Winterfest/Christmas

[Pippa68]

I received a lovely email from my father in law (who lives abroad) to tell me that presents for the children have been posted. In the email he requested that I make a cake 'For Jesus' in order to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, and that everything is too commercial. I replied telling him that we tend to amalgamate Christs birth and pagan traditions as we use a tree, give presents and acknowledge Santa. He is now rather upset and appears offended ~ and went on to rant about how my child should not have learned about Diwali...this was after I told him that I love the idea of my children learning about all religions and traditions as it makes them a whole person and encourages 'tolerance' (I hate that word!) At least I am being honest. On the other hand he is heavily into porn, drinks like a fish and has been divorced twice due to adultery. Do you have to put with this sort of hypocrisy, and how do you deal with it?

[banjobabe]

Good Morning Pippa,

You seem upset that your father in law is offended by what you have said, why not make the cake and send it to him! I'm sure your child(ren) would enjoy making the cake and hopefully your father in law would appreciate it.

At the end of the day you can celebrate how ever you wish as I assume that he won't be with you for Christmas.

Rise above it, smile sweetly and don't let it get you down. I wouldn't be at all suprised if he has forgotten about it already!

Have a lovely day.

BB xx

[Pippa68]

Hi BB :o)

I am upset that he cannot even acknowledge that my point of view is as valid as his ~ however I suppose I should expect that!

For years I have kept quiet, joined him at midnight mass and said prayers at the table. I did point out to him that my Christmas cake (which we all bake together) is Christs birthday cake.

Oh well, each to their own eh? lol

[Hellyon]

Hi Pip - I know what you mean, I'm not a religeous person but I think I am quite spiritual and I think every religeon has something to offer. Diwali to me is very much a childrens/family festival, hannukah is all about family as is the festival of Saint Lucia, most of the festivals are based around the celebration of light in. My spiritual basis is pagan, which has it's roots in nature and the seasons and some of the 'witch' celebrations are lovely. If anyone has a problem with it then I think it's their problem not mine!

[Reverandfunk]

I told ny mum the other week that jesus wasnt born at Xmas and she nearly cried.

[warpig3]

Sounds familiar pippa, mrwarpigs mum is like that (well not exactly, not the porn anyway). She is an extremely devout catholic and likes nothing better than to tell people how to live their live, she does not however practice what she preaches.

As BB says, raise above it, in my experience there is usually no reasoning with 'these' people. BB's idea of the kids baking a cake for him is an excellent one!

[Hellyon]

Oh and you could really upset him by pointing out that most of the 'christian' Christmas traditions were taken from the pagan's celebrations that are older than Christianity including the cake!!

[Pippa68]

I did that too, Rev. When telling him that our Christmas cake was the birthday cake I added ''Albeit belated'' lol.

Thanks Hellyon ~ I just find it frustrating that I can see the meaning in most religions and shut up about my thoughts in order to be unoffensive, but it can never be returned.

I did point out that most Christians celebrate a pagan Christmas apart from the JWs.

[Pippa68]

I did that hellyon..which is what he found offensive, I think!

I did the same thing to my devout christian sister in law. One year she was banging on about Santa Claus being far too pagan for her liking and that her children were told he wasn't part of Christmas.

I told her that she might as well throw her tree out..and the baubles, too ;o)

[Hellyon]

Here you go http://www.novareinna.com/festive/xmas.html

[Reverandfunk]

It all stems from the pagan festival of the sun after the shortest day.

Funny how Easter also coincides with the another pagan festival....

[Pippa68]

I know many like this and it drives me crackers.

Father in law, sister in law, mother in law AND Mr P's ex wife (who always provides a list of very expensive presents for us to buy my stepdaughter).

All of them have more than loose morals ~ yet take umbrage when I point out simple facts!

[Pippa68]

That is a great link Hellyon ~ thank you! I have seen many links to the origin of Christmas, but this is by far the best :o)

I won't be sending it to the Christians though..or will I? heh heh.

[Pippa68]

Don't get me started on Easter, Rev.

Mr P's devout christian ex wife asked us to buy stepdaughter a CD for Easter last year, or money to buy one.

We replied that she will have an egg just like the others or nothing at all. Since when has Easter become a time of gift-giving?

[4GS]

Morning Pippa mate,
Here's my tuppence worth (for what it's worth).
At the end of the day they are your children, you and Mr Pipps are their main carers and will be brought up in the best way that you two see fit.
Obviously grandparents are important and their views should be taken into consideration, however, it's up to you to celebrate (or not) in the way you both want.
P.S if you do bake a cake, can I have a piece, unless you use marzipan, I hate marzipan

and Brussels sprouts



and I don't like dogs either







or wasps

[Reverandfunk]

I have a fear of those sinister 3 foot high santas/snowmen that are on sale in wilkinsons/tat shops