Isn't there anyone who understands what Christmas is all about?!?!?!?

[WilliamPitt]

"...and to Band-aid the economy with binge spending." <--- should be inserted at the end of Linus' monologue

[Grey]

1. This is going to be my Xmas card this year....nt

[rurallib]

16. that is a great idea

[JaneyVee]

2. "Keep Christ in Christmas". The Pagans should be mad that Christ was inserted into the solstice.

[AldoLeopold]

3. I am

Can't speak for all pagans, but its irritating. On the other hand, I take the solstice off every year no matter what.

It happened a long time ago, and it wasn't as bad as the forced swallowing of silver or poisonous snakes for those who didn't convert.

[liberalhistorian]

6. I'm a Christian and I keep trying to tell all of this

to those who spout the usual "keep Christ in Christmas, in our house we say MERRY CHRISTMAS" crap this time each year (and now, with Facebook, it's ten times worse!). It just makes them madder, for some reason. Sigh. They simply refuse to believe that we just do NOT know Christ's actual birthdate and that we will never know it.

[AldoLeopold]

7. Funny thing is

Now Christmas is on the 25th, and the solstice falls on the 21st typically these days. I think, but don't quote me on this, that the solstice fell on the 25th in the way back machine but due to Melakovich cycles, tilt, wobble, etc., that date has no changed. I should delve more into the history of it, but it wouldn't change what the date means to me (the winter solstice that is.).

It doesn't matter, I don't celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ - just about presents, a big tree now and a homemade yule log on the 21st along with some ale/wine and quiet contemplation.

Either way, its not like the Christian horde came in to Europe and nailed people to crosses if they didn't play ball. More often than not, it was pagan kings persecuting their own people (no, my loyal subjects, solstice bad, christmas good) so that they could get into the Pope's and Constantinople's good graces for trade reasons.

[Cleita]

11. The Christ personage or "the anointed one" was there before Jesus.

It just got pasted on to him. So I don't think the Pagans were upset about that.

[Fuddnik]

12. Don't let them take the "X" out of Xmas.

[SCVDem]

4. I thought of Linus after reading the title

Nice twist!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Isn't there anyone who understands what Christmas is all about$$$$$!

[randome]

8. I thought it was about cultural disposal of alien fruitcakes that appear from out of nowhere.

If we don't stay on top of it, the fruitcakes will take over the world! (They already have a foothold in Fox News.)

[JEB]

9. A chance assuage guilt

by buying lots of useless Chinese plastic crap.

[Cleita]

10. It lost it's meaning for me when I found out Santa Claus

was just a lie. It goes to show that greed seems to be the real meaning behind the holiday.

[pinboy3niner]

13. Just what you'd expect from a Great Pumpkinista

[Berlum]

14. Joyeux Saturnalia, Grumpy O'Lielly (R)

[Bandit]

15. I think water boarding should definitely play a prominant part

Everyone knows Christ would LOVE doing that to people...

[Divine Discontent]

17. ha

yes, there are multiple other beliefs in the past that also used that time of year to celebrate their beliefs, that was then chosen to recognize the birth of Jesus by Christian leaders, but this particular holiday that a billion celebrate is titled Christmas, so it's not confusing what it's supposed to be for - now, what it's turned into for many people (commercialism to the max), that's another point

The original "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown"

Charlie Brown: I guess you were right, Linus. I shouldn't have picked this little tree. Everything I do turns into a disaster. I guess I really don't know what Christmas is all about.
[shouting in desperation]
Charlie Brown: Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?
Linus Van Pelt: Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.
[moves toward the center of the stage]
Linus Van Pelt: Lights, please.
[a spotlight shines on Linus]
Linus Van Pelt: "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"
[Linus picks up his blanket and walks back towards Charlie Brown]
Linus Van Pelt: That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

[retread]

18. Greed?

[MynameisBlarney]

19. What a steamin pile o' horseshit!

It's about ham!
Lots and lots of ham!

[Diclotican]

20. WilliamPitt

WilliamPitt

I don't try to push my belief to others - I just say God Jul.. It is a old, ancient Norwegian word, who goes way back - even long before Olav II Haralsson (the holly) deiced christianity should be the governing religion, regardless of what the rest of the land was believing was the best.... He died in 1030 at Stiklesstad in a battle....

Diclotican

[KittyWampus]

21. I miss you Charles Schultz... she says while sipping out of her Woodstock Christmas mug.

[forestpath]

22. That is awesome.

[edhopper]

23. If that is what Christmas

should only be about,
then it should not be celebrated as a national holiday.
That would be a violation of the establishment clause.

[1620rock]

24. The Pagan solstice

"Now Christmas is on the 25th of December, and the solstice falls on the 21st typically these days. I think, but don't quote me on this, that the solstice fell on the 25th in the way back machine but due to Melakovich cycles, tilt, wobble, etc., that date has no changed."

It's like this. In ancient times the solstice (like today) fell on or about the 21st of December. However the very first day that the sun could be seen with the naked eye to perceptibly stop it's decent and begin it's return to the northern sky was on December 25th....It's as simple as that.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

25. AXIAL TILT IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

23.5 degrees, baby!!!.

And Isaac Newton is the Christmas baby that demonstrably brought science into the modern age by discovering the spectrum of white light separated with a prism, discovered the laws of motion, and BTW, invented calculus and argued furiously with Leibniz over it.



My artwork here:
http://imgur.com//tEnrO

[WiffenPoof]

26. Charles Schultz Is Rolling Over In His Grave

I am a former syndicated cartoonist. I am very familiar with many of the cartoonists of the past. Charles Schultz had an agreement that when he died, Peanuts would die with him. Apparently the Schultz family couldn't resist the opportunity to continue raking in the big bucks after Sparky's death. They didn't even break stride...Peanuts continued in reprints as well as all the gains from ads (Met Life, etc.). So much for integrity.

-Paige

[WilliamPitt]

28. Um

I'm pretty sure this one was just done up by someone on the internet.

[WiffenPoof]

29. Bill, Yes Of Course It Was...

It just reminded of the related issue. I suppose every time I see Peanuts characters, I'm reminded of how much Charles Schultz didn't want his strip to survive him. It's like Bill Watterson with Calvin and Hobbs. People are constantly using his characters without permission...and he is passionate about intellectual property rights. Yeah, I know it's a bit off topic...but it is rare when I have a chance to speak on an issue that I actually have some knowledge about...LOLOLOL

By the way...I'm a big fan of your writing. Never miss an opportunity to read your offerings.

Peace

-Paige

[WilliamPitt]

30. Thanks!

The handwriting in the letterboxes had me for a minute when I first saw this one.

[Buns_of_Fire]

27. Well, sure I do! It's about people giving me stuff!

Usually, socks and underwear...

[datasuspect]

31. public buttsex and feasting?

communal shitting and vomiting?

or child abduction, child dismemberment, and child eating?

which version of midwinter rites are we talking about?