I used to work for a lawyer who loved Christmas! He went gaga over it... decorations in the office, gifts given with a flourish to all staff, and he'd hum carols all through the season. His boss also liked Christmas and I worked for them as an administrator. The only thing odd about them in this context...is that both of them were Jewish. I really enjoyed both of them...and that was one of the best working experiences of my life. 🌸
I saw a large bilboard the other day saying "Keep Christ in Christmas". It really is pathetic how little Christians know about the origins of their religion while feeling persecuted.
the word Christmas does not give you a clue on what it is?.....it is Christ's day and mass is celebrated on that day...Christ - mass It is a Christmas is popularized by Christians...no one even think of pagan on this day
Christmas is Sol Invictus aka worship of the sun. Literally on December 25. Christians are too stupid to do their research. Christmas never had anything to do with Jesus, it’s a pagan festival for the sun. Nobody even thinks of Jesus when they celebrate Christmas. Duh
No it’s really pathetic as hell little atheists no but how much they think they know, A lot of Christians May not know a lot but at least they’re not complete ass hats unlike atheists Who have a insufferable ignorance and arrogance. Has Simon Cowell says” it’s one thing to be confident it’s another to be delusional, and you fall in the latter”
I'm an athiest and I love Christmas, it's my favourite time of year. The presents, the food, the drink, time off work, time with friends, I don't care what you call it, count me in. You don't have to believe in ghosts and spooks to enjoy the trappings of Halloween, you don't have to be Christian to enjoy Christmas.
Half way through the dark, it's a good time to take a little break. Eat, drink and be merry for next week we are back to slogging through the night until the sun comes back. If you want to label this break Christmas, I'm cool with that.
superspecky4eyes my point is it makes those people the biggest hypocrites. Those who don’t believe in God should stick to their word and stay out of things that don’t pertain to them.
Wassailing is one of the best pagan traditions of all: getting hammered on apple cider to bring on a year of fertility and a bumper crop of apples. This clearly beats the snot out of prayer because at no point during a prayer do you get to drink booze.
the men were the ones who went out "Wassailing". They did that for Winter Solstice. I think the game of "Apple Bobbing"(dunking for apples) was also part of the celebration. I think our British/ Scottish/Irish cousins really knew how to celebrate Winter Solstice !
BELTANE ... This festival is also known as Beltane, the Celtic May Day. It officially begins at moonrise on May Day Eve, and marks the beginning of the third quarter or second half of the ancient Celtic year. It is celebrated as an early pastoral festival accompanying the first turning of the herds out to wild pasture. The rituals were held to promote fertility. The cattle were driven between the Belfires to protect them from ills. Contact with the fire was interpreted as symbolic contact with the sun. In early Celtic times, the druids kindled the Beltane fires with specific incantations. Later the Christian church took over the Beltane observances, a service was held in the church, followed by a procession to the fields or hills, where the priest kindled the fire LAMMAS...This is an Irish Gaelic name for the feast which commemorates the funeral games of Lugh, Celtic god of light, and son of the Sun. In the mythological story of the Wheel of the Year, the Sun God transfers his power into the grain, and is sacrificed when the grain is harvested. So we have a dying, self-sacrificing and resurrecting god of the harvest, who dies for his people so that they may live. Sound familiar? OSTRA.. This marks the Spring Equinox. This is the Pagan "Easter" - or rather, this is the day that Christians borrowed to be their Easter. It is traditionally the day of equilibrium, neither harsh winter or the merciless summer, and is a time of childish wonder. Painted eggs, baskets of flowers and the like are generally used to decorate the house. It is common to use this time to free yourself from things which hinder progress. As a day of equilibrium, it is a good time to perform self banishings and also perform workings to gain things we have lost, or to gain qualities we wish to have. Yule: Winter Solstice - Dec 21st/22nd The origin of the word Yule, has several suggested origins from the Old English word, geõla, the Old Norse word jõl, a pagan festival celebrated at the winter solstice, or the Anglo-Saxon word for the festival of the Winter Solstice, 'Iul' meaning 'wheel'. In old almanacs Yule was represented by the symbol of a wheel, conveying the idea of the year turning like a wheel, The Great Wheel of the Zodiac, The Wheel of Life. The spokes of the wheel, were the old festivals of the year, the solstices and equinoxes. The winter solstice, the rebirth of the Sun, is an important turning point, as it marks the shortest day, when the hours of daylight are at their least. It also the start of the increase in the hours of daylight, until the Summer Solstice, when darkness becomes ascendant once more.
I love Christmas. Like the food, and decorations, gifts, and having vacation time off. To me, it is a secular vacation that celebrates family, and the shortest day of the year (Solstice). I've been an atheist since 13 years old. I had a brief fling with pagan religions because I like tarot cards, candles, and incense, and of course, archeology. I love the whole "Stonehenge" thing.
I grew up atheist in Eastern Europe. The funny thing is that here Jesus brings presents and we have a separate Mikulás day when we just get chocolate. However, I never thought any of that was real growing up. It was just a story. Nor did my family. I didn't even know people actually believed in religions until later.
Wayne, you believe in an invisible jewish zombie that killed himself to save his creation from himself. He's pissed off after making people from dirt because a talking snake talked them into eating magic fruit from a magic tree. This doesn't take faith, this takes gullibility. You obviously don't know shit about science. Every theory has unknowns. As more data accumulates, you modify your theory. The theories survive as theoretical predictions meets experimental results. This is exactly what has happened with evo. The most supported theory we've had in biology. As far as transitional fossils. Keep in mind the odds of any organism being fossilized are small. But have near complete lineages for many life forms. Here's a few: *Fish to amphibian* Paleoniscoids - both ancestral to modern fish and land vertebrates Osteolepis - modified limb bones, amphibian like skull and teeth Kenichthys - shows the position of exhaling nostrils moving from front to fish to throat in tetrapods in its halfway point, in the teeth Eusthenopteron, Sterropterygion - fin bones similarly structured to amphibian feet, but no toes yet, and still fishlike bodily proportions Panderichthys, Elpistostege - tetrapod-like bodily proportions. Obruchevichthys - fragmented skeleton with intermediate characteristics, possible first tetrapod. Tiktaalik - a fish with developing legs. Also appearance of ribs and neck. Acanthostega gunnari-famous intermediate fossil. most primitive fossil that is known to be a tetrapod Ichthyostega - like Acanthostega, another fishlike amphibian Hynerpeton - A little more advanced then Acanthostega and Ichtyostega Labyrinthodonts - still many fishlike features, but tailfins have disappeared Gars - Fish with vascularized swim bladders that can function as lungs Lungfish and Birchirs - fish that have lungs *Primitive to modern amphibians* Temnospondyls Dendrerpeton acadianum Archegosaurus decheni Eryops megacephalus Trematops Amphibamus lyelli Doleserpeton annectens Triadobatrachus - a primitive frog. Vieraella - an early modern frog Karaurus - a primitive salamander *Amphibian to reptile* Proterogyrinus Limnoscelis Tseajaia Solenodonsaurus Hylonomus Paleothyris *Early reptile to diapsid* Hylonomus Paleothyris Petrolacosaurus Araeoscelis Apsisaurus Claudiosaurus Planocephalosaurus Protorosaurus Prolacerta Proterosuchus Hyperodapedon Trilophosaurus *Non-human primate to human* Australopithecus - a genus of bipedal apes Australopithecus sediba - advanced Australopithecus showing more human features Homo habilis - a transitional form from Australopithecus to later Homo Homo rudolfensis - a type of Homo habilis or a different species Homo ergaster - a form of Homo erectus or a distinct species Homo erectus - a transitional form from Australopithecus to later Homo (Latin for humans) species Homo heidelbergensis - A possible common ancestor of modern man?
