Why I refuse to celebrate christmas.

I made up my mind never ever to celebrate christmas for a very simple reason: I will not celebrate a festival just for the sake of celebrating it. And for that matter, Christmas has grown to be so overtly commercialise that it's almost disgusting. It is only in the business interests of the media and retailers to continue hyping on how christmas is a time of buying and giving. With the economic downturn, businesses are bent to make as much as they can. Afterall, with the year-end bonuses paid, most people have pretty fat wallets for the time being.

Many people think that Christmas is the day where we celebrate the birth of jesus. Let me tell you now that it's is WRONG. Christmas originated from a very different much scorned religion called Paganism.

I was looking for a shorter version for the origins of christmas and here it is:


No one knows what day Jesus Christ was born on. From the biblical description, most historians believe that his birth probably occurred in September, approximately six months after Passover. One thing they agree on is that it is very unlikely that Jesus was born in December, since the bible records shepherds tending their sheep in the fields on that night. This is quite unlikely to have happened during a cold Judean winter. So why do we celebrate Christ’s birthday as Christmas, on December the 25th?

The answer lies in the pagan origins of Christmas. In ancient Babylon, the feast of the Son of Isis (Goddess of Nature) was celebrated on December 25. Raucous partying, gluttonous eating and drinking, and gift-giving were traditions of this feast.

In Rome, the Winter Solstice was celebrated many years before the birth of Christ. The Romans called their winter holiday Saturnalia, honoring Saturn, the God of Agriculture. In January, they observed the Kalends of January, which represented the triumph of life over death. This whole season was called Dies Natalis Invicti Solis, the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun. The festival season was marked by much merrymaking. It is in ancient Rome that the tradition of the Mummers was born. The Mummers were groups of costumed singers and dancers who traveled from house to house entertaining their neighbors. From this, the Christmas tradition of caroling was born.

In northern Europe, many other traditions that we now consider part of Christian worship were begun long before the participants had ever heard of Christ. The pagans of northern Europe celebrated the their own winter solstice, known as Yule. Yule was symbolic of the pagan Sun God, Mithras, being born, and was observed on the shortest day of the year. As the Sun God grew and matured, the days became longer and warmer. It was customary to light a candle to encourage Mithras, and the sun, to reappear next year.

Huge Yule logs were burned in honor of the sun. The word Yule itself means “wheel,” the wheel being a pagan symbol for the sun. Mistletoe was considered a sacred plant, and the custom of kissing under the mistletoe began as a fertility ritual. Hollyberries were thought to be a food of the gods.

The tree is the one symbol that unites almost all the northern European winter solstices. Live evergreen trees were often brought into homes during the harsh winters as a reminder to inhabitants that soon their crops would grow again. Evergreen boughs were sometimes carried as totems of good luck and were often present at weddings, representing fertility. The Druids used the tree as a religious symbol, holding their sacred ceremonies while surrounding and worshipping huge trees.

In 350, Pope Julius I declared that Christ’s birth would be celebrated on December 25. There is little doubt that he was trying to make it as painless as possible for pagan Romans (who remained a majority at that time) to convert to Christianity. The new religion went down a bit easier, knowing that their feasts would not be taken away from them.

Christmas (Christ-Mass) as we know it today, most historians agree, began in Germany, though Catholics and Lutherans still disagree about which church celebrated it first. The earliest record of an evergreen being decorated in a Christian celebration was in 1521 in the Alsace region of Germany. A prominent Lutheran minister of the day cried blasphemy: “Better that they should look to the true tree of life, Christ.”


So, rather than saying Merry Christmas, I'd rather say "Happy Holidays".

Death

Bobby is a rabbit with brown silky fur given to my mum when dad's friend's daughter didn't want it anymore. He was meant to replace another rabbit that died after we cared for it many years after we rescued it from the streets.

Bobby is a feisty rabbit. I've always thought that he's a rabbit in serious identity crisis. A rabbit who thinks he is a dog. As he is not caged, he basically runs around the whole house on his own. Going to the balcony to sleep in the day time, and then returning home in the kitchen at night. In between that, he'll chase me around the house when I'm busy or watch TV with mum.

Just this morning at 5am+, he was jumping around me while I made my cereal. Then later in the morning around 10+, he refused to come out from behind the bicycle. We carried him out and it seems like his whole body went limp. I kept him company till mum came back from morning marketing. Brought him to Mt Pleasant hospital and while waiting in the ER, he yelped. Once, twice, trice. I told the nurse he's probably dying. I need to see the vet immediately. The kind nurse brought us to the room at the back and listened to his heartbeat which was very weak by then. The doc came in a minute and by that time, his heart had stopped beating.

This is the first time I saw the process of dying happening right before my eyes. Slowly, life was lost from Bobby. Just like that and its taken away. I just hope in his rabbit world, he didn't suffered too much before dying. I went away from the hospital red-eyed and had a deeper understanding of what is Life. Bobby and the silly things he did as a rabbit will forever be missed by our family.

