This is a symbol of "Oseibo" in December every year. People exchange gifts in time of the year. Nothing to do with Christmas or Santa. I wonder if there was a Christmas tree beside Christ when he was born in cold Winter.
I wonder if there was a Christmas tree beside Christ when he was born in cold Winter.
Calculating from clues in the Bible, Jesus was born in the autumn, not December. The shepherds were out in the fields with their flocks - unthinkable in the cold of midwinter.
And I think it would be pretty impossible to have a Christmas tree before you have a Christmas.
Mid-November....ooh, the blood begins to bubble and the fingers begin to twitch in their eagerness to make mince pies and (vegetarian) sausage rolls....
I'm dreaming of a White Christmas...though it'll likely be yet another crisp, clear, blue-sky Christmas. And it's just another ordinary weekday again this year. X(
I wonder if there was a Christmas tree beside Christ when he was born in cold Winter.
Calculating from clues in the Bible, Jesus was born in the autumn, not December. The shepherds were out in the fields with their flocks - unthinkable in the cold of midwinter.
Been there at Christmas. December isn't "midwinter". It isn't that cold, either. After Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at St. Mary's in Nazareth, walking around in a light jacket was quite comfortable.
Still, it's ironic (comically) that the holiday is actually a Christian spin on a previously "pagan" holiday. And now, it's a huge commercial enterprise.
Japan was a very cool place to spend Christmas (speaking as a non-christian bachelor half a world away from family and their traditions).
They should have put more penguins and maybe a few polar bears....I find that there are too many blue lights everywhere for Xmas illuminations....it becomes a bit boring.
Actually, I like the blue lights though, but the price makes you go hmmm... Blue Lights are very Japanese tradition, nice one though. Not like the multicolor ones back home..hahaha
"calculating from clues given in the Bible, Christ was born in the autumn..." Must be reading a different Bible from the one I have been reading for the past decades....
The CHRISTmas lights in Shinjuku are always very impressive, and this year is no exception. Blue lights seem to be "in" at the minute...I dont mind - they are pretty. A job well done, Takashimaya!
Must be reading a different Bible from the one I have been reading
Read it again. You won't find a single reference to the nativity taking place in winter.
Luke 1:5 says that John's father, Zacharias, was "a member of the Abijah division of the Temple service corps." (Living Bible)
1 Chronicles 24:15 assigned the priests of the Abijah division to begin temple service at the start of the 9th week of the year. But at the end of the week, Pentecost had begun, so he would have remained on duty until the end of the 10th week.
Luke 1:23-24 records that Zacharias returned immediately to his home, and that John was conceived shortly thereafter - probably during the last half of Sivan, the 3rd month in the Jewish calendar.
Allowing for a normal 9 months pregnancy, John would have been born in the springtime.
Luke 1:36 records that the angel came to Mary when John's mother Elizabeth was 6 months pregnant.
Luke 1:31 reports that Mary conceived very shortly after the angel's visit.
Assuming a normal, 9 month pregnancy, Jesus would have been born about 6 months after John - sometime in the fall of the year.
So pretty! I have to disagree though, blue lights are popular back home in the States, too. no big difference from the displays I'm used to, except maybe a little more low-key.
the blue lights... its to stop the suicides - didn't you read the other JT article? interestingly enough - those blue lights to stop the suicides were at the train stations... go figure... go toot toot... go commute !!!
for those who are feeling suicidal and can't find the story...
first there was yellow peril, then the threat of the reds, then came the green revolution and now we have the deep blue... and for those of you who saw the movie of the same name - you will know he joined the dolphins and left the earth... suicide by drowning perhaps?
http://www.japantoday.com/category/lifestyle/view/more-tokyo-train-stations-start-using-lights-to-stem-suicides
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some14some
Encourages me to think of producing few more kids !
combinibento
What's with all the blue lights in x-mas photos here?
goddifist
this comment was posted 2 months before Christmas wait i wonder how much that must have cost
smartacus
Choo choo!
kwatt
This is a symbol of "Oseibo" in December every year. People exchange gifts in time of the year. Nothing to do with Christmas or Santa. I wonder if there was a Christmas tree beside Christ when he was born in cold Winter.
cleo
Calculating from clues in the Bible, Jesus was born in the autumn, not December. The shepherds were out in the fields with their flocks - unthinkable in the cold of midwinter.
And I think it would be pretty impossible to have a Christmas tree before you have a Christmas.
Mid-November....ooh, the blood begins to bubble and the fingers begin to twitch in their eagerness to make mince pies and (vegetarian) sausage rolls....
I'm dreaming of a White Christmas...though it'll likely be yet another crisp, clear, blue-sky Christmas. And it's just another ordinary weekday again this year. X(
Miyaratmosphere
combinibento at 07:23 AM JST - 19th November
What's with all the blue lights in x-mas photos