The holiday season.
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The holiday season.
[b] Well if any of you bums out there read this. Linda and I would like to wish each and everyone of you and your friends, family and loved ones a very merry and happy holiday season and may the incoming year bring all of you the best year of your life. But most of all please, please have a safe holiday season. So until the time we meet again here.
Merry Christmas and happy new year to one and all.
The first Santa
Not only was Santa once real, he lives on in spirit everywhere.
Although most adults view Santa as the embodiment of a spirit of giving, some argue that the modern image of Santa Claus conflicts with the true meaning of Christmas and promotes greed and commercialism. To reconcile the legend of Santa Claus with the religious significance of Christmas, some Christians emphasize that the modern figure is derived from legends about a saint who symbolized love, caring, and generosity.
The real Santa lived a long time ago in a place called Asia Minor. It is now the country of Turkey. His name was Nicholas.
Nicholas' parents died when he was just a teenager. His parents left him a lot of money which made him a rich young man. He went to live with his uncle who was a priest.
Nicholas heard about a man who had lost all his money. He had three daughters who were old enough to get married. But in those days young women had to have money in order to get married. This money was a "dowry" and it was used to help the new family get started. If you didn't have dowry money, you didn't get married.
This family was so poor they had nothing left to eat. The daughters were going to be sold as slaves because they couldn't live at home any longer. They were very sad. They wouldn't be able to have families of their own. And they would have to be slaves—no longer able to decide where they would live or what they would do.
The night before the oldest daughter was to be sold, she washed her stockings and put them in front of the fire to dry. Then all of them went to sleep—the father and the three daughters.
In the morning the daughter saw a lump in her stocking. Reaching in, she found a small, heavy bag. It had gold inside! Enough to provide food for the family and money for her dowry. Oh, how happy they were!
The next morning, another bag with gold was found. Imagine! Two of the daughters would now be saved. Such joy!
And the next night, the father planned to stay awake to find out who was helping his daughters. He dozed off, but heard a small "clink" as another bag landed in the room. Quickly he jumped up and ran out the door. Who did he catch ducking around the corner?
Nicholas, the young man who lived with his uncle. "Nicholas, it is you! Thank you for helping us—I hardly know what to say!" Nicholas said, "Please, do not thank me—thank God that your prayers have been answered. Do not tell others about me."
Nicholas continued helping people. He always tried to help secretly. He didn't want any attention or thanks. Years passed and he was chosen to be a bishop. Bishops look after their people as shepherds look after their sheep. And that is what Nicholas did. When there wasn't any food, he found wheat; so no one went hungry. He always helped people in trouble. All his life Nicholas showed people how to love God and care for each other.
The people loved Nicholas. After he died, they told stories of the good and kind things Nicholas had done. Sailors took these stories about Nicholas everywhere they went. Some of the stories were about his special care for children—helping and protecting them when danger threatened. And so more and more people learned about good, kind Nicholas. They wanted to be like him. He is an example of how we should live. And that is why he became a saint.
This is the story of the real Santa Claus, St. Nicholas. To this day people say that St. Nicholas, or Santa, is the special friend of children.
—Carol Myers
Merry Christmas and happy new year to one and all.
The first Santa
Not only was Santa once real, he lives on in spirit everywhere.
Although most adults view Santa as the embodiment of a spirit of giving, some argue that the modern image of Santa Claus conflicts with the true meaning of Christmas and promotes greed and commercialism. To reconcile the legend of Santa Claus with the religious significance of Christmas, some Christians emphasize that the modern figure is derived from legends about a saint who symbolized love, caring, and generosity.
The real Santa lived a long time ago in a place called Asia Minor. It is now the country of Turkey. His name was Nicholas.
Nicholas' parents died when he was just a teenager. His parents left him a lot of money which made him a rich young man. He went to live with his uncle who was a priest.
Nicholas heard about a man who had lost all his money. He had three daughters who were old enough to get married. But in those days young women had to have money in order to get married. This money was a "dowry" and it was used to help the new family get started. If you didn't have dowry money, you didn't get married.