@@GuitarDog_atx Id bet Wayne DIOR doesn't believe in what you described in your assumption about him. And since we're going to assume things. I would assume you believe no intelligence was involved in creating the universe and the universe its self created intelligence. The same intelligence that says there is no intelligence behind the universe.
Viking Jesus... Now I need to see that. Here in Argentina I have only ever seen "classic" Jesus, since we are mostly European descendants, but when I went to Peru I saw the Peruvian Jesus in the Nativity scene, with lots of Peruvian decorations, llamas instead of camels, some mountains, the virgin Mary as a mountain goddess, etc.
Christmas should be about family, friends, and being with the ones you love. It doesn't need to be more than that. These things don't require a god, nor does it require a sacrifice on the alter of captilism. It's the people that makes Christmas great. Not anything else.
I'm an atheist, and I love Christmas. Big turkey dinner with all the extended family, brandy and cigars and hot chocolate beside the fire, swapping gifts, the whole shebang. I even like all the decorations and nativity scenes on my neighbors' lawns. It brightens up the coldest and darkest part of the year.
Do you know why Turkey? Nothing "attached". To the question, Where I am from we eat Pig for Christmas, just curious if there are any ( political, regional etc.) reasons why it is Turkey? If you know that is. Happy holidays!
@@babbonatale6342 Because a turkey is large and will feed a lot of people in one meal, and because it's tasty! Also, turkeys used to be very expensive to buy, so they were only eaten on special occasions like Christmas or Thanksgiving.
I still love Christmas, mainly for that throw back to my childhood and the innocence, joy, excitement, etc and as someone who refused to fully grow up and has a rule about immature and childish at least once a day, I love the whole thing of going back to being a kid for a whole month, being excited, buying gifts, watching the same old films and shows, listening to the same old songs and having presents and a big meal and all of the sweets and chocolates and all of the lights and decorations and everything. Plus it just makes winter so much better, the dark streets are lit up by the lights and something to look forward to in the winter and to come home from the cold to a nice green tree with warm lights and sit down in a big jumper and eat some chocolate and have a nice drink (for me apple shloer or a cherry coke, as I don't drink anymore) while watching the muppets Christmas Carol or the snowman or a Simpsons special or nightmare before Christmas or love actually or die hard, etc. For a big kid like me who loves things remaining the same and hates the weather and darkness of winter, it's great. The capitalism aspect sucks a bit but it's not so bad here, it's not like in America when it comes to shops, we're British, we queue.
My santa sits atop a giant mountain with his voice like thunder chanting Ho ho ho that could be heard for miles. And than speaks the ritual gospil to the chosen child, "you'll shoot your eye out kid."
I did not even know christmas was supposedly a religious holiday until I was in my teens. To me it was always about Santa and presents. jesus had no connection to it at all which is how it should be
I had something similar happen except it was when I was 8, when we went to church for Midnight Mass. I do remember when I was younger hearing some vaguely religious thing about Christmas but it was mostly about presents and getting to see my cousins who lived over in the next County or up near Sacramento. It helps that my dad is a liberal Catholic, he respected my choice to leave religion but he still gives me crap about it in the way dad do that means they still love you but enjoy watching you groan.
I went to a protestant school (in the Netherlands, so the religion was only in celebrating holidays and storytime included a bible story) so I was aware of what christmas represented for religious people. My family just didn't celebrate it like that. We ate a lot with our family and played boardgames, drink wine and spirits, put up a tree with lights and lots of candles around the house, more or less a festival of light. The Netherlands also meant no presents on christmas, but on sinterklaas, so that wasn't even an association for me. :P
100% Yeah, I was totes 'atheist' expect that I was raised to believe in SANTA. Even though I kinda figured out it was all just a make believe thing O_o
Good show ! The “ war on Christmas “ touted by the Evangelical right is the same as their “they’re coming for your guns “ battle cry ; self-created bullshit ! Keep up the good work.- Rich
Here in Sweden, we celebrate with a mustard basted ham (Särimner, anyone?), loads of beer and hard spirits, and loads of other foods. We have a tree decked with animal ornaments and apples/orb ornaments in our living rooms (almost like it's a throwback to the Winter solstice sacrifices). We also celebrate the Catholic saint Lucia on Dec 13 here in Protestant Sweden.
@@jessiehermit9503 I've never believed in it, but I've always loved folk lore, so I've read a lot of mythologies. Plus, my room mate is a Tricksterian, so I get loads of info from her.
I enjoy getting Christians from various denominations to start arguing with one another. "Jesus is God!"...."No, Jesus isn't God...he's just the son of God.", etc. At that point, I tend to throw in a quote from Harry Potter...they love that!
The story that Aron told, about the Trash Christmas Tree, was hilarious to me. One year, my wife and I did the same exact thing. We even had some Rx pill bottles as ornaments, and used anything shiny, we could find. We also took our holiday junk mail and flyers, and fashioned a tree from that, which I still have to this day. Unlike Aron though, we didn't see this as disrespectful. We were upset that we couldn't be with our families that year, so come Hell or high water, we were going to celebrate together, as our new family ( Her, Myself, and our kitty, Sushi ). It was a lot of fun, and it was very special to us. Nothing to do with Jesus, but rather, a reason to cook a good meal and celebrate our new love.
So, I'm maybe 6 yrs old and riding in the cars with my parents. We were talking about something to do with Christmas ("what would you like Santa to bring you", that sort of thing). My mom turned to my dad and sotto voce, says to him "should we tell him?" to which I replied "tell me what, that Santa isn't real? I've known that for a long time, mom". My parents burst out laughing.
Arons debate with kent is hilarious. I used to look up to Kent as if his arguments are fool proof, and it feels so good to have someone like aron to put him in his place.
Yeah but I wish Aron hadn't stooped to Kent's level with the name calling and such. As far as I'm concerned hes giving kent the credability he doesnt deserve. Kent should have been left to rot after getting out of prison. A long forgotten relic from creationist past. Dont get me wrong I have nothing but respect for Aron, but the whole debate is just childish. And now in this video I hear him talking as if hes proud of the way he composes himself in those videos kinda makes me sad.
