Christmas in the WW (was Re: Christianity in HP)

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 128392

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, juli17 at a... wrote:
> Geoff wrote:
> 
> > 
> > Re the Wizarding World  marking Christmas etc., it indicates to 
me that 
> > the festivals have some meaning for them. Otherwise they would 
use a 
> > different name... Here in the UK, we are now getting one or two 
local 
> > authorities who refuse to mark Christmas on PC grounds and 
celebrate 
> > the "Winter Festival" or something equally vague.
> > 
> > 
> 
> Julie says:
> In the US and Britain (and probably much of Europe, Australia, etc),
> marking Christmas and celebrating it as a holiday does not mean 
> one holds Christian beliefs. That holiday has become a secular 
> holiday to many who mark it as a time to gather with loved ones 
> and exchange gifts. Some may have been raised Christian and 
> may still consider themselves nominally Christian though they no
> longer worship in church, some were never raised in the church
> at all, and some have lapsed from the faith. 

Geoff:
This is my point above... "the festivals have some meaning for them." 
We are, as I said, getting authorities who are attempting to destroy 
any vestige of a link with the Christian foundation of Christmas - by 
taking Christ's name out of the very title of the festival.

Christmas and Easter have indeed become very secularised - I for one 
object to the sale and advertising of Christmas presents and cards 
from as early as August in some shops - but the fact is that, because 
of the activities and expressed good wishes, many people's minds do 
turn, if only briefly, to the real meaning of these holidays'
 
So, Hogwarts joins the rest of society in having Christmas trees, 
presents, carols, Christmas dinner etc. Agreed, some of these have 
come from non-Christian roots but are still there to jog the 
collective memories of participants to remind them of what Christians 
consider are the basic foundations of what life is all about, to what 
we see as the real meaning of worship, love and service to others.