[RLacey]

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

Dang, it lasts for a month?

Why cawn't Christmas last that long for us pathetic Christians? Especially the 'off from work' part?

Well, you could count Christmas as being up until the end of Epiphany, which, depending on what version of Christianity you're following, could last until Candlemas (2nd February). Include Advent in that as well and you can get over two months. Close enough?

Plus, of course, there's Lent (all forty-six days of it) if you want your fasting.

Mind you, none of this gets you time off work. But both of them last over a month .

[Stoofa]

Lent is not fun at ALL. I hate Lent.

My family celebrates Old Christmas but all it means is that we keep our tree up until January 6th (what we consider Epiphany) and have a nice dinner on the 6th as well as the 25th.

I'm not Catholic anymore but I still keep to the old traditions as I find them comforting. I still find comfort in religious iconery (sp?) as well.

[Maquisard]

Interesting. I thought Serbs were the only people left on Earth celebrating Christmas on January 7th.

[saucyminx]

No. Russians still celebrate Christmas on Jan 7th.

[Intrepid Homoludens]

Originally Posted by Stoofa

I'm not Catholic anymore but I still keep to the old traditions as I find them comforting.

That's a great deal of the psychology of many Catholics (whether they admit it or not), a sense of stability and continuity, as if they seek protection from the tumult of the world and from simply getting on from day to day. It's far dearer to them than some casual observers think.

I still find comfort in religious iconery (sp?) as well.

Simply 'icon' will do. I stopped practicing Catholicism in my early teens, but still to this day whenever I see an image or statue of the Virgin Mary I feel grounded somehow.

[Melanie68]

I'll third this in reference to Catholocism. I don't mind going to mass once in a while if I know the priest is a good one (i.e. not over Vaticanized) and I do love the icons and imagry as well.

I have to admit loving the movie The Song of Bernadette.

[Stoofa]

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

That's a great deal of the psychology of many Catholics (whether they admit it or not), a sense of stability and continuity, as if they seek protection from the tumult of the world and from simply getting on from day to day. It's far dearer to them than some casual observers think.

Simply 'icon' will do. I stopped practicing Catholicism in my early teens, but still to this day whenever I see an image or statue of the Virgin Mary I feel grounded somehow.

It's true! I wish the Church was more forgiving and progressive, because it does have some beautiful aspects. However its treatment of gays and lesbians, the horrible sex abuse scandals and the horrible way the Church has handled it, its stance on birth control and women in the priesthood, its weird madonna/whore obsession, and the crappy Pope(s) all ensure that I will never be a practicing Catholic again.

My apartment is full of religious figures and paintings. My little post-Catholic heart will always belong to Mary I suppose.