@Peter Hockley I do realize that and I think it's important to do so, but your displaying one of the problems I have with these videos. There is no reason to resort to childish name calling I realize kent started it but aron didnt need to do the same. Let the arguments stand or fail on their own and dont let him drag you down to his level. His followers will likely see him doing this and believe he is incapable of having a civil conversation. Especially after watching the first debate. I dont like kent, I am a firm believer that he doesnt honestly believe what hes peddling. Watching logicked's videos its proven by the fact that very often his slides have nothing to do with what hes talking about. It's our job to prove that not only does the evidence support our position but that we are the mature and rational ones. I'm really curious what Matt Dillahunty thinks of all of this given his background.
@Robin The figure of speech of which you seem ignorant is not related to sex or sexuality. Which means you're sadly unable to accurately address my criticism of Cabbit's criticism. Which just makes you look dumb.
Great discussion. I get really angry when I hear about televangelists because I know people who believe their garbage and fall for it. I have kept telling them that they are lawbreaking con artists who belong in prison and some get upset with me. As for Christmas I can enjoy it even better now as an atheist and knowing the true origins because there is no obligation. It’s about being with people you care about. Aron and Seth always give great information and I learn something new each time I listen.
39:34 This reminds me of a passage from Madeline Miller's novel "Circe". Why do the gods allow evil in the world? When Circe converses with Hermes, he offers a very plausible explanation. Excerpt: I made my voice as careless as I could. “And what of that old Titan Prometheus on his rock. How fares he?” “How do you think? He loses a liver a day.” “Still? I have never understood why helping mortals made Zeus so angry.” “Tell me,” he said, “who gives better offerings, a miserable man or a happy one?” “A happy one, of course.” “Wrong,” he said. “A happy man is too occupied with his life. He thinks he is beholden to no one. But make him shiver, kill his wife, cripple his child, then you will hear from him. He will starve his family for a month to buy you a pure-white yearling calf. If he can afford it, he will buy you a hundred.” “But surely,” I said, “you have to reward him eventually. Otherwise, he will stop offering.” “Oh, you would be surprised how long he will go on. But yet, in the end, it’s best to give him something. Then he will be happy again. And you can start over.” End of excerpt.
I was debating a JW yesterday and I posted the Systematic Classification of Life series. He didn't want evidence, so he countered by saying, "Systematic classification of life: Genesis 1 & 2." . . . .......
In Greece there was a tradition to put a log in the fire place big enough to burn during the 12 days of the xmas holiday in order to keep away the evil spirits that roam the streets during these days and enter the houses through the chimneys.
We meed our atheist activists, leaders and shows here so much ! I couldn't put to words what I wanted to say or find the ways to express my un-belief until I found Aron Ra, Seth Andrews, Matt Dilahunty, James Randi and your You Tube Videos and the other great people who work with you ! You ARE helping people !
Watching Aron verbally paint brush Inmate #06452-017 (That's Hovind just incase anyone hasn't watched this yet) over the past month or so has been more entertaining than anything on TV.
It's entertaining but every time Hovind's cronies laugh when Aron has the cheek to suggest we evolved from apes it makes me want to punch them in the face through the internet.
@26:55 mins Aron Ra's statement that the political scene in America is an embarrassment made me laugh. Have you seen the political Farce in England. It is a huge cause of face palm and despair for us here. As a lifelong Atheist and new Apistevist, Video's like this bring so much understanding and background to the traditions and reasons for religious dogma that it confirms the reality of the falsehood of religion. Thank you for the great content, keep up the good work.
Don't forget the connection to the green man in Europe. Father Christmas and the spirit of Christmas was dressed in fur trimmed green robes with holly in his hair and beard, also with connections to Odin and possibly Herne the Hunter perhaps even Cernnunos and druidic traditions all mishmashed together. The red robes and white beard were later additions...and then well the commercialisation of Saint Nicolas, Sinter Claus, and all the other incarnations of Santa.
My brother and I pretended to believe in Santa for longer than we did, because we were afraid my mom would be mad at us if she knew we didn’t believe. Pretty messed up. Oh well, I still enjoy the holidays!
My older sister and I pretended to believe in Santa for years just to get the extra presents. We considered that fair because we'd been lied to and that was our idea of 'revenge'.
I'm not sure how anybody finds them funny. I'm only on video 2 of Hovind's response and I already want to tear my hair out. It's frustrating to know there are people that dense out there.
You have my pity..a friend from Muskoka. Do not do the facedesk thing too often, it hurts and doesn't actually change anything, except the configuration of your facial features ;)
Living in the UK, I sometimes forget, how difficult it can still be for my fellow Atheists across the pond. More power to you gents. Keep championing reason & the search for what is demonstrably true, over the desire for an emotional safety blanket.
That was freaking great. I don't do the tree, I don't like the presents, but I do like seeing family and eating and watching movies together. Good times.
Happy Hanukkah, kwanzaa, st Lucia day, Saturnalia, Krampusnaugnt, St Nick's, Winter Solstice, Festiveus,Boxing day,Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe,Bodhi day, Advent,St Barbra's day, Feast of immaculate inception,Longest night, st Steven's day, Mother's night,Pancha Ganapati, Malkh, Day of the Birth of the unconcerned sun, Humanlignt,yalda,Koliada, Yule, 3 kings day, St john the evangelicalist day,Hogswatch, St Sylvester's day, holy innocents day, international day of disabled persons, Newtomas, Watch night, Zamenhof day, feast of the winters veil, soyal, life day, Merry Christmas and a happy New year Seth&Aron!
For Christmas this year I want Spock to come back from the future with a quantum computer so we can all browse the entire known tree of life at will. Is that too much to ask Satan Claws?
If anyone is waging war on Christmas, it is all those shops and businesses shoving it down our throats from September onwards! Come Boxing Day (26th Dec) and all the Boxing Day Sales and the Weightwatcher adverts, I'm heaving a sigh of relief that is all over for another year. Let us remember that the Winter Solstice (the word that Seth was reaching for) is and should be a bloody good excuse to get together with friends and family for a knees up and look forward to the coming of Spring!
I honestly couldn't watch those Hovind videos. I'd end up punching a hole through my screen Bobby Moynihan style. But gourd bless you Aron for doing what you do.
To the best of my knowledge, the Christmas tree was a German rather than Celtic thing, so I'm sceptical of it's being druidic. "Kissing Boughs" were a British thing and Mistletoe was sacred to the druids, so there's a druidic connection if you're looking for one.
OH Aron! SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME about my parents, me, and santa claus. I was 9, and defending santa story because i knew my parents would never lie to me. When I found out the truth, I never really trusted them again.
@@mstalcup I think I read about that, something to do with a mid-air collision with the tooth fairy. The important thing is that somebody died so that I can get on with the thankless job of sinning.
