at the temporal coordinates: 4/2/02 2:11 PM, the entity known as Michael J.
Hu=DFmann at michael_at_michael-hussmann.de conveyed the following:
> Santa Claus is obviously not a
> biblical character, but has pagan roots, as is the case with many or most
> customs connected with Christmas.
Actually, St. Nicholas was a (IIRC) 4th Century Christian in what is modern
day Turkey. So, no, he's not Biblical, but no "pagan roots" either. You're
correct as to the origins of the timing of Christmas, though. Call it an
early example of marketing? ;-)
BTW, I don't recall all the initial discussion on this thread (and I'm at
work, so I don't have my saved messages on this; AND I'm too lazy right now
to look it up in the archives), but did this have to do with the timing of
Easter?? If it did, that's not pagan either, but you have to go into how
the timing of Passover is calculated. It's something like Passover is the
day of the first full moon after the vernal equinox (and then Easter would
be the first Sunday after that), but don't hold me to that.
- Eric.
--=20
Eric Strobel (fyzycyst_at_NOSPAM^mailaps.org)
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Bioweapons? HA! I laugh at them!! *I've* cleaned the coffee urns
at work!!!!
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