Mumsnet Talk

Oh and there's also the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem which is meant to be where Jesus was born. Which is a cave. So the Nativity is a lovely story but apart from that...

Oh, I like that empress. There's a nice story I had when I was little about the innkeeper putting Mary and Joseph in with the animals because it was lovely and warm in there - which it would have been, I think, since animals are primitive central heating!

<grin>
I'm an ex-Catholic with a DW who's doing her theology PhD so I pick stuff up.

I definitely don't think you have to believe the whole Bible literally to be Christian - I don't think it's even possible to believe it all literally given all the contradictions! It has some lovely stories and some horrendous ones. My favourite stories are in the Apocrypha, it has adventures with dragons and stuff.

Oh, that is all interesting Empress. Maybe this year at the crib service I'll imagine them all downstairs with a few of the animals in Joseph's family home. That seems quite likely really doesn't it - since everyone was returning to their home town for the census ?

AIBU to think my bloody mother-in-law could have found us a space in the upper room instead of beside that wretched donkey?

She says it would never snap at bubba Jesus, but I've heard these Staffordshire mules are a vicious breed ...

I remember several family Xmases where all the kids would be sleeping in a row under the dining table....

It is thought that the Nativity would have actually happened around September time and was moved to December to make the transition from Paganism to Christianity easier.

Also that they stayed with Joseph's family seeing as it was his home town and all.

Of course, they replaced the solstice with it didn't they?

Which is why we are not celebrating Christmas this year, instead we will decorate our house with evergreens, exchange gifts with loved ones and have s bit of a do (nice dinner, bit of time off work etc)...

Really enjoying this thread although I don't know what some of the references are

For us, christmas isn't just about the birth of jesus (tbh, I'm agnostic) its about family, friends, sharing and haing fun. Being thankful for each other.

I wasn't going to comment on the accuracy but it seemed relevant after Joybelle's post. And an interesting tangent to a great thread.

Nicely put, blameit.

Let's be thankful for each other.

I like that too.

Thank you. I'm pretty sure that if he exists jesus would rather that we spend this time cherishing each other and making real effort to see family and friends, than making others feel bad.

I really hope so!

Well, that's what the god I want to believe in does, anyway.

Abel: db seems angry with me all the time, I'm a bit scared. Wwyd?

Eve: my lads Cain and Seth really need to settle down... but there's no girls at all around here. Any ideas?

Re the SatNav. I'm sure I typed in Bethlehem and we've ended up in Birmingham Should I turn our camels round and start again?

I've just managed to bring peace to this unstable country and reached a coalition agreement with the occupying power. Now three foreign agents have warned me that there is a long term insurgency planned. But it's through a newborn, FGS.
WWYD?

Herod

Yes Schnappsdamnyou - I am, I am!! - eventually after all the frivolity evaporates, someone is going to ask - what on earth does it all MEAN? At least no-one seems to thing it's pure myth; there's be no point poking fun at it then, would there?

>At least no-one seems to thing it's pure myth; there's be no point poking fun at it then, would there?

oh yes there would! <cue seasonal 'oh no there wouldn't'>

Whinge? Who? Me? No I'm just being ingenious! Jesus went into the market place where the real people were. How would he have described himself on Facebook??