The pastor at the church I used to attend always had a biblical explanation for the christmas tree and candy canes. yep, that's right candy canes. He said the red and white stripes signified Jesus bleeding for us. The white represented purity. The hook reminds us that he is our shepherd. I haven't looked at a candy cane quite the same as I did. Gross. Now the red stripes remind me of blood. Great! And what about the fruity flavored candy canes out there? What's the explanation for that? I almost laughed at this "sermon". I thought it was a childish and stupid sermon that should be given to children as a bedtime story, I wish I had known about Jer. 10: that would be a great conversations starter. Yeah, uh Pastor, did you know that it's forbidden to cut down and decorate a christmas tree? Of course a woman can't question or challenge a pastor about scripture because women aren't supposed to instruct or teach men and silence in the church, etc. etc. Yeah, the hypocrisy of this church culture, that is only one of the many reasons I left.
There are equally nonsensical explanations for Easter traditions too. We got the Easter eggs are because Jesus gives new life and eggs symbolise that. 😐
Maybe this pastor is mixing up the origins of candy cane stripes with barber pole stripes, lol. (The red on the barber poles definitely does allude to blood, as barbers used to be barber-surgeons. If you needed a haircut, shave, and a gangrenous limb hacked off, or needed to get some kidney stones out, he was your dude). I’m being facetious, of course, just thought I’d make fun of the pastor for believing something he either heard once or saw on a “credible” Google link. As for candy canes, no one really knows who came up with them or first shaped them into “j”s, just that it probably happened at the end of the 19th century in America.
Nova Scotia is lovely. We have politics in Canada. The right may not be as right as USA but Trump has empowered the Canadian right, which we need to fight.
JiveDadson -- ha ha, that's similar to what we say about Atlanta! There's ATL, and outside the perimeter, there's Georgia. ("The perimeter" being shorthand for perimeter highway Interstate 285.)
I used to work for a lawyer who loved Christmas! He went gaga over it... decorations in the office, gifts given with a flourish to all staff, and he'd hum carols all through the season. His boss also liked Christmas and I worked for them as an administrator.
The only thing odd about them in this context...is that both of them were Jewish.
I really enjoyed both of them...and that was one of the best working experiences of my life. 🌸
This just proves that Christmas has become largely a secular holiday.
@@dragoninthewest1 as it was in history before the Christians rather joined into the festivities!!
Winter Solstice, a celebration for the end of winter and the return of the sun.
I saw a large bilboard the other day saying "Keep Christ in Christmas". It really is pathetic how little Christians know about the origins of their religion while feeling persecuted.
Something being" pagan "doesn't mean christians can't redeem it.....read romans 14.....
the word Christmas does not give you a clue on what it is?.....it is Christ's day and mass is celebrated on that day...Christ - mass
It is a Christmas is popularized by Christians...no one even think of pagan on this day
Christmas is Sol Invictus aka worship of the sun. Literally on December 25. Christians are too stupid to do their research. Christmas never had anything to do with Jesus, it’s a pagan festival for the sun. Nobody even thinks of Jesus when they celebrate Christmas. Duh
No it’s really pathetic as hell little atheists no but how much they think they know, A lot of Christians May not know a lot but at least they’re not complete ass hats unlike atheists Who have a insufferable ignorance and arrogance.
Has Simon Cowell says” it’s one thing to be confident it’s another to be delusional, and you fall in the latter”
@@sevensickszero6112why should anyone care what your book of fables says ?
I'm an athiest and I love Christmas, it's my favourite time of year. The presents, the food, the drink, time off work, time with friends, I don't care what you call it, count me in.
You don't have to believe in ghosts and spooks to enjoy the trappings of Halloween, you don't have to be Christian to enjoy Christmas.
superspecky4eyes yeah except partaking of such holiday makes you a hypocrite let’s not forget that.
Half way through the dark, it's a good time to take a little break. Eat, drink and be merry for next week we are back to slogging through the night until the sun comes back.
If you want to label this break Christmas, I'm cool with that.
@@nsr5961 no it doesn't
@@nsr5961 What's your point?
superspecky4eyes my point is it makes those people the biggest hypocrites. Those who don’t believe in God should stick to their word and stay out of things that don’t pertain to them.
When I was in the Marine Corps we decorated our tree with beer cans and toilet paper.
That's pretty brutal. 😅 You take what you can get...
@PhysicsIsGod It's the most wonderful time of the beer...
When I worked in the hospital we made a xmas tree out of blown up rubber gloves, bedpans, and medicine cups. It was ugly and awesome at the same time.
@@cindyclemmons8009 That works too.
Oorah
Wassailing is one of the best pagan traditions of all: getting hammered on apple cider to bring on a year of fertility and a bumper crop of apples. This clearly beats the snot out of prayer because at no point during a prayer do you get to drink booze.
catholics drink wine in their celebration
the men were the ones who went out "Wassailing". They did that for Winter Solstice. I think the game of "Apple Bobbing"(dunking for apples) was also part of the celebration. I think our British/ Scottish/Irish cousins really knew how to celebrate Winter Solstice !
Axial Tilt: the reason for the season.
Make christmas pagan again🎄
I am stealing this phrase
MAKE it pagan? it always was! haha!
they are ,arent they ?
YASS!!!
BELTANE ... This festival is also known as Beltane, the Celtic May Day. It officially begins at moonrise on May Day Eve, and marks the beginning of the third quarter or second half of the ancient Celtic year. It is celebrated as an early pastoral festival accompanying the first turning of the herds out to wild pasture. The rituals were held to promote fertility. The cattle were driven between the Belfires to protect them from ills. Contact with the fire was interpreted as symbolic contact with the sun. In early Celtic times, the druids kindled the Beltane fires with specific incantations. Later the Christian church took over the Beltane observances, a service was held in the church, followed by a procession to the fields or hills, where the priest kindled the fire
LAMMAS...This is an Irish Gaelic name for the feast which commemorates the funeral games of Lugh, Celtic god of light, and son of the Sun. In the mythological story of the Wheel of the Year, the Sun God transfers his power into the grain, and is sacrificed when the grain is harvested. So we have a dying, self-sacrificing and resurrecting god of the harvest, who dies for his people so that they may live. Sound familiar?
OSTRA..
This marks the Spring Equinox. This is the Pagan "Easter" - or rather, this is the day that Christians borrowed to be their Easter. It is traditionally the day of equilibrium, neither harsh winter or the merciless summer, and is a time of childish wonder. Painted eggs, baskets of flowers and the like are generally used to decorate the house. It is common to use this time to free yourself from things which hinder progress. As a day of equilibrium, it is a good time to perform self banishings and also perform workings to gain things we have lost, or to gain qualities we wish to have.
