THE IRANIAN Weekly Bulletin, Dec 24, 1996
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PAGE 5
Tuesday, December 24, 1996
Headlines:
-- Mithraism and Christmas
-- Mousing around on Christmas Eve
-- Santa proof
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Mithraism and Christmas
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From: Bijan Roshan <pgum@cctr.umkc.edu>
In response to questions regarding the reason why we celebrate Yalda, the longest night of the year:
Prior to the Zoroastrianism era (which possibly became the official religion only after Darius I, the Great) Mithraism was very popular in Iran (and possibly one might think that Cyrus, the Great was a Mithraist).
Mithra's (Iranian god of the sun) birthday was the day that the sun starts to appear more and more in the sky which is the first day of winter.
Although Zoroastrianism incorporated a lot of Mithraistic ideas, essentially Mithraism faded in Iran, but raised in Roman Empire especially during the first three centuries AD.
In fact in New College Webster under "Mithra" authors mention that it was the main rival of Christianity during early AD centuries. If you Search Encyclopedia Britanica Under "Christ Mass" authors state that when Roman Churches decided to celebrate Jesus' birthday they chose an already present festival which was birth day of god of the Sun, and...
The current difference between Yalda, which is exactly the night before the shortest day of the year, and 25th of Dec. is secondary to multiple calendar corrections.
For more information search Encyclopedia Britanica under:
a) Christmas b) Mithra
So...Historically we have good reasons to celebrate Yalda and in reality we don't need any reason for a good "Tradition".
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Mousing around on Christmas Eve
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From: ES
"The Night Before Christmas"
'Twas the night before Christmas
when all through the house
not much was clicking, except for the mouse.
The phone line was hung to the modem with care,
in hopes that the email soon would be there.
Virtual children appeared as if in their beds,
with cd-rom visions above their heads.
And I at the PC and she at the Mac
had just settled down for a long winter's hack.
When from the chat room there arose such a clatter,
I brought up the help screen to see what was the matter.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a Christmas web site, with eight tiny reindeer,
and home page graphics, real 3D and quick;
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick's.
More rapid than T - 1 the pages they came
Real Audio opened and called them by name:
"Now, Big Blue! Now Apple! Now Intel! Sun Micro!
On Compaq! On Netscape! On Gateway and Cisco!
As I clicked on gift list, and was turning around,
On came the printer with an unusual sound.
A toy bundle icon appeared in the back,
Revealing old Santa just opening his pack.
At once it was silent, as he worked against time,
sending presents to all the world online.
Through fax machines and printers real gifts did appear.
Everyone knew Santa Claus had been here.
But I heard him exclaim as Windows crashed for the night,
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good byte."
(Original author unknown)
Children and adults alike commonly come to the conclusion that there is no Santa Claus. To disprove this myth, the team at christmas.com was assembled - the best researchers, investigators, photographers, and cameramen in the world.
Here's their proof, that Kris Kringle exists:
-- Santa on ancient Egyptian papyrus:
//Christmas.com/xmas.files/3082.html
-- Santa Spotted at Clinton Fund Raiser in Halifax, VA:
//Christmas.com/xmas.files/3045.html
-- Etching on Mars surface:
//Christmas.com/xmas.files/4016.html
-- Spotted during 1975 ASP World Surfing Tour:
//Christmas.com/xmas.files/4918.html
-- Santa's cyber sleigh:
//Christmas.com/sleigh-stats.html
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