(no subject)

[can_be_more]

Explain this holiday to me now, please. You know the one. The one with snow and trees and overweight men in bad suits with worse facial hair. I'm new! I don't know these things!

Comments

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

He was a bishop. I think.

[chasingangela]

Right, but there are a lot of bishops who became saints, right? Why does he get to be the one associated with Christmas? Is it just because of the stuff for the poor people?

I almost wish I was religious and knew this stuff.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Right. Lots of them.

Well, I heard he did the reverse-burglar bit and threw gold down chimneys? But I don't know where the stockings come into it. And I don't know, maybe he did it for Christmas?

I used to know this stuff, but then I left the convent. Yay.

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Shoes. You have to put your shoe at teh chimney and he fills them with candy.

[can_be_more]

Um. Why?

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Uh. I'm not sure. You just do.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_wespryce/]

Some peasant maidens were about to be sold into prostitution by their father. Saint Nicholas stepped in and gave them dowries so that they could be married instead.

It's all about the propagation of the patriarchy, really.

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Yes. *snatches Saint Nicholas who has nothing to do with christmas and everything with december 6 and runs very far away*

[jarodpretends.livejournal.com]

*thumbs through New Testament* Jesus was a bishop? I must have missed that part.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

He was the first Bishop. Kind of.

And Sinterklaas was a bishop.

Although I really have a hard time seeing a bishop as a B & E guy.

[jarodpretends.livejournal.com]

Well, sure. The hat would fall right off the first time he tried to climb through a window.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Although not as bad as if he'd been Pope at the time.

Which does bring up the question, why does the bishop get to be a saint? What was up with the pope? Was he slacking?

[jarodpretends.livejournal.com]

You're asking me?

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

*grins* I'm asking the world.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_wespryce/]

If Popes automatically became Saints, then there would be two Borgia saints instead of only one. According to the Catholic Church, you reach Heaven based on your own efforts, not on your worldly station.

I suppose I'm Anglican myself. It's a tradition, although one observed mostly when we're sneaking into churches to steal Holy Water by the gallon in theory rather than in practice.