Television: Another Holiday Kidnapped!

Right now we're in the midst of celebrating three different holidays ... or not. We've got Easter, the Resurrection of Jesus, and Passover.

The Pagans can rightly argue that the Christians stole bunnies and eggs and even the name from them. It's true though. I agree with them.

The name Easter gets it's name from the fertility goddesses: Ishtar, Ostara, Eoster, Astarte. These gals usually had male god consorts, who are depicted as dying and being reborn.

Two of the most important symbols for these ladies were the hare and the egg.

Egg hunts were held in their honor. Women hunted for these cherished items. If they found one, it was said that they would become pregnant within the year.

This was celebrated way before the Passover or the Resurrection of Jesus.

Around 325 AD, Emperor Constantine absorbed the pagan Roman religion into Christianity's to make the new converts feel at home and to stop widespread violence in his land.

 

Our Jewish friends and Sweetman, celebrate Passover. It's to remember God's mercy by delivering the Israelites out of Egypt. Those who had painted  blood around their doorways were spared His wrath and judgment.

The Christians celebrate the last supper, the death, the burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

Messianic celebrate the later two like myself. But I don't do the bunnies and eggs along with it.

Unfortunately, there is always so much pressure to buy stuff no matter how you celebrate it. Greeting cards are like five bucks a piece. Candy is outrageous. The price of food for the feasts has really been tipping the scales. Personally, I'm exhausted from it all.

Has commercialism hi-jacked all three? It looks that way to me.

Why can't we just have a holiday without the commercialism and the fuss? Why can't we just have quiet self-reflection? Quiet prayer? Time with our families without all the excess?


What do you all think?

Hope everyone had a nice, quiet holiday.

Hugs and chocolate, all,
Shelly

Progress: It's a Big Party Pooper

I debated on whether or not to write this post. It's sad to know that our opinions or beliefs could get us fired. But I'm of the belief that we're going to see a day in this country where people will be killed for what they believe in. There's a lot of animosity toward certain subjects. You can pick and choose which one. There are plenty to go around.

Today, I'm going to rant about Saturday and Sunday and our holidays. You see, I had to show up for work today(it's Sunday evening as I write this piece), knowing that I would be sitting and staring at the walls and my fellow hairdressers. WHAT A BORING WAY TO SPEND MOTHER'S DAY!!! I almost fell asleep and toppled out of my chair. I did a total of six haircuts in six hours along with everyone else. None of us made any money...well...except maybe the BIG CORPORATION. What is the deal with these organizations where they feel they have to squeeze the last dime out of everyone...? ON A HOLIDAY, mind you! It's bad enough that these CORPORATE SCOUNDRELS are now seizing our right to celebrate Thanksgiving. What next? Christmas? Easter?

Has America become so greedy that time with God, family, and friends aren't important anymore?

I really miss back in the day when the majority of people had the weekends off. People either went to church or synagogue. Practically no one had to go to work on a Sunday except waitresses and doctors and nurses. Gas stations weren't even open back then.

I miss being able to chill out with my friends. I miss those big Sunday dinners at Grandma's house. In fact, I used to daydream of the day that I would have the big dinners at my place. NOT!

I miss the old way of celebrating Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. It certainly wasn't at the mall  or at work. It was spent with family and friends and meditating on what that specific holiday meant to each one of us.

And we wonder why we're stressed. The American Way with all it's progress and CHANGE has made this nation sick if not sick and tired. Hypertension, heart disease, stress-related disease...family problems...YUP! I could go on and on. But I won't.

I hope everyone has a happy week and that you hug your family everyday.

Please feel free to rant about whatever you want in the comment box.

Hugs and chocolate, all!
Shelly