Yule: Winter Solstice - Dec 21st/22nd
The origin of the word Yule, has several suggested origins from the Old English word, geõla, the Old Norse word jõl, a pagan festival celebrated at the winter solstice, or the Anglo-Saxon word for the festival of the Winter Solstice, 'Iul' meaning 'wheel'. In old almanacs Yule was represented by the symbol of a wheel, conveying the idea of the year turning like a wheel, The Great Wheel of the Zodiac, The Wheel of Life. The spokes of the wheel, were the old festivals of the year, the solstices and equinoxes.
The winter solstice, the rebirth of the Sun, is an important turning point, as it marks the shortest day, when the hours of daylight are at their least. It also the start of the increase in the hours of daylight, until the Summer Solstice, when darkness becomes ascendant once more.
Aron Ra and Seth Andrews! My holidays are fulfilled! All the best to you and yours, you beautiful warriors of truth! Love and Peace
Warriors of Truth. I love it !
@@doneestoner9945 🥰✌
I love Christmas. Like the food, and decorations, gifts, and having vacation time off. To me, it is a secular vacation that celebrates family, and the shortest day of the year (Solstice). I've been an atheist since 13 years old. I had a brief fling with pagan religions because I like tarot cards, candles, and incense, and of course, archeology. I love the whole "Stonehenge" thing.
doggiesarus yea Christmas is my favorite holiday, i just ignore the christian add ons
I grew up atheist in Eastern Europe. The funny thing is that here Jesus brings presents and we have a separate Mikulás day when we just get chocolate. However, I never thought any of that was real growing up. It was just a story. Nor did my family. I didn't even know people actually believed in religions until later.
@John Wright well I came out of the womb an atheist lol. How'd your parents take it or are they atheists as well?
Wayne, you believe in an invisible jewish zombie that killed himself to save his creation from himself. He's pissed off after making people from dirt because a talking snake talked them into eating magic fruit from a magic tree. This doesn't take faith, this takes gullibility.
You obviously don't know shit about science. Every theory has unknowns. As more data accumulates, you modify your theory. The theories survive as theoretical predictions meets experimental results. This is exactly what has happened with evo. The most supported theory we've had in biology.
As far as transitional fossils. Keep in mind the odds of any organism being fossilized are small. But have near complete lineages for many life forms. Here's a few:
*Fish to amphibian*
Paleoniscoids - both ancestral to modern fish and land vertebrates
Osteolepis - modified limb bones, amphibian like skull and teeth
Kenichthys - shows the position of exhaling nostrils moving from front to fish to throat in tetrapods in its halfway point, in the teeth
Eusthenopteron, Sterropterygion - fin bones similarly structured to amphibian feet, but no toes yet, and still fishlike bodily proportions
Panderichthys, Elpistostege - tetrapod-like bodily proportions.
Obruchevichthys - fragmented skeleton with intermediate characteristics, possible first tetrapod.
Tiktaalik - a fish with developing legs. Also appearance of ribs and neck.
Acanthostega gunnari-famous intermediate fossil. most primitive fossil that is known to be a tetrapod
Ichthyostega - like Acanthostega, another fishlike amphibian
Hynerpeton - A little more advanced then Acanthostega and Ichtyostega
Labyrinthodonts - still many fishlike features, but tailfins have disappeared
Gars - Fish with vascularized swim bladders that can function as lungs
Lungfish and Birchirs - fish that have lungs
*Primitive to modern amphibians*
Temnospondyls
Dendrerpeton acadianum
Archegosaurus decheni
Eryops megacephalus
Trematops
Amphibamus lyelli
Doleserpeton annectens
Triadobatrachus - a primitive frog.
Vieraella - an early modern frog
Karaurus - a primitive salamander
*Amphibian to reptile*
Proterogyrinus
Limnoscelis
Tseajaia
Solenodonsaurus
Hylonomus
Paleothyris
*Early reptile to diapsid*
Hylonomus
Paleothyris
Petrolacosaurus
Araeoscelis
Apsisaurus
Claudiosaurus
Planocephalosaurus
Protorosaurus
Prolacerta
Proterosuchus
Hyperodapedon
Trilophosaurus
*Non-human primate to human*
Australopithecus - a genus of bipedal apes
Australopithecus sediba - advanced Australopithecus showing more human features
Homo habilis - a transitional form from Australopithecus to later Homo
Homo rudolfensis - a type of Homo habilis or a different species
Homo ergaster - a form of Homo erectus or a distinct species
Homo erectus - a transitional form from Australopithecus to later Homo (Latin for humans) species
Homo heidelbergensis - A possible common ancestor of modern man?
@@GuitarDog_atx Id bet Wayne DIOR doesn't believe in what you described in your assumption about him. And since we're going to assume things. I would assume you believe no intelligence was involved in creating the universe and the universe its self created intelligence. The same intelligence that says there is no intelligence behind the universe.
Viking Jesus... Now I need to see that.
Here in Argentina I have only ever seen "classic" Jesus, since we are mostly European descendants, but when I went to Peru I saw the Peruvian Jesus in the Nativity scene, with lots of Peruvian decorations, llamas instead of camels, some mountains, the virgin Mary as a mountain goddess, etc.
Christmas should be about family, friends, and being with the ones you love. It doesn't need to be more than that. These things don't require a god, nor does it require a sacrifice on the alter of captilism. It's the people that makes Christmas great. Not anything else.
*FESTIVUS*
*FOR THE RESTIVUS*
This is a pet topic of mine. I love pagan origins of holidays. I also used to be a Wiccan myself.
Santa Claus have 8 reindeers.
Odin's horse have 8 legs. Think about it. ;)
I hear Sleipnir got a broken leg and had to be put down. That's why Rudolph now leads the train.
Maybe Odin was so large, he had to ride two horses? 8 legs. lol
So did Mohammad. what's the point?
@@harmonicamanrandy Muhammad had eight legs?
imagine that each of those 8 legs is a reindeer. now imagine that horse running.
I always love to listen to the two of you together, great show!
I'm waiting for the second coming of Hitchens, that's when the real war on Christmas will begin.
Thank you Seth and Aron a wonderful Xmas present.
I'm an atheist, and I love Christmas. Big turkey dinner with all the extended family, brandy and cigars and hot chocolate beside the fire, swapping gifts, the whole shebang. I even like all the decorations and nativity scenes on my neighbors' lawns. It brightens up the coldest and darkest part of the year.
Do you know why Turkey? Nothing "attached". To the question, Where I am from we eat Pig for Christmas, just curious if there are any ( political, regional etc.) reasons why it is Turkey? If you know that is. Happy holidays!
@@babbonatale6342 Because a turkey is large and will feed a lot of people in one meal, and because it's tasty! Also, turkeys used to be very expensive to buy, so they were only eaten on special occasions like Christmas or Thanksgiving.
I still love Christmas, mainly for that throw back to my childhood and the innocence, joy, excitement, etc and as someone who refused to fully grow up and has a rule about immature and childish at least once a day, I love the whole thing of going back to being a kid for a whole month, being excited, buying gifts, watching the same old films and shows, listening to the same old songs and having presents and a big meal and all of the sweets and chocolates and all of the lights and decorations and everything.
