

Dec 12, 2007
By Kimberly Kweder

VILNIUS - A sacred fire built to burn off misfortunes... songs to the goddess of fire... it doesn’t sound very Christian, but for Lithuanians the celebration of Advent – the season leading up to Christmas – is done in a way that harks back to ancient times, reflecting the county’s deeply rooted pagan traditions.

Those in Vilnius on Dec. 16 will be able to witness this celebration first hand when the city will host an Advent evening, starting at 3 p.m., that will include songs, dancing and games that reflect nature and the passage of time. “Vidury lauko grusele” (Pear-Tree in the Middle of the Field) is the title of the event in Vilnius City Hall where two creative folk groups, Sedula and Kursiu Ainiai, will perform songs and traditional folk dance. And at Verkiu Park, the Kulgrinda group and Folkgroup of Strange Folklore (Keisto Folkloro Grupe) will also hold performances. Advent is a special time in Lithuania – a time to relax and spend time with family before the feast of 12 meals starts on Christmas Eve. The Latin word “advenire” is a time of waiting and preparing for the arrival of the Christ child.

And for the pagans, it is a time for renewal of the season and of the human spirit.
“In pagan times, Advent is also a time of death in nature. Light and darkness are fighting, and in the pear-tree song we will sing about the transformation because people didn’t know when the sun would return again, so they sang about the tree of life,” explained Daila Urbanavicene, a Kulgrinda dancer.

Christians and pagan traditions often coincide because they trace their feasts to the same calendar.
“Christians couldn’t decide the exact day when Christ was born, so they decided to make it Dec. 25 and this is the same time when the pagans celebrate the sun rising earlier. In traditional Advent, it is a time to be calm and quiet for ancient pagans and Christians alike,” said Daiva Steponariciene, a Sedula folk dancer and singer.

http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/19507/

Gee, holidays bringing people together? Who'd have thunk it?

[NMMNG]

1. But if they celebrate together, how will the fundies feel special?

:shrug:

[Chovexani]

2. Poor fundies.

:cry:

[NMMNG]

4. Yep, so persecuted and marginalized.

[Chovexani]

5. Ewwwwwwwww

Is that WWE Monday Night Raw at Madison Square Garden or a worship service?

Gah whose monstrosity is that, anyway?

[MikeNearMcChord]

6. I think it is that $1million dollar extravaganza

by that Baptist Church in Florida.

[Chovexani]

9. For a million dollars

There better be some Rockettes up there with Jesus.

[NMMNG]

8. It's a worship service

Though whether they're worshiping God or $$$ I'm not entirely sure. As to whose monstrosity it is:

The 16,000-seat sanctuary of Lakewood Church in Houston (at right), the nation's largest nondenominational congregation, has padded theater seats instead of wooden pews, a stage instead of an altar, and video projection screens instead of stained-glass windows. Hardly a classic place of worship, although the expansive expression of religious community in this vast space is as impressive, in its way, as any soaring medieval nave.

For more, view the slideshow

[fascisthunter]

3. Kick (nt)

[shadowknows69]

7. That's so awesome