Noël à Nu !
Noël est une fête chrétienne célébrant la naissance de Jésus à Nazareth. La date de cette fête est actuellement fixée au 25 décembre pour la plupart des pays et le 6 janvier pour quelques pays orientaux.
Presque dépouillé de son aspect religieux, Noël est devenu surtout une fête commerciale célébrée par de millions de personnes dans le monde croyant et non croyant.
Presque dépouillé de son aspect religieux, Noël est devenu surtout une fête commerciale célébrée par de millions de personnes dans le monde croyant et non croyant.
La Controverse
Aucun texte chrétien n’annonce quel jour dans l’année est ne Jésus-Christ. De plus, la naissance de Jésus n’a pas été célèbre par les premiers chrétiens ; ce n’est qu’au IVe siècle que le 25 décembre fut désigné comme date de commémoration.
La période du solstice d’hiver (22 décembre) est le récipient de nombreuses croyances païennes relatives à la fertilité, et à la victoire de la lumière sur les ténèbres. Ces traditions antiques ont de nombreuses similitudes avec la fête chrétienne (rassemblement autour d’un festin, échange de cadeaux, arbre vert..). Cela s’explique par la forte propagation du christianisme sous l’empire romain, fortement attaché aux traditions païennes.
« Au-delà de sa fonction symbolique première, qui est d'assurer le retour de la lumière au moment du solstice d'hiver, la fête de Noël est devenue un bazar mi-païen, mi-religieux, et toujours chargé d'émotion. » La sociologue Martyne Perrot (CNRS) dans Sous les images, Noël.
La période du solstice d’hiver (22 décembre) est le récipient de nombreuses croyances païennes relatives à la fertilité, et à la victoire de la lumière sur les ténèbres. Ces traditions antiques ont de nombreuses similitudes avec la fête chrétienne (rassemblement autour d’un festin, échange de cadeaux, arbre vert..). Cela s’explique par la forte propagation du christianisme sous l’empire romain, fortement attaché aux traditions païennes.
« Au-delà de sa fonction symbolique première, qui est d'assurer le retour de la lumière au moment du solstice d'hiver, la fête de Noël est devenue un bazar mi-païen, mi-religieux, et toujours chargé d'émotion. » La sociologue Martyne Perrot (CNRS) dans Sous les images, Noël.
Stimuli économique miracle ?
Noël représente la plus importante relance économique annuel pour de nombreux pays à travers le monde. Les ventes augmentent considérablement dans touts les magasins, qui tentent d’en profiter au maximum en introduisant constamment de nouveaux produits et en redoublant d’efforts en termes de publicité. Aux Etats-Unis, la « saison des achats de Noel » débute des Octobre. Même chose pour le Canada où les commerçants commencent leurs campagnes de publicité avant Halloween (Octobre 31). En France, des spécialistes sont contactés par tout les grands magasins pour leurs aider à décorer leurs vitrines de façon a attirer le plus de clients possible.
Cependant, Noël n'est certainement pas que mauvais:
« Déprivé de l’aspect commercial, Noel est l’une des fêtes les plus chaleureuses de l’année. C’est l’instant où toute la famille se rassemble, où toute la famille oublie leur différences. Un instant de joie profond. La seule période pendant lequel je puisse ressentir la force de la chaleur humaine. »
Cependant, Noël n'est certainement pas que mauvais:
« Déprivé de l’aspect commercial, Noel est l’une des fêtes les plus chaleureuses de l’année. C’est l’instant où toute la famille se rassemble, où toute la famille oublie leur différences. Un instant de joie profond. La seule période pendant lequel je puisse ressentir la force de la chaleur humaine. »
Santa Claus : EXPOSED
Early representation of Santa Claus
It’s so easy for each youngster to believe in the whole Santa myth. Well, how wouldn’t they?
“The adults they count on to provide reliable information about the world introduce them to Santa. Then his existence is affirmed by friends, books, TV and movies. It is also validated by hard evidence: the half-eaten cookies and empty milk glasses by the tree on Christmas morning. In other words, children do a great job of scientifically evaluating Santa. And adults do a great job of duping them.”