Today Singaporeans will mourn the death of Ms Lo Hwei Yen. She was one of the innocent people held hostage by the terrorists that laid seige to Mumbai.

Ms Lo Hwei Yen was probably a person who liked the same things as us. Grew up knowing the same places as us. Probably liked laksa. Probably enjoyed movies with friends at GV. She probably had friends, family members whom she loves. And she definately had dreams and ambitions.

She's only 28 this year. Just one year older than me. I still have so many dreams and aspirations unfulfilled. I'm sure she has too. I just felt so sad that her life had to be ended prematurely. I cannot imagine what the final moments of her life was. The fear. The helplessness. The injustice. And how ruthless her murderers were.

While I never believe that Singaporeans are immuned to terrorist attacks, this incident still drowned my mind with utter disbelief.

บทเพลง "ส่งนางฟ้ากลับสวรรค์"

This is a video I found on YouTube that pays tribute to the late Princess Galayani Wattana. The royal family of Thailand is one of its kind. The King, Queen and Princesses devote almost their entire lives to the improvement of the lives of their poor people. And what is interesting and admirable is that they live and dress in very simple clothes.

ส่งนางฟ้ากลับสวรรค์ (soong naang faa glap sawaan) is the title of the song. If my lousy thai serves me well, it means sending the goddess back to paradise. Thais believe that the royal family members are actually descended from heaven to help them and when they pass on, they are only returning to heaven to be with the rest of the gods.

Aotearoa

I know there are many fans out there reading my blog and wondering why the heck have I not put up the fabulous pictures of NZ. Well, I've been very with work and also catching up with sleep. So anyways, here goes.


3 gals that I got to know on the plane. The one on the left is from Japan. The second one is from Singapore. The third one is from the Kingdom of Thailand.


I dunno why but my fellow passengers in the bus to OPC are all girls. I think they are there on a day trip or something.


Apparently Rihanna was in da bus. She felt that her fingers were freezing and the bus driver turned on the heater for her fingers. After that, she did my favourite number: Umbrella. In my opinion, in the presence of the other passengers, she should have sung Disturbia instead. Still, I enjoyed the bus ride. :)


Arrived at OPC and met another gal from Japan. Turns out, she's the identical twin of the same gal i met on the plane. Such a coincidence.


First day at OPC and I was very fortunate to be eating with some vibrante school girls. I dunno their names yet so i'll call them The Cuties group.


They were very nice. They prepared the breakfast and lunch for us.


After breakfast, something strange happened. Someone's shoelace entangled everyone. I was lucky that I ran away fast enough not to be entangled.


Later in the afternoon. The responsible gals decided that they wanna climb a tree. So we climbed a tree.


The gals woke up early to make breakfast and lunch again. So nice of them. I know! NZ must be the place where girls become nice! I think we need to send more Singaporean girls here.


After breakfast, we received a distress call from Frodo. He couldn't locate Mount Doom so we lead a team out to help him.


Suffered snow-blindness that day. My retina and cornea were badly damaged. Now I have tiny eyes.


We got lost and thankfully I met a long lost friend. His name is Snowman.


And he directed us to.. Mt Doom. I called Frodo and MMS-ed him the picture.


Then there was an earthquake and we had no choice but to make our escape via the water route. Thankfully there were a few boat people and they helped to row me to safety.


The natives of NZ welcomed me to safety and they did a little dance to thank the mountains.


Back to civilisation, i had a very hearty meal.


Then I was given this packet of sugar. ..?? What the heck is it trying to tell me? Is it a sign?


All's well that ends well. So, my little mis-adventure ended with a very nice morning breakfast/dessert. End of story .

yes here i go again...

Someone commented the other day that the only time i post is when I have something to complain. I think this person is damn right. So here goes:

Singaporeans have problems saying "Thank you", "Sorry", "It's ok"...blah blah blah

Case study #1:
Auntie at coffee shop brings my drink. "Thank you auntie". Auntie pretends she never hear. "Thanks ah ..auntie". Auntie gives me the change and walks away. I wonder if I have a third eye on my forehead or what.

Case study #2:
After gym, I went to pick up my blueberry mobile. Just as I was about to drive out, a car stopped in front of me. A whole family boarded the car. The driver looked at me while the family was boarding and I didn't give him any dirty look or what but waited patiently. After the family finished boarding and putting all the rubbish they bought in the boot, he drove off. Just like that. Not a word of thanks. Geez. I should have just blared my horns and high beam him with my lights.

We are about 1.5675 million light years away from being a gracious society.

Center for Inquiry

The intelligent and rational revolution is finally here. Center for Inquiry produces the most thought-provoking podcasts that I LOVE to listen to. What is the CFI about?

"The Center for Inquiry is a daring new concept. Although modern world civilization is based upon the achievements of science and technology, until this time there has been no authoritative and credible voice defending the scientific outlook in examining religion, human values, and the borderlands of science. If the naturalistic outlook is to supplant the ancient mythological narratives of the past, it needs a new institution devoted to its articulation and dramatization to the public. The Center for Inquiry is that institution."

Website: http://www.centerforinquiry.net