Good Friday

[Dan J 277]

Good friday is a paid holiday for me!

Good Friday is purely religious so there'd be a problem with Seperation of Church and State.

Yes I see. The old separation of Church and state

So when will they take Christmas back?

I wonder how many people know that the origins of Christmas have nothing to do with Christianity. It just was easier to make it a celebration of the Birth of Christ since it was already a holiday, albeit for different reasons. Yes Christmas is more or less a pagan holiday, which fits us here in the US pretty well since we celebrate it with quite a bit of consumerism.

I would be interested to hear your ideas on this. Christmas is the celabration of the birth of Christ. How can it be a pagen holiday?

Christmas was celebrated long before the romans declared that December 25th would be a celebration of the birth of Christ. Many of the traditions we have today, have their origins in pagan celebrations of the winter solstice. Its easier to create a holiday where many people already celebrated one. The date of Christs birth is not really known. Easter has similar origins relating to celebrations around the spring equinox.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol_Invictus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_Solstice_celebration

[GaryC 7]

Christmas was celebrated long before the romans declared that December 25th would be a celebration of the birth of Christ. Many of the traditions we have today, have their origins in pagan celebrations of the winter solstice. Its easier to create a holiday where many people already celebrated one. The date of Christs birth is not really known. Easter has similar origins relating to celebrations around the spring equinox.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol_Invictus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_Solstice_celebration

Christmas was not celebrated before Christ. That isn't possable. Winter solstice was celebrated at that time and the date to celebrate Christmas was chosen to replace that. But Christmas was not celebrated before Christ was born.

[JenT 0]

Agree Gary. Here's a better link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas

[sparkofcreation 0]

Separation of church and state.

I work for the federal courts. Last year people were grumbling about not having Good Friday off or at least a half day (apparently the former management used to "happen" to give a half day on it) and so last year our Chief Judge wrote a beautiful email explaining why it was important that, as defenders of the Constitution, we not be given the day off. And that as Americans, it was important that we take the day off if we felt our religious beliefs require us to do so.

Wish I could find it to quote from, but I'll be off the next couple days (for medical reasons) and it's on my work computer.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Christmas was celebrated long before the romans declared that December 25th would be a celebration of the birth of Christ. Many of the traditions we have today, have their origins in pagan celebrations of the winter solstice. Its easier to create a holiday where many people already celebrated one. The date of Christs birth is not really known. Easter has similar origins relating to celebrations around the spring equinox.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol_Invictus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_Solstice_celebration

Christmas was not celebrated before Christ. That isn't possable. Winter solstice was celebrated at that time and the date to celebrate Christmas was chosen to replace that. But Christmas was not celebrated before Christ was born.

"Christmas" was not celebrated before Christ - but the Christmas holiday essentially took over pre-existing (roman) pagan holidays. Christ wasn't born on December 25th, that's just the day that was chosen for it to be 'officially' recognised.

[Reba 2]

pish..what's it matter anyway!? Its a day off work!

I get today off The new company I'm working for has Good Friday as a holiday, rather than Memorial Day. Personally, I'd rather Memorial Day (the weather is usually better for a camping weekend by then ) but I'll take a paid day off anywhere I can get it. There are so few here. But, I will also get Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off, which will give me a nice long weekend this year. Again though, I'd rather a long weekend during summer than winter, but I'll try not to gripe too much!

Back home, there are 9 statutory holidays in Ontario. I think Newfoundland has the most in Canada with 11 or 12. I've always wanted to move there.

Edited April 6, 2007 by Reba

[GaryC 7]

I get 10 paid holidays a year. New Year's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.

I love the benefits my company has!

[Jenn! 918]

I get 10 paid holidays a year. New Year's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.

I love the benefits my company has!

I have 11, no Good Friday, but Columbus Day and Presidents' Day.

[GaryC 7]

I also get an unlimited (within reason) number of personal paid days off. If something comes up I can just call off and still get paid. My position is half way between salary and hourly. I get an hourly rate with OT but the benefits of a salary employee. It's pretty sweet!

[almaty 19]

not me, my compnay must be Christ haters.

[Jenn! 918]

not me, my compnay must be Christ haters.

[Bootylicious!! 2]

I get 11 to 12 days a year. Depends on how things fall on the calendar. I work for the state so we get New Year's Day, MLK Day, Monday and Tuesday for Easter, July 4th, Labor Day, Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving, and this year 4 days at Christmas, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. So we get 12 this year. It's pretty sweet. I don't mind not getting one day here and one day there. I would much rather they take those days and lump them together like they do now. That being said, I'm here at work today. So I don't get Good Friday off either. My dad works for the USPS and he's not off today either. They actually don't get anything since Easter is considered a religious holiday.

[Heracles 417]

Separation of church and state.

our Chief Judge

Every time I hear those words it makes me cringe. Much like with the first amendment, people have taken the separation out of context. At the time it was conceived it obviously meant that not one specific religious group could have a sole influence on the government, as was happening in Great Britain. I am 100% sure they did 'not' mean that all religion should be banned while atheism calls the shots, which is technically a believe in itself.

Is America run by lawyers or by the people?

[Heracles 417]

I also get an unlimited (within reason) number of personal paid days off. If something comes up I can just call off and still get paid. My position is half way between salary and hourly. I get an hourly rate with OT but the benefits of a salary employee. It's pretty sweet!

It is amazing how so few companies actually realize the value and end result of treating their employees well.

I think they should all get a lesson for companies like the one you work for as well as google..

[mawilson 2,133]

So when will they take Christmas back?

They won't. Christmas is good for business!