Grand Avenue by Mike Thompson for December 15, 2018

A myth created by some of the supporters of Xmas as a Christian holiday. The Puritans banned it because even then 400 years ago the paganism they saw and didn’t approve of. Today it is just accepted in a general mildly informed way.

The actual date of Jesus’s birth is unknown, but, in the fourth century AD, Pope Julius I (337–352) formalized that it should be celebrated on 25 December, around the same time as the pagan Saturnalia celebrations. It is highly probable that part of the reason why he chose this date may have been because he was trying to create a Christian alternative to Saturnalia. Another reason for the decision may have been because, Roman emperor Aurelian had declared 25 December the birthdate of Sol Invictus and Julius I may have thought that he could attract more converts to Christianity by allowing them to continue to celebrate on the same day. Saturnalia was celebrated with boozing and other debauchery while Christmas was a pius event. Combining the two brought about the merriment, eating and drinking part of celebrating we still do today (and lessened, or eliminated the real debauchery! )

Another scientific theory

The war was started by pagans who wanted their glutinous debauch back. They’ve won.

O_o

Um. . .not really. . .Christmas lost, commercialism won.

It depends on where you celebrate. we will be in church Christmas Eve.

The real war is on Christians and Christianity. I do not know why they fear us as they do but it shows we must be doing something right.

See you on the other side.

\\//_

I like Xmas. One doesn’t have to be a believer to do so.

So the comic shows 11 images that have absolutely nothing to do with the birth of Christ and a measly 4 that do. I’d say Christmas is losing the battle even though it will, eventually, win the war.

The war is on traditional themes of Christmas, not the materialistic retail version of it shown here.