- Jacqueline Wooley
So where did the myth of this jolly creature originate from?
The name "Santa Claus" is a corruption of the name "St. Nicholas," a Roman Catholic bishop who lived in the 5th century. St. Nicholas is believed to have been very generous towards the poor, protecting to the children. Due to little evidence of his real existence, and because of poor documentation, Pope Paul IV ordered the feast of St. Nicholas dropped from the official Roman Catholic calendar in 1969.
Numerous historians draw parallels between Santa Claus and Odin, a major god to the Germanic people prior to Christianization. According to Germanic folklore, Odin was sometimes recorded as leading a great hunting party in the sky on the native holiday Yule. According to some traditions, children would put their boots filled with carrots and sugar under the chimney to feed Odin’s flying horse. Dutch and Scandinavian folklore have also helped to forge the Santa myth.
Pre-modern representations of the gift-giver from church history and folklore, notably St Nicholas, merged with the British character Father Christmas to create the character known to Britons and Americans as Santa Claus.
Santa was gaining popularity in the New World during the 18th and the 19th century where numerous poems and books were being published and many representations were appearing in journals.
The 20th century shaped the gift giving character through advertising. The Coca Cola company used Santa in their advertising campaigns from 1931 through 1964. Thanks to them, we now characterize Santa for wearing a red suit and having a shiny white beard.
The image of Santa Claus as a benevolent character became reinforced with its association with charity and philanthropy, particularly by organizations such as the Salvation Army. Volunteers dressed as Santa Claus typically became part of fundraising drives to aid needy families at Christmas time.
On the one hand, we have the children all over the world who believe in Santa Claus as the jolly, generous, caring person that would reward them each Christmas for being good. On the other, we have Santa Claus, the product of a materialistic world and a mere phase children pass through, before just benefiting from the gifts.
“Our jolly old Saint Nicholas reflects our culture to a T, for he is fanciful, exuberant, bountiful, over-weight, and highly commercial. He also mirrors some of our highest ideals: childhood purity and innocence, selfless giving, unfaltering love, justice, and mercy. (What child has ever received a coal for Christmas?) The problem is that, in the process, he has become burdened with some of society's greatest challenges: materialism, corporate greed, and domination by the media. Here, Santa carries more in his baggage than toys alone!”
-Carol Jean Swanson
“The adults they count on to provide reliable information about the world introduce them to Santa. Then his existence is affirmed by friends, books, TV and movies. It is also validated by hard evidence: the half-eaten cookies and empty milk glasses by the tree on Christmas morning. In other words, children do a great job of scientifically evaluating Santa. And adults do a great job of duping them.”
- Jacqueline Wooley
So where did the myth of this jolly creature originate from?
The name "Santa Claus" is a corruption of the name "St. Nicholas," a Roman Catholic bishop who lived in the 5th century. St. Nicholas is believed to have been very generous towards the poor, protecting to the children. Due to little evidence of his real existence, and because of poor documentation, Pope Paul IV ordered the feast of St. Nicholas dropped from the official Roman Catholic calendar in 1969.
Numerous historians draw parallels between Santa Claus and Odin, a major god to the Germanic people prior to Christianization. According to Germanic folklore, Odin was sometimes recorded as leading a great hunting party in the sky on the native holiday Yule. According to some traditions, children would put their boots filled with carrots and sugar under the chimney to feed Odin’s flying horse. Dutch and Scandinavian folklore have also helped to forge the Santa myth.
Pre-modern representations of the gift-giver from church history and folklore, notably St Nicholas, merged with the British character Father Christmas to create the character known to Britons and Americans as Santa Claus.
Santa was gaining popularity in the New World during the 18th and the 19th century where numerous poems and books were being published and many representations were appearing in journals.
The 20th century shaped the gift giving character through advertising. The Coca Cola company used Santa in their advertising campaigns from 1931 through 1964. Thanks to them, we now characterize Santa for wearing a red suit and having a shiny white beard.
