Thursday, October 19, 2006

Old Churches and Easter

One of the oldest churches in Europe was not always a church. It is placed alongside one of the roads leading to Rome, not as a church but as a fortress. It was turned into a church around 706 AD – note the three digits. While praying in the church, I have been told, you can't even imagine that the church had another purpose. But if you look more closely, a few of the walls are thicker, the walls that Romans built.

Now ask yourself, is this a church or an ancient fortress? It started out as a fortress, but over time, the people who used this building changed. Would you call the building a church or a fortress? Or both?

Similarly, or some may argue dissimilarly, some do not classify Easter as a Christian holiday because it was built directly on a pagan holiday.

Let's look at New Year's Day (or New Year's Eve; a great opportunity to wear that new dress!). I would group this as an American holiday – as in, list all of the American holidays, and I would place it there. But it is not only an American holiday. They put on one hell of a show in Italy, I would imagine. And other countries. How many of us would not include New Year's Day as an American holiday? But some of those people would exclude Easter as a Christian holiday.

Short post today – I have had some appointments; not a lot of time to blog today.

14 comments:

Tony said...

Yes.
I would include New Year's Day as an American holiday, but not soley an American holiday since the same calendar is used world wide and applies to everyone (Christian and non-Christian alike).

I especially like to watch the Aussie's bring in the new year. All those fireworks! A lot more exciting than watching a ball drop.

Tony said...

Wahoo!! First Comment! Yes!

Leesa said...

tony: Chinese New Year is in February.

Leesa said...

tony: and Christmas (or Easter) is not just a Christian holiday, either. Forgot to say that in the blog entry.

Tony said...

Ah yes, another learning experience. That's one of the things I love about your blog, Leesa. Thanks.

kathi said...

I've never thought of New Years or Easter as American holidays since they're based on occurances that are celebrated world wide.

Oh, and you can always trust me. :)

Dwardisimo Rex said...

Thanks to manifest destiny, an American holiday is, by default, a world wide holiday.

Blog hog said...

Leesa,
You had a busy day with appointments, but you are alllll done with that for today now and can sit back and relax.
Let's just call this evening a

"Done with apointments Holiday"

QUASAR9 said...

Hi Leesa, New Year's Eve or New Year's Day is not only an American holiday

Judaism just had New Year's Day
which almost coincided with
The Chinese New Year's Day
periodically coincides with
the Muslim's New Year's Day
and again periodically coincides
with the Christian New Year's Day.

Calendars are Calendars
computers work on Calendars
they are built on rotations round the Sun, and they determine how old we are ...

instead of saying you are
thirty something ...
or forty something ...
you could simply say you've been around the Sun, such many times.

Hope You Are Having Fun
Wondering how far you've gone
coincidence, synchronicity Celtic Myth, or reading (skimming) further and deeper into past posts?

Prata said...

The Chinese New Year (and really it's not Chinese New Year...it's Lunar New Year) starts at a different day/time every year as it's based on a Lunar Calendar.

Western civilization follows a different sort of calendar I suppose attempting to be more static? Even though Thanksgiving (Celebrate the death of Native Americans day...) falls at a different time within the month every year.

Don't the Jewish people/faith follow a Lunar Calendar? I think much of Eastern Civilization does (I've not looked) and Western Civilization follows the Gregorian Calendar (little hazy..I am too lazy to go look lol)

Stacy The Peanut Queen said...

As long as I get the day off work, I want to celebrate ANY AND EVERY holiday there is....doesn't matter what religon or what country it's from! ;)

Tony said...

Hey PQ, tell your boss today (Friday) is Revolution Day in Guatemala and since they're vying for a seat on the U.N. Security Council you figured you'd show your support and request the day off. If that doesn't work try pushing for Belgrade Day (Serbia & Montenegro), Kenyatta Day (Kenya) or Birth of the Bab (Baha'i). Good Luck!

Prata said...

I wish I could get some of those days off. But I don't have too many holidays. =-(

Leesa said...

tony: thanks, sweetie.

kathi: not sure I can always trust you, kathi. Hook, line and sinker.

d rex: interesting comment.

gw: lots of holidays.

quasar: My point was that "New Year's Eve or New Year's Day is not only an American holiday". Just because the holiday was started somewhere else does not mean that it is not an American holiday. Which was my point with Christmas. or whatever I was saying.

prata: isn't Chinese New Year normally in late January, early February?

stacey: amen!