It’s been a while since a new blog post has come your way. I would apologize, but there’s no real reason to say sorry.
My average day consists of getting up, going to work, coming home, going back to work, going to bed and waking up the next day to do it all again.
Not to exciting.
One bright spot this month is I do have four classes. This means extra $$$. Last month I only had three. Most of my colleagues have three this month. Nobody can really explain the rhyme or reason behind this. The scheduling seems to defy any logic.
I don’t have to work tomorrow because it is a national holiday celebrating the immaculate conception. Jesus was conceived on December 8th and born on December 25th. Humm…
Now, I know both celebrations are approximations. Some biblical historians believe Christ was born sometime in the summer, but nobody really knows. Although, you would think somewhere in Catholic Church history a cadre of cardinals and bishops would have gotten together to pick a better date for either the conception or the birth of the Savior. The math doesn’t make sense. Either Jesus spent almost a year in the womb or two weeks. Humm….
Last night I was super excited to finally watch the Minnesota Vikings on TV. Since they were on Sunday Night Football, ESPN would carry the game. Needless to say the Vikings lost. That doesn’t really disappoint me though. While I still love the Vikings, I consciously decided a few years ago they would no longer be the center of my world. That said, it would have been real nice to see a win. Proving to this fan that this team is as good as all the hype I’ve been reading about. Oh well, another let down. It’s not the first, nor will it be the last.
Contrary to popular opinion, people in South America don’t care about the NFL. I also find the NFL’s “one billion people watch the Super Bowl” factoid dusted off every year to be a bit dubious. Outside of American ex-pats who want to see the big game, there aren’t a lot of casual American Football outside the borders. Proper football, or as we would say soccer, is huge. ESPN shows games from all the premier leagues, all around the world. Tennis is also big. The NBA has a following. Hockey fans, don’t even ask.
Soccer is so big that tomorrow is the biggest game of the soccer season here in Peru. Actually, many of my students think they have the day off for the big game. Alianza takes on Universitario. Alianza and “The U” are the two most successful teams in the Peruvian Soccer League. Both have won over 20 championships. Blood will likely be spilled both on and off the field.
We won’t be anywhere near the game. Mainly because we don’t care. There are people in this house who care and will watch, but V and I will be relaxing wondering why the day has to end.
Well… on why 12/25… it has to do with winter solstice…
http://www.essortment.com/all/christmaspagan_rece.htm
I am unsure why you’re wondering how a virgin could be impregnated by God, and not give birth 2 weeks later? Because I’m just saying, there are a few other holes in this story.
Also, Ben is correct. Christmas was placed to take the place of the winter solstice pagan celebrations. That’s also why Easter is called Easter and has eggs and bunnies. It is connected to the pagan celebration for spring.
Caroline & Ben got it right. As organized Christianity moved into northern Europe it was not uncommon for the missionaries to transfer Christian celebrations to pagan ones already in existance. Christmas celebrates the birth of the “light of the world” and winter solstice celebrates the sun turning around and the days getting longer. A celebration of the birth of the son of God and the return of the sun. If the early missionaries went to Lima instead of northern Europe, who knows, maybe christmas would be celebrated in July.