This family was so poor they had nothing left to eat. The daughters were going to be sold as slaves because they couldn't live at home any longer. They were very sad. They wouldn't be able to have families of their own. And they would have to be slaves—no longer able to decide where they would live or what they would do.
The night before the oldest daughter was to be sold, she washed her stockings and put them in front of the fire to dry. Then all of them went to sleep—the father and the three daughters.
In the morning the daughter saw a lump in her stocking. Reaching in, she found a small, heavy bag. It had gold inside! Enough to provide food for the family and money for her dowry. Oh, how happy they were!
The next morning, another bag with gold was found. Imagine! Two of the daughters would now be saved. Such joy!
And the next night, the father planned to stay awake to find out who was helping his daughters. He dozed off, but heard a small "clink" as another bag landed in the room. Quickly he jumped up and ran out the door. Who did he catch ducking around the corner?
Nicholas, the young man who lived with his uncle. "Nicholas, it is you! Thank you for helping us—I hardly know what to say!" Nicholas said, "Please, do not thank me—thank God that your prayers have been answered. Do not tell others about me."
Nicholas continued helping people. He always tried to help secretly. He didn't want any attention or thanks. Years passed and he was chosen to be a bishop. Bishops look after their people as shepherds look after their sheep. And that is what Nicholas did. When there wasn't any food, he found wheat; so no one went hungry. He always helped people in trouble. All his life Nicholas showed people how to love God and care for each other.
The people loved Nicholas. After he died, they told stories of the good and kind things Nicholas had done. Sailors took these stories about Nicholas everywhere they went. Some of the stories were about his special care for children—helping and protecting them when danger threatened. And so more and more people learned about good, kind Nicholas. They wanted to be like him. He is an example of how we should live. And that is why he became a saint.
This is the story of the real Santa Claus, St. Nicholas. To this day people say that St. Nicholas, or Santa, is the special friend of children.
—Carol Myers
Re: The holiday season.
Have a merry Christmas everybody.
Give Linda aChristmas hug from me OT.
Give Linda aChristmas hug from me OT.
C.Hound- Posts : 673
Join date : 2010-04-28
Age : 54
Re: The holiday season.
C.Hound wrote:Have a merry Christmas everybody.
Give Linda aChristmas hug from me OT.
And so it is written, so shall it be done. And please give a big merry Christmas hug to Momma from us. And one to you as well.
Re: The holiday season.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year and what ever else.
night-reaper- Posts : 241
Join date : 2010-05-06
Re: The holiday season.
night-reaper wrote:Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year and what ever else.
Hey Reaper. Have a really great year and may all the best things happen to you this year.
Re: The holiday season.
[b][i]
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU
Where is X?
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU
Where is X?
Tulip- Posts : 142
Join date : 2010-04-28
Re: The holiday season.
Thanks OT, I had a good holiday, and I do hope some good things happen in 2011. How was your holiday?OT wrote:night-reaper wrote:Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year and what ever else.
Hey Reaper. Have a really great year and may all the best things happen to you this year.
night-reaper- Posts : 241
Join date : 2010-05-06
Re: The holiday season.
That's a good question? I miss her.Tulip wrote:[b][i]
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU
Where is X?
night-reaper- Posts : 241
Join date : 2010-05-06
Re: The holiday season.
night-reaper wrote:Thanks OT, I had a good holiday, and I do hope some good things happen in 2011. How was your holiday?OT wrote:night-reaper wrote:Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year and what ever else.
Hey Reaper. Have a really great year and may all the best things happen to you this year.
My holidays were really great just a quiet time at home.
Re: The holiday season.
night-reaper wrote:That's a good question? I miss her.Tulip wrote:[b][i]
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU
Where is X?
I haven't heard from her in a while now and I miss her to. Hope she is OK.
Re: The holiday season.
X if you are out there and reading the forum let us know you are alright.
We miss you.
We miss you.
Tulip- Posts : 142
Join date : 2010-04-28
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