[Dixielandjazz] A whole new paradigm in singing!!

[Phil O'Rourke]

Bill Gunter said

You don't?  To me that seems a bit odd since the associations with Christmas
> have, over the centuries, expanded from a purely Christian Religious
> observance into a seasonal festival of joy.  By "joy" I mean the warm
> feelings which come from thoughts of "peace," "love," "brotherhood of
man,"
> "giving and receiving" and (in the northern hemisphere) other more
> non-religious things we associate with the season . . . snow, winter,
> evergreen trees, sleighs, annual sending of cards to people to let them
know
> they're still in our hearts . . . etc. etc. etc.


Actually Christmastime has not always been a purely Christian religous time.
Christian leaders in 336 A.D. set the date of Jesus' birth to December 25 in
an attempt to eclipse a popular pagan holiday in Rome of Saturnalia that
celebrated the winter solstice. Originally, the celebration of Christmas
involved a simple mass, but over time Christmas has replaced a number of
other holidays in many other countries, and a large number of traditions
have been absorbed into the celebration in the process.

Phil O'Rourke
Tenor Washboard
Australia