Keep Christ Out of Christmas


THE NATIONAL "KEEP CHRIST OUT OF X-MAS"
COMMITTEE!

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More than 10 years ago, after seeing one too many of those "remember the reason
for the season" articles in my local paper, I formed the National Keep Christ
Out of X-mas Committee.

Each year since that time I have sent press releases to local papers from the
Committee, trying to set the record straight about Yule, Thor-Santa, and the
pagan message of the season.

Included with this article is a copy of a press release I have sent out to
papers, with another copy of it you can adapt for your own use.  If you are
reading this article, and you are a pagan, you are hereby appointed "Local
Secretary" of the NKCOXC!
Make copies locally and send them to your local newspaper.

They won't know what to do about them!  And quite often they print them
(usually heavily edited).

Have fun!

A sample press release:

PRESS RELEASE

National Keep Christ Out of Xmas Committee
Post Office Box 1554
Hollywood, Florida 33022

For more information:  (954) 927-0827

The Yuletide holidays aren't the exclusive property of Christians, reminds the
Rev. Rel Davis, Executive Secretary of the National Keep Christ Out of Xmas
Committee.

For thousands of years before the birth of Jesus, people all over the world
celebrated the winter solstice in much the same way we do today.  Evergreens,
candles, gifts, wreaths, holly, mistletoe and the traditional "groaning board"
are ancient activities of this season.

The Rev. Davis, minister of a South Florida Unitarian Universalist
congregation, says he has nothing against Christians celebrating Christmas,
"but when they try to claim exclusive rights to the holiday, they are going too
far."

Not only does the Jewish Hanukkah fall around this season, the ancient Roman
Saturnalia, the pagan Yule, and new year's festivals all over the world also
take place around the solstice.

"This was the ancient festival of the birth of the sun," Davis points out,
"when the sun 'stood still' (solstice) before climbing back into the sky again.
As such, it was sacred to Apollo, Thor, Christ and other solar deities."

Jesus could not have been born on December 25, Davis says, because "Shepherds
watching their sheep by night" would have been in Bethlehem only in the spring.
In fact, Christianity celebrated the birth of Jesus in the spring for hundreds
of years, finally moving the holiday to December 25 in order to compete with
pagan celebrations at that time.

"And long before Santa Claus was identified erroneously with an obscure priest
in the South of France (Nicholas)," Davis says, "the masses in northern Europe
waited each December 25 for Sinter (or Cinder) Klaus -- the name given to the
Good God Thor at Yuletide."

Thor drove a flying sled pulled by two goats (Gnasher and Dasher).  He wore red
and white fur-trimmed clothing.  He descended the chimney (his ancient altar).
And he brought gifts to all children.

"The Yule season has been a sacred period of peace, love and giving for
thousands of years," Davis says.  "All peoples own the holiday and all
traditions should be remembered at this time of year -- not just the mythical
stories about the Christ-child."

Anyone interested in learning more about the traditional Yuletide, or in
supporting the work of the National Keep Christ Out of Xmas Committee, may send
a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:   Rel Davis, NKCOXC, P.O. Box 1554,
Hollywood, FL 33022.

You can adapt it to your own use:

PRESS RELEASE

National Keep Christ Out of Xmas Committee
(your address)
(city, state, zip)

For more information:  (your phone number)

The Yuletide holidays aren't the exclusive property of Christians, reminds the
(your name), Local Secretary of the National Keep Christ Out of Xmas Committee.

For thousands of years before the birth of Jesus, people all over the world
celebrated the winter solstice in much the same way we do today.  Evergreens,
candles, gifts, wreaths, holly, mistletoe and the traditional "groaning board"
are ancient activities of this season.

(your name, and title if applicable), says (he/she) has nothing against
Christians celebrating Christmas, "but when they try to claim exclusive rights
to the holiday, they are going too far."

Not only does the Jewish Hanukkah fall around this season, the ancient Roman
Saturnalia, the pagan Yule, and new year's festivals all over the world also
take place around the solstice.

"This was the ancient festival of the birth of the sun," (your last name)
points out, "when the sun 'stood still' (solstice) before climbing back into
the sky again.  As such, it was sacred to Apollo, Thor, Christ and other solar
deities."

Jesus could not have been born on December 25, (your last name) says, because
"Shepherds watching their sheep by night" would have been in Bethlehem only in
the spring.  In fact, Christianity celebrated the birth of Jesus in the spring
for hundreds of years, finally moving the holiday to December 25 in order to
compete with pagan celebrations at that time.

"And long before Santa Claus was identified erroneously with an obscure priest
in the South of France (Nicholas)," (your last name) says, "the masses in
northern Europe waited each December 25 for Sinter (or Cinder) Klaus -- the
name given to the Good God Thor at Yuletide."

Thor drove a flying sled pulled by two goats (Gnasher and Dasher).  He wore red
and white fur-trimmed clothing.  He descended the chimney (his ancient altar).
And he brought gifts to all children.

"The Yule season has been a sacred period of peace, love and giving for
thousands of years," (your last name) says.  "All peoples own the holiday and
all traditions should be remembered at this time of year -- not just the
mythical stories about the Christ-child."

Anyone interested in learning more about the traditional Yuletide, or in
supporting the work of the National Keep Christ Out of Xmas Committee, may send
a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:  Rel Davis, NKCOXC, P.O. Box 1554,
Hollywood, FL 33022 (or your address).

Rel Davis