11M for a tree......and the majority aren't Christians?

[ComedyPilot]

Anyone else see the irony in a predominantly muslim country having the world's most expensive 'CHRIST'mas Tree ?

 

[661-Pete]

The Xmas tree is not in any way a symbol of Christianity, rather it symbolises the pagan festival of Saturnalia. So it's equally inappropriate to have it in a predominantly Christian country...

 

[ComedyPilot]

Oh........so why isn't it called a Saturnalia Tree then?

 

[vernon]

Oh........so why isn't it called a Saturnalia Tree then?

Because it's not on Saturn.

Simples.

 

[Aperitif]

Among other things, the tree is not inter alia...

 

[PBancroft]

My parents tend to go on holiday for Christmas, and when I lived at home I used to go with them. You'd be surprised how many hotels in predominantly muslim countries put up Christmas decorations and have special Christmas meals. Sure, a lot of them are doing it for the benefit of their guests (who ironically are often trying to get away from such things), but it does also make a bit of a mockery of the idea that Islam and Christianity is constantly at war with each other.

 

[badkitty]

Apart from all that, it's actually a really crap tree. All they did was hang tacky bling jewellery on it, which of course they will just take off and put back in the boxes ready to sell again afterwards.


It would have been really impressive if the branches were encrusted with 11 million quids worth of stones that were there for that purpose and no other.

Timewasters!

 

[adscrim]

The Xmas tree is not in any way a symbol of Christianity,

That depends on who you listen to - Christians claim the tree is in relation to St Boniface (I think).

 

[johnnyh]

just the church piggybacking on a pagan festival for to gain popularity.

it's a good story though, the whole christmas tale, whatever your thoughts on its reality

 

[Flying_Monkey]

That depends on who you listen to - Christians claim the tree is in relation to St Boniface (I think).

Yes, but that's bollocks - sorry, ex post-facto rationalisation! Like most things to do with the actual practice of Christmas, it was appropriated from various existing local cultural traditions. In Britain most of these were then reinvented and standardized by the Victorians.

But in regards to the OP, I think the double irony is the poster does not seem to realise that Muslims have no problem with celebrating the birth of Jesus, who they regard as one of their most important prophets... and anyway, that for most countries in the world, not least the 'Christian' ones, Christmas is as much a commercial event as anything else.

 

[deckertim]

What's Christmas got to do with Christians? We are celebrating Santa's birthday after all.

 

[Fnaar]

What's Christmas got to do with Christians? We are celebrating Santa's birthday after all.

 

[johnnyh]

[QUOTE 1270258"]
That's not really correct. I believe that the church planted their festivals at the same time as the pagan ones to offer what they saw as a better alternative. Light in the darkness I suppose.
[/quote]


exactly what I said, the church adopting a pagan festival timing to gain popularity... hence the piggybacking.

It can't really reflect the timing of the birth of Christ though surely... if we are to believe shepherds were tendin their flock and people were travelling to Bethlehem then that is more likely to have been in sept/oct when it was warmer. The sheep weren't kept out in the cold December temps.

anyhow, good story innit

 

[johnnyh]

we all know it happened in the space of 30 to 45 minutes, it has been thus told by every school nativity since

 

[Fnaar]

we all know it happened in the space of 30 to 45 minutes, it has been thus told by every school nativity since

...and there were "Chinamen" there too... I know, cos I was one in nativity play at primary school.