jesusfreakrkg (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Linus' account of the text from Luke makes me cry every time. wonderful.

MrsFowler22 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

yay Linus! this man knows what its all about!

Neonerin (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Im playing Linus in this years Christmas play (its going to be Charly Browns Christmas)

jeremyfrancis (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

some people have to take it upon themselves to be intellectual. They can be, and I can choose not to read their ramblings. Soon, there will be no mystery nor magic to any of our customs because people have become so concerned to uphold intelligence and constantly analyze things. This show is great! Linus hits the nail on the head!

countrybunnie (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Amen.

CRClouse13 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

jebus cripes what's with all the bickering . It's a gosh damn christmas cartoon speacial. Shut the hell up and enjoy the show fools

PreacherTHC (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

John Chrysostom also commented on the connection: "They call it the 'Birthday of the Unconquered'. Who indeed is so unconquered as Our Lord . . .?"

PreacherTHC (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

This day had held no significance in the Roman festive calendar until it was introduced in the third century. The festival was placed on the date of the solstice because this was on this day that the Sun reversed its southward retreat and proved itself to be "unconquered." Several early Christian writers connected the rebirth of the sun to the birth of Jesus. "O, how wonderfully acted Providence that on that day on which that Sun was born...Christ should be born", Cyprian wrote.

PreacherTHC (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Dies Natalis Solis Invicti Dies Natalis Solis Invicti means "the birthday of the unconquered Sun." The use of the title Sol Invictus allowed several solar deities to be worshipped collectively, including Elah-Gabal, a Syrian sun god; Sol, the god of Emperor Aurelian; and Mithras, a soldiers' god of Persian origin. Emperor Elagabalus (218222) introduced the festival, and it reached the height of its popularity under Aurelian, who promoted it as an empire-wide holiday.

PreacherTHC (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Scandinavians still call Christmas Jul. In English, the word Yule is synonymous with Christmas, a usage first recorded in 900.