Plus it just makes winter so much better, the dark streets are lit up by the lights and something to look forward to in the winter and to come home from the cold to a nice green tree with warm lights and sit down in a big jumper and eat some chocolate and have a nice drink (for me apple shloer or a cherry coke, as I don't drink anymore) while watching the muppets Christmas Carol or the snowman or a Simpsons special or nightmare before Christmas or love actually or die hard, etc.
For a big kid like me who loves things remaining the same and hates the weather and darkness of winter, it's great.
The capitalism aspect sucks a bit but it's not so bad here, it's not like in America when it comes to shops, we're British, we queue.
My santa sits atop a giant mountain with his voice like thunder chanting Ho ho ho that could be heard for miles. And than speaks the ritual gospil to the chosen child, "you'll shoot your eye out kid."
I love Christmas!! And so did my Viking ancestors in Norway/Sweden/Denmark. Who doesn't love the Yule Tide?
Glædelig jul
Two great intelligences and great voices are just making my day.
I did not even know christmas was supposedly a religious holiday until I was in my teens. To me it was always about Santa and presents. jesus had no connection to it at all which is how it should be
I had something similar happen except it was when I was 8, when we went to church for Midnight Mass. I do remember when I was younger hearing some vaguely religious thing about Christmas but it was mostly about presents and getting to see my cousins who lived over in the next County or up near Sacramento. It helps that my dad is a liberal Catholic, he respected my choice to leave religion but he still gives me crap about it in the way dad do that means they still love you but enjoy watching you groan.
No I actually grew up in America which is odd since this country is still steeped in religion sadly
I fully agree, we should take religion out of fun stuff, seriously.
I went to a protestant school (in the Netherlands, so the religion was only in celebrating holidays and storytime included a bible story) so I was aware of what christmas represented for religious people. My family just didn't celebrate it like that. We ate a lot with our family and played boardgames, drink wine and spirits, put up a tree with lights and lots of candles around the house, more or less a festival of light. The Netherlands also meant no presents on christmas, but on sinterklaas, so that wasn't even an association for me. :P
100% Yeah, I was totes 'atheist' expect that I was raised to believe in SANTA. Even though I kinda figured out it was all just a make believe thing O_o
Good show ! The “ war on Christmas “ touted by the Evangelical right is the same as their “they’re coming for your guns “ battle cry ; self-created bullshit ! Keep up the good work.- Rich
The "war" on Christmas begins with two months of continuous commercials.
More stuff to stuff with the other stuff
@@OneTrueScotsman In Germany the only group of people who wants to ban Christmas are the neo nazis.
Here in Sweden, we celebrate with a mustard basted ham (Särimner, anyone?), loads of beer and hard spirits, and loads of other foods. We have a tree decked with animal ornaments and apples/orb ornaments in our living rooms (almost like it's a throwback to the Winter solstice sacrifices). We also celebrate the Catholic saint Lucia on Dec 13 here in Protestant Sweden.
In Hungary we have superstitions over Luca day that involve divination.
What about the Yule Goat? Don't you have straw goats, too?
@@jessiehermit9503 There's one famous goat, in Gävle, that people like to set on fire, even though that is highly illegal and extremely dangerous.
@@joheyjonsson2825 I'm aware of it. I'm asatruar, so I kind of hear about all that stuff.
@@jessiehermit9503 I've never believed in it, but I've always loved folk lore, so I've read a lot of mythologies. Plus, my room mate is a Tricksterian, so I get loads of info from her.
I come here to fall into the gentle caress of Seth's dulcet tones. Thanks dude!
I enjoy getting Christians from various denominations to start arguing with one another. "Jesus is God!"...."No, Jesus isn't God...he's just the son of God.", etc. At that point, I tend to throw in a quote from Harry Potter...they love that!
I need some great Harry Potter comeback quotes.
my fave: atheist's beliefs-always absent but never short of representation
Most beliefs that call themselves Christian aren't. Its pagan.
The story that Aron told, about the Trash Christmas Tree, was hilarious to me. One year, my wife and I did the same exact thing. We even had some Rx pill bottles as ornaments, and used anything shiny, we could find. We also took our holiday junk mail and flyers, and fashioned a tree from that, which I still have to this day. Unlike Aron though, we didn't see this as disrespectful. We were upset that we couldn't be with our families that year, so come Hell or high water, we were going to celebrate together, as our new family ( Her, Myself, and our kitty, Sushi ). It was a lot of fun, and it was very special to us. Nothing to do with Jesus, but rather, a reason to cook a good meal and celebrate our new love.
That's beautiful.
The Grinch is a German-American cousin of Krampus.
Best Mythmas gift ever....... the always eloquent Seth & incomparable Aron Ra !
Merry 🎅🏼Mythmas 🎄!!
So, I'm maybe 6 yrs old and riding in the cars with my parents. We were talking about something to do with Christmas ("what would you like Santa to bring you", that sort of thing). My mom turned to my dad and sotto voce, says to him "should we tell him?" to which I replied "tell me what, that Santa isn't real? I've known that for a long time, mom". My parents burst out laughing.
All I want for Chridtmas is a M1921 .45ACP Thompson Submachine Gun.
I want both the gangster version and the military version!!
Arons debate with kent is hilarious. I used to look up to Kent as if his arguments are fool proof, and it feels so good to have someone like aron to put him in his place.
Yeah but I wish Aron hadn't stooped to Kent's level with the name calling and such. As far as I'm concerned hes giving kent the credability he doesnt deserve. Kent should have been left to rot after getting out of prison. A long forgotten relic from creationist past. Dont get me wrong I have nothing but respect for Aron, but the whole debate is just childish. And now in this video I hear him talking as if hes proud of the way he composes himself in those videos kinda makes me sad.
@Peter Hockley I do realize that and I think it's important to do so, but your displaying one of the problems I have with these videos. There is no reason to resort to childish name calling I realize kent started it but aron didnt need to do the same. Let the arguments stand or fail on their own and dont let him drag you down to his level. His followers will likely see him doing this and believe he is incapable of having a civil conversation. Especially after watching the first debate. I dont like kent, I am a firm believer that he doesnt honestly believe what hes peddling. Watching logicked's videos its proven by the fact that very often his slides have nothing to do with what hes talking about. It's our job to prove that not only does the evidence support our position but that we are the mature and rational ones. I'm really curious what Matt Dillahunty thinks of all of this given his background.
@@bobcabbit6343 feel free to take on Hovind yourself, mate. You clearly have a perfect fitting stick up your hiney, it should be easy for you.
@Robin The figure of speech of which you seem ignorant is not related to sex or sexuality. Which means you're sadly unable to accurately address my criticism of Cabbit's criticism. Which just makes you look dumb.
what place is that ? what is your place ?
Thanks SETH and thanks ARON for your very insightful observations!
