Enduring xian holidays.

[Mystie]

Today, being 'Good' Friday, all the local shops and businesses around here are closed. Is it not unfair that everyone should be inconvenienced by this because of the beliefs of one group (no matter the size of that group)? Or couldn't Atheists have our own public holiday to celebrate say, Liberation of the Mind? Happy LOM Day! (?)

[Lord Blackadder]

But is is Good Friday - good because I have a sanctioned day off work!

In all seriousness, I think the tide is slowly turning on Good Friday et al being sacrosact. I've mentioned it in another thread, but my gym was open today. So was MSAC (Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre), Baker's Delight and a few other businesses around town. I think many just shut up shop not because they have to, but because they want to in order to have an extra-long weekend.

[riddlemethis]

Originally Posted by Lord Blackadder

But is is Good Friday - good because I have a sanctioned day off work!

In all seriousness, I think the tide is slowly turning on Good Friday et al being sacrosact. I've mentioned it in another thread, but my gym was open today. So was MSAC (Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre), Baker's Delight and a few other businesses around town. I think many just shut up shop not because they have to, but because they want to in order to have an extra-long weekend.

Of course Bakers Delight was open, you can't have people eating day old hot cross buns on Good Friday! Crikey! Actually, I can happily say that many more of the establishments in my part of the world were open than closed. Even our stupormarkets were open after lunch. We could buy beer & everything!

[Logic please]

Since pretty much everything was closed, I celebrated one of the most important days of the year to Xtians by.... washing and polishing the car! Came up a treat too.

[Mystie]

The 'stupormarkets' (love it) ........ were also closed on 'Easter Monday' here. I must have seen at least 30 people approach the doors of Woolworths in the few minutes I was there. They would have lost quite a bit of business (which I mentioned in my letter to the managers ) Oh well their loss, due to superstition and/or blindly following the flock.

[Cynicide]

Good Friday is awesome. I walked right past the fish and chip shop where the line was out the door and walked into a local pizza place just as they were taking my order out of the oven. There were only two other people waiting in there.

I don't really mind religious holidays, it's a chance to have a little bit of a laugh and get a day where I can relax.

[Brother Nelson]

Originally Posted by Mystie

Today, being 'Good' Friday, all the local shops and businesses around here are closed. Is it not unfair that everyone should be inconvenienced by this because of the beliefs of one group (no matter the size of that group)? Or couldn't Atheists have our own public holiday to celebrate say, Liberation of the Mind? Happy LOM Day! (?)

Shhhhh, don't tell 'em it's not important, they'll take the bloody holiday off us.

[Brother Nelson]

In fact, it's a disgrace that since we are so multicultural we don't get more religous holidays, not just the christian ones.

[hooa]

Crikey ... Just take it and enjoy ... Where would you otherwise be? ... School? ... Work? ....

[Seamus]

Originally Posted by Brother Nelson

In fact, it's a disgrace that since we are so multicultural we don't get more religous holidays, not just the christian ones.

Indeed,Ramadan lasts for a month.

Then there's Jewish high holidays,as well as Chinese New Year and the Hindu Diwali to mention a few. ----------

Jewish:

Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year-different calendar))

Yom Kippur (day of atonement)





Diwali (Festival Of Lights) between October and Mid November. It's a ripper. I've been in Singapore when it's held

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



I'm sure the idea of celebrating New Year three or four time a year would be quite popular.