Merry Xmas, Guys

[dualstow]

Glad Tidings from one of the forum Heebs. 

[barrett]

Chappy Chanukah, Dualstow!

[Pointedstick]

Merry/happy Christmas (C)Han(n)uk(k)a(h) Kwanzaa holidays!

[annieB]

Hey Brother !!

[MachineGhost]

When the heck did Hannukah morph into Channukah?

I can't keep up!

Happy Dies Natalis Solis Invicti!

I'm eagerly waiting for one of Ad's cool Orthordox iconographics.

[Mountaineer]

Merry Christmas to all. ?

...  Mountaineer

[dualstow]

When the heck did Hannukah morph into Channukah?

I can't keep up!

Happy Dies Natalis Solis Invicti!

I'm eagerly waiting for one of Ad's cool Orthordox iconographics.

I'd like to see an icon, too.

Well, you know how Gaddafi was spelled with a K a few decades ago? Words originally from Semitic languages don't have the English transliteration nailed down.

Btw, when I was growing up, it was always Chanukah. Nowadays, I see more Hanukkah. But the n always appears to be single. It's that gutteral sound at the beginning that changes spelling. When it's time for me to refresh my long bonds, they'll probably be spelling it with a Q.

[Reub]

And when did Peking become Beijing?

[WiseOne]

Glad Tidings from one of the forum Heebs. 

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!!

p.s. what does "Heeb" mean?

[rickb]

And when did Peking become Beijing?

Frickin Chinese - wanting an English transliteration that's closer to how they actually pronounce it.  How DARE they?

See http://nationalinterest.org/feature/whe ... have-10525 (Peking vs. Beijing is toward the very end).

Its actual name is .  Literally translated, this means "Northern Capital City", see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_Beijing.

[dualstow]

p.s. what does "Heeb" mean?

a Hebrew. 

Beijing is pretty close to how it's really said in Mandarin. (Don't listen to those newscasters who say Bay-ZHing. Sounds nice, but the sound doesn't exist in Chinese. Maybe they're Francophiles).

Peking is pretty close to Cantonese, and Cantonese is close to what ancient Chinese sounded like. Closer than Mandarin, anyway.
Of course Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong, says Peking.

Want to know where the X in Xmas comes from?

[MachineGhost]

Want to know where the X in Xmas comes from?

I thought it was an atheism thing.  So, how about the South?

[dualstow]

Want to know where the X in Xmas comes from?

I thought it was an atheism thing.  So, how about the South?

Ha! A lot of people think that, but it's a Christianity thing. X looks like the Greek letter 'chi', first letter of "Christos", and Christians have been using it for some five centuries.

[Mountaineer]

I thought it was an atheism thing.  So, how about the South?

Ha! A lot of people think that, but it's a Christianity thing. X looks like the Greek letter 'chi', first letter of "Christos", and Christians have been using it for some five centuries.

Interesting.
Now that you've mentioned it, I remember that the letter 'chi' in many of the college fraternities' monikers was chosen to represent allegiance to Christianity. Maybe those with an 'alpha' were for 'atheism' ? 

And happy holidays to all.

I Am - The Alpha and The Omega.  Always was. Always will be. 

A little something for the terminology geeks.

... Mountaineer

[Jan Van]

Ha! A lot of people think that, but it's a Christianity thing. X looks like the Greek letter 'chi', first letter of "Christos", and Christians have been using it for some five centuries.

And I thought it was for Winter Xolstice! 

[dragoncar]

Want to know where the X in Xmas comes from?

I thought it was an atheism thing.  So, how about the South?

Ha! A lot of people think that, but it's a Christianity thing. X looks like the Greek letter 'chi', first letter of "Christos", and Christians have been using it for some five centuries.

That's just what the liberal media conspiracy wants you to believe!  Just another ruse in the great athiest war on Christmas.

[dualstow]

You guys are cracking me up

[MachineGhost]

I wasn't sure if he was serious or not...    It's hard to tell around here sometimes.

[Ad Orientem]

I'm eagerly waiting for one of Ad's cool Orthordox iconographics.

Yeah, me too.  In fact, I feel lost without one.

It's 16 days early, but a blessed Nativity to everyone.

[Ad Orientem]

A Romanian Christmas hymn...
http://youtu.be/9eGqS78Jkto

Agni Parthene (O Virgin Pure) in English - Part 1...
http://youtu.be/L4E3ToVNOD4
Part 2...
http://youtu.be/2fHhzVA5a3g

In the Town of Bethlehem In English...
http://youtu.be/lrOtlgy4z6M

The Profession of Faith composed for the Christmas Liturgy by Grechaninov...
http://youtu.be/LE2npVtip_4

[Benko]

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to all.


And to all you offended athiests, Foamy the Squirrel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_52ZgzZOt70

[Ad Orientem]

Merry Christmas! (Traditional church calendar)

[MachineGhost]

Merry Christmas! (Traditional church calendar)

So wait, the day of Epiphany is actually the original Christmas?  How the heck did it get moved to December 25 and everyone goes along?

[Ad Orientem]

Merry Christmas! (Traditional church calendar)

So wait, the day of Epiphany is actually the original Christmas?  How the heck did it get moved to December 25 and everyone goes along?

Actually it is Christmas Eve. January 7th on the modern calendar is December 25th on the traditional church calendar. Pope Gregory XIII unilaterally altered the Christian calendar in 1582. At first the papal calendar was recognized only in Roman Catholic countries, but over time most Protestants accepted it as well. Today only the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches still use the old calendar. Because of differences in the calculation of time there is a discrepancy between the calendars which is slowly growing. In 1582 the Old Calendar was 10 days behind the New calendar. Today it is 13 days behind.

[Xan]

Actually, "tradition" would stipulate that the calendar should be in sync with the Earth's rotation, so that the days don't drift farther and farther from reality.

The Julian ("traditional church calendar") was unilaterally created by the Roman Emperor.  The Gregorian calendar actually works, while the Julian calendar doesn't.  It's pretty silly to still use it.  When you're having Easter in the dead of winter will you change?