Great discussion. I get really angry when I hear about televangelists because I know people who believe their garbage and fall for it. I have kept telling them that they are lawbreaking con artists who belong in prison and some get upset with me. As for Christmas I can enjoy it even better now as an atheist and knowing the true origins because there is no obligation. It’s about being with people you care about. Aron and Seth always give great information and I learn something new each time I listen.
39:34 This reminds me of a passage from Madeline Miller's novel "Circe". Why do the gods allow evil in the world? When Circe converses with Hermes, he offers a very plausible explanation.
Excerpt:
I made my voice as careless as I could. “And what of that old Titan Prometheus on his rock. How fares he?”
“How do you think? He loses a liver a day.”
“Still? I have never understood why helping mortals made Zeus so angry.”
“Tell me,” he said, “who gives better offerings, a miserable man or a happy one?”
“A happy one, of course.”
“Wrong,” he said. “A happy man is too occupied with his life. He thinks he is beholden to no one. But make him shiver, kill his wife, cripple his child, then you will hear from him. He will starve his family for a month to buy you a pure-white yearling calf. If he can afford it, he will buy you a hundred.”
“But surely,” I said, “you have to reward him eventually. Otherwise, he will stop offering.”
“Oh, you would be surprised how long he will go on. But yet, in the end, it’s best to give him something. Then he will be happy again. And you can start over.”
End of excerpt.
A reworking of the story of Job.
I was debating a JW yesterday and I posted the Systematic Classification of Life series. He didn't want evidence, so he countered by saying, "Systematic classification of life: Genesis 1 & 2." . . . .......
PragerU ad before the video about Christmas that at some point says that "Santa is a Christian"... How fitting lol.
That's gold. Christians like Prager are unintentionally hilarious.
always good to hear from Aron. thanks for having him on, Seth
Hell yeah! I'm Wiccan and just celebrated Yule with my coven. Such a blast
Happy obligatory consumerism to all.
Merry credit card and a happy new debt.
In Greece there was a tradition to put a log in the fire place big enough to burn during the 12 days of the xmas holiday in order to keep away the evil spirits that roam the streets during these days and enter the houses through the chimneys.
In US it is called a yule log.
We meed our atheist activists, leaders and shows here so much ! I couldn't put to words what I wanted to say or find the ways to express my un-belief until I found Aron Ra, Seth Andrews, Matt Dilahunty, James Randi and your You Tube Videos and the other great people who work with you ! You ARE helping people !
I very much enjoy listening to you guys. It would be nice to meet either of you some day.
Watching Aron verbally paint brush Inmate #06452-017 (That's Hovind just incase anyone hasn't watched this yet) over the past month or so has been more entertaining than anything on TV.
I've been choosing that over DC TV shows
Even more entertaining than the masterpiece known as The Big Bang Theory??? *sarcastic shock*
Oh yeah, Aint watched the latest ep yet, had to see Seth and Aron chat 1st (:
It's entertaining but every time Hovind's cronies laugh when Aron has the cheek to suggest we evolved from apes it makes me want to punch them in the face through the internet.
@superspecky4eyes Yes I often find it strange that those who deny that humans are apes are the same ones who fling the most shit.
Whoever is sneezing, gesundheit!!!
@26:55 mins Aron Ra's statement that the political scene in America is an embarrassment made me laugh. Have you seen the political Farce in England. It is a huge cause of face palm and despair for us here. As a lifelong Atheist and new Apistevist, Video's like this bring so much understanding and background to the traditions and reasons for religious dogma that it confirms the reality of the falsehood of religion. Thank you for the great content, keep up the good work.
Two wonderful voices in my head... Merry Christmas to me! Thank you!
I have no desire to play fantasy, for December 24-25. It is just another day.
Two of the best
Beatus Saturnalibus! That was a fantastic episode. Always fun to hear Aron getting into the topic at hand. :)
Two of my favourite ppl having a great talk...thanks for all the work you both do!
Happy Open Presents day !
In my house I call it Saturnalia but Yule is a good one too.
I just wanna see hovind address the cosmic microwave background 😂
my admired people in one show. thank you.
Don't forget the connection to the green man in Europe. Father Christmas and the spirit of Christmas was dressed in fur trimmed green robes with holly in his hair and beard, also with connections to Odin and possibly Herne the Hunter perhaps even Cernnunos and druidic traditions all mishmashed together. The red robes and white beard were later additions...and then well the commercialisation of Saint Nicolas, Sinter Claus, and all the other incarnations of Santa.
Aron's version of santa is bad ass, I wouldn't want to be on his naughty list.
The masochist in me wants to be.
Yes - looks like a new version of Hell Boy - 😁 very cool.
The series by the History channel called, “History of the Holidays” was awesome.
Thanks for the video guys! Happy Holidays!
Also, at some point, the characters Father Christmas and Santa Claus got melded together. Great show. Merry Christmas one and all.
My brother and I pretended to believe in Santa for longer than we did, because we were afraid my mom would be mad at us if she knew we didn’t believe. Pretty messed up. Oh well, I still enjoy the holidays!
My older sister and I pretended to believe in Santa for years just to get the extra presents. We considered that fair because we'd been lied to and that was our idea of 'revenge'.
That's ok. Half of the religious believers are just pretending because they are afraid that their moms will be mad at them too.
Aron Ra is the WWE wrestler of the Atheist world.
I'd pay money to see Aron perform a tombstone on Kent Hovind.
True. He's just a fake.
William Fuselier whatcha gonna do, brother when Atheist-mania runs wild on you?!!
David Collier Sorry but I believe in facts not myths.
Aron the godless Undertaker 😏
If santa is based on oden, does that mean wednesday is santa's day?
Yes
As a Pagan who follows the Druid path i will be ceelbrating the 21st December and raising a glass to my ancestors and the Old Gods
Thanks Seth for having Aron on! This was a great video featuring two of my favorite You Tube peoples!
Those Hovind "debates" are hilarious.
I'm not sure how anybody finds them funny. I'm only on video 2 of Hovind's response and I already want to tear my hair out. It's frustrating to know there are people that dense out there.
@Tristan Smith you need to see Aron's responses. They are priceless.
Yeah, I usually skip inmate #06452017's videos. Just watch Aron's . They are way more entertaining.
I know right! Hearing Rh drunk mumble and ramble over people is hilarious! And what's even funnier is that people believe him!
I work a a big shopping mall in Ontario. Please pity me at this difficult season. *facedesk*
You have my pity..a friend from Muskoka. Do not do the facedesk thing too often, it hurts and doesn't actually change anything, except the configuration of your facial features ;)
@@1984potionlover lol yes
During this time of year my face takes on a suspicious "waffle" configuration.
Living in the UK, I sometimes forget, how difficult it can still be for my fellow Atheists across the pond. More power to you gents. Keep championing reason & the search for what is demonstrably true, over the desire for an emotional safety blanket.