The image of Santa Claus as a benevolent character became reinforced with its association with charity and philanthropy, particularly by organizations such as the Salvation Army. Volunteers dressed as Santa Claus typically became part of fundraising drives to aid needy families at Christmas time.
On the one hand, we have the children all over the world who believe in Santa Claus as the jolly, generous, caring person that would reward them each Christmas for being good. On the other, we have Santa Claus, the product of a materialistic world and a mere phase children pass through, before just benefiting from the gifts.
“Our jolly old Saint Nicholas reflects our culture to a T, for he is fanciful, exuberant, bountiful, over-weight, and highly commercial. He also mirrors some of our highest ideals: childhood purity and innocence, selfless giving, unfaltering love, justice, and mercy. (What child has ever received a coal for Christmas?) The problem is that, in the process, he has become burdened with some of society's greatest challenges: materialism, corporate greed, and domination by the media. Here, Santa carries more in his baggage than toys alone!”
-Carol Jean Swanson
Check out DJ Earworm's Mashup of the 25 biggest hits of 2011 in the US !
Adele - Rolling In The Deep
Adele - Someone Like You
Black Eyed Peas - Just Can't Get Enough
Bruno Mars - Grenade
Bruno Mars - The Lazy Song
Britney Spears - Till The World Ends
Cee Lo Green - F* You
Enrique Iglesias - Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)
Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks
Jennifer Lopez - On The Floor
Jeremih feat. 50 cent - Down On Me
Katy Perry - Firework
Katy Perry - E.T.
Katy Perry - Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)
Lady Gaga - Born This Way
LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem
LMFAO - Sexy and I Know It
Lupe Fiasco - The Show Goes On
Maroon 5 - Moves Like Jagger
Nicki Minaj - Super Bass
OneRepublic - Good Life
Pink - Raise Your Glass
Pitbull - Give Me Everything
Rihanna - S&M
Rihanna - We Found Love
Adele - Rolling In The Deep
Adele - Someone Like You
Black Eyed Peas - Just Can't Get Enough
Bruno Mars - Grenade
Bruno Mars - The Lazy Song
Britney Spears - Till The World Ends
Cee Lo Green - F* You
Enrique Iglesias - Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)
Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks
Jennifer Lopez - On The Floor
Jeremih feat. 50 cent - Down On Me
Katy Perry - Firework
Katy Perry - E.T.
Katy Perry - Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)
Lady Gaga - Born This Way
LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem
LMFAO - Sexy and I Know It
Lupe Fiasco - The Show Goes On
Maroon 5 - Moves Like Jagger
Nicki Minaj - Super Bass
OneRepublic - Good Life
Pink - Raise Your Glass
Pitbull - Give Me Everything
Rihanna - S&M
Rihanna - We Found Love
Music : Holidays Special
Top 5 Christmas songs
1. Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
2. George Michael - Last Christmas
3. Train - Shake Up Christmas
4. Lady Gaga - White Christmas
5. Harry Simeoune Chorale - Drummer Boy
Top 5 New Year's songs
1. U2 - New Year's Day
2. Shedaisy - Brand New Year
3. Barry Manilow - It's Just Another New Year's Eve
4. Frank Sinatra - Let's Start The New Year Right
5. Abba - Happy New Year
we put the video so you can make fun of it ;)
1. Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
2. George Michael - Last Christmas
3. Train - Shake Up Christmas
4. Lady Gaga - White Christmas
5. Harry Simeoune Chorale - Drummer Boy
Top 5 New Year's songs
1. U2 - New Year's Day
2. Shedaisy - Brand New Year
3. Barry Manilow - It's Just Another New Year's Eve
4. Frank Sinatra - Let's Start The New Year Right
5. Abba - Happy New Year
we put the video so you can make fun of it ;)
Messi Remporte le Ballon d'Or
Comme vous l'aviez prédit, c'est effet Lionel Messi qui remporte pour la 3e année consécutive ce grand prix qui récompense le meilleur footballer de l'année.