h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

So Saint Nick's day is actually Dec 6., eh?
Well happy Saint Nick's day to y'all"

What about Stephen? You know, when good King Wensezlas goes tromping off into the woods and meets the beggar gathering winter fu-u-e-e-l-l and all the snow lay round about deep and crisp and even at the Feast of Stephen. Who's Steve when he's at home?


~jwf~ (wishing some budhist ladies would take ME on a retreat)

Any time, jwf, you know that!

St Stephen was the first Christian Martyr, which is why his saints day is the 26th, the first day after Chrimbo

B

Most reassuring m'dear ! Have a good one!

So did good King Wensezlas and the beggar come to blows over the firewood? Is that why it's called Boxing Day?

(retreating )
~j~

I'm sorry to have to disappoint you jwf but Neal, the 19th century author of the carol, only used the name of Wenceslaus because it suited the music.
Boxing day came about because Victorian servants were not allowed to have Christmas day off but had to wait untill the day after to open their Christmas box. The local tradesmen would also recieve a Christmas box from their well-to-do customers.

Alji

In the UK they call 26 December Boxing Day. Here in Ireland we call it St. Stephen's Day, or usually Stephen's Day. Which do you use in America, or is it not recognised as a holiday at all?

I've never heard of Boxing Day so I'm assuming it's not pratcied in America.

Here in Holland it is the 5th of december that is Sinter Klaas day. Which bugs my German flatmates.

Aljiis, with regard to your earlier post being moderated, the mystery is not why it disappeared, but why it didn't stay that way, as it bears an uncanny resemblance to the text of a web page featuring "Copyright © Atheist Community of Austin 1997-1998. All rights reserved" at the bottom.

Do you think they'll notice. I didn't read it all, and I only nicked a little bit. BTW, they support the free speech on line campaign.

Alji

Free speech doesn't mean you can breach copyright.

Ditto Lurcher. And well met. To each their own. *wanders off to the "Favourite Quote" thread...*


spookybuz

Don't know where Robotron is from, but yes, Boxing Day is clearly marked on the calendars of the Western Hemisphere and is a statutory holiday in Canada and the USofA. I was just having a wee joke at the unlikely possibility that Good King Wenses-whatever would grapple with a peasant in the woods, on a Holy Day, over a few sticks of wood. Or faggots as they are called.
And I was looking for a fresh explanation of the Boxing Day tradition, which has been kindly posted (above) and for which I am grateful. Thank you. It's good to see the meaning of the day has not been lost on our modern 'classless' society. Saint Stephen notwithstanding.
Dec 26th is also the first day of post-christmas sales in the West and all the stuff you paid big bucks for on Dec 24th will be half price! In fact the 'Pre-Boxing Day Sales' (20-30% off) have started already to stimulate the sluggish economy.
Ho Ho Ho
~jwf~

I checked up Mycroft and they have no right to copyright the information (unless they made it themselves). What they can copright is the design of the page and thats all. The information about Mithras was known to me before I found that site (and others with the same information). I first found out about Mithras in a book about religion and myth.

The Blue Ribbon covers far more than free speech and I suggest you have a look at their website.

Alji

The Woman's Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets, pages 663-665 gives more info about Mithras. The Catholic Encyclopedia claims Jesus is 'an historical personage' but there is very little evidence outside the Gospels and what there is, is not reliable and may have been added later.
I believe Paul to be the main influence in combining the two cults. Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews Chapter 9, verses 13 and 14:
13 "For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"
The Mithraists used bull's blood.
Jew's believe that man is not whole without a wife, but Paul wanted everyone to be celibate like him ( believing only celibate men can go to heaven).
Mithraism was an ascetic, anti-female religion. Its priests consisted of celebate men.

Alji