Happy HOLIDAYS, Seth and Aron... Thanks for all your great work... :-)
"American Gods" explains why so many Jesus. see the last episode of season One.
Can't wait for season two.
Aron! We would love to have you in Nova Scotia... 😊
As a lifelong and pretty devout pagan, this video is greatly appreciated.
Love what you do here.
I love Aron Ra and Seth Andrews, two of the most intelligent people in the world, they are a treasure.
Asherah...So that’s why Yahweh’s so pissed. Yahweh’s sexually frustrated.
Ever since Jupiter became Yahweh his only presents are buckets of shit.
Yahweh needs to watch porn and have a bat !
10:52 that’s a really badass Santa
Loved the conversation. Thank you Seth and Aron Ra for being such a big part of my salvation from religion and faith! You both are my heros!
That was freaking great. I don't do the tree, I don't like the presents, but I do like seeing family and eating and watching movies together. Good times.
What can i say......Merry Christless.
Merry Paganmas..
Happy Hanukkah, kwanzaa, st Lucia day, Saturnalia, Krampusnaugnt, St Nick's, Winter Solstice, Festiveus,Boxing day,Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe,Bodhi day, Advent,St Barbra's day, Feast of immaculate inception,Longest night, st Steven's day, Mother's night,Pancha Ganapati, Malkh, Day of the Birth of the unconcerned sun, Humanlignt,yalda,Koliada, Yule, 3 kings day, St john the evangelicalist day,Hogswatch, St Sylvester's day, holy innocents day, international day of disabled persons, Newtomas, Watch night, Zamenhof day, feast of the winters veil, soyal, life day, Merry Christmas and a happy New year Seth&Aron!
Aron shops in Camden! My old hunting ground. Good man 🤘
Remember to be angry at Starbucks! They've left baby Jesus off their holiday cups AGAIN! 😈🤣🤣🤣
For Christmas this year I want Spock to come back from the future with a quantum computer so we can all browse the entire known tree of life at will.
Is that too much to ask Satan Claws?
If anyone is waging war on Christmas, it is all those shops and businesses shoving it down our throats from September onwards! Come Boxing Day (26th Dec) and all the Boxing Day Sales and the Weightwatcher adverts, I'm heaving a sigh of relief that is all over for another year. Let us remember that the Winter Solstice (the word that Seth was reaching for) is and should be a bloody good excuse to get together with friends and family for a knees up and look forward to the coming of Spring!
This is so exciting seeing the notification pop up for this
I honestly couldn't watch those Hovind videos. I'd end up punching a hole through my screen Bobby Moynihan style. But gourd bless you Aron for doing what you do.
Oh yes, it is good, soo good.
Bring Saturn back to Saturnalia! Bring Thor back to Thursdays!!!
Bring the swallows back to Capistrano.!!!
To the best of my knowledge, the Christmas tree was a German rather than Celtic thing, so I'm sceptical of it's being druidic. "Kissing Boughs" were a British thing and Mistletoe was sacred to the druids, so there's a druidic connection if you're looking for one.
We Germans have always had a very strong connection to the trees. We worshipped them once.
OH Aron! SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME about my parents, me, and santa claus. I was 9, and defending santa story because i knew my parents would never lie to me. When I found out the truth, I never really trusted them again.
what drives me crazy is the posters ... Keep Christ in Christmas... people don't have a clue or don't care ...Happy Festivus !
Happy Yule-mas!
Very interesting and engaging conversation Seth and Aron !
FUNNY, how there's an ad for Grandin Road's Xmas decoration prior to this video playing...
Santa Claus died for our sins. Pretty sure that's right.
No. The Easter Bunny died for your sins in that horrible helicopter crash.
@@mstalcup I think I read about that, something to do with a mid-air collision with the tooth fairy. The important thing is that somebody died so that I can get on with the thankless job of sinning.
There is a pic from somewhere in Japan that has Santa tacked down on a cross. love the pic.
@@BartAlder No they died so we can have presents and get pissed at 10am.. Duh!
That's Santa Christ.
The blood was maple syrup. Yum.
The pastor at the church I used to attend always had a biblical explanation for the christmas tree and candy canes. yep, that's right candy canes. He said the red and white stripes signified Jesus bleeding for us. The white represented purity. The hook reminds us that he is our shepherd. I haven't looked at a candy cane quite the same as I did. Gross. Now the red stripes remind me of blood. Great! And what about the fruity flavored candy canes out there? What's the explanation for that? I almost laughed at this "sermon". I thought it was a childish and stupid sermon that should be given to children as a bedtime story, I wish I had known about Jer. 10: that would be a great conversations starter. Yeah, uh Pastor, did you know that it's forbidden to cut down and decorate a christmas tree? Of course a woman can't question or challenge a pastor about scripture because women aren't supposed to instruct or teach men and silence in the church, etc. etc. Yeah, the hypocrisy of this church culture, that is only one of the many reasons I left.
Yours is the first UA-cam comment I have read that I actually enjoyed reading. You are funny and insightful.
I shit-you-not... I heard the same BS about candy canes... LOL
There are equally nonsensical explanations for Easter traditions too. We got the Easter eggs are because Jesus gives new life and eggs symbolise that. 😐
Maybe this pastor is mixing up the origins of candy cane stripes with barber pole stripes, lol. (The red on the barber poles definitely does allude to blood, as barbers used to be barber-surgeons. If you needed a haircut, shave, and a gangrenous limb hacked off, or needed to get some kidney stones out, he was your dude). I’m being facetious, of course, just thought I’d make fun of the pastor for believing something he either heard once or saw on a “credible” Google link.
As for candy canes, no one really knows who came up with them or first shaped them into “j”s, just that it probably happened at the end of the 19th century in America.
thank you Danny :)
The burning of the Yule log for 12 days was to encourage the sun to keep moving during the winter solstice.
Great video guys, I follow you both. I really enjoy your work.
Nova Scotia is lovely. We have politics in Canada. The right may not be as right as USA but Trump has empowered the Canadian right, which we need to fight.
@Rob M I have written many comments on different videos. This is one of the most mild comments. What has upset you about this comment?
Wow Rob, having a bad day?
@Rob M WOW....why so angry? Just trying to understand where you are coming from.
@Rob M I was just wondering what you are about. The pointlessness of your comments are puzzling but not important. Merry Christmas.
If you are pissy now Rob, wait until the haul your boy away in handcuffs. lol
Austin is not _in_ Texas. It is surrounded by Texas.
JiveDadson -- ha ha, that's similar to what we say about Atlanta!
There's ATL, and outside the perimeter, there's Georgia.
("The perimeter" being shorthand for perimeter highway Interstate 285.)
agree JiveDadson.. T'is where i live.
If you are surrounded by a pipe, you are IN THE PIPE... -_-
Kent has served his time, yours hasn't begun yet, and it will go on and on for a long time. Forever
Seth, I've heard that "Two minutes till midnight" is a Christmas song that Aron would recommend.