2 Xmas Stories

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Xmas Story #1 (the old one):

“Dies Natalis Solis Invicti”
“Birthday of the Unconquered Sun”
Centuries before Christianity, the holiday was called “Dies Natalis Solis Invicti” or “Birthday of the Unconquered Sun” as December 25 marks the first day when the sun is perceived to reverse its southward retreat. Each day thereafter, there is a little more light and a little less night.

It’s only a small step to move from the birthday of the unconquered sun to the unconquered son; it’s widely believed that the Christmas story of Jesus originates from this pagan celebration. The Solis Invicti celebration evolved into Christmas, and the rest is history.

Sol Invictus was the official sun god of the later Roman empire. The cult was created by Aurelian in 274, who made it an official cult alongside the traditional Roman cults. Scholars disagree whether the new deity was a refoundation of the ancient Latin cult of Sol, a revival of the cult of Elagabalus or completely new. The god was favoured by emperors after Aurelian and appeared on their coins until Constantine. The last inscription referring to Sol Invictus dates to 387 AD. and there were enough devotees in the 5th century that Augustine found it necessary to preach against them. A festival on 25 Dec. is sometimes thought to be responsible for the date of Christmas.


Silver Sol Invictus. Roman, 3rd century,
found at Pessinus (British Museum)

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Xmas Story #2 (the new one):





The Digital Story of the Nativity

(02:58 min.)

From: ExcentricPT

Added: December 13, 2010

Description: How social media, web and mobile tell the story of the Nativity.
Christmas story told through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google, Wikipedia, Google Maps, GMail, Foursquare, Amazon...

Times change, the feeling remains the same.

http://www.excentric.pt | http://www.facebook.com/ExcentricPT

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkHNNPM7pJA

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Then there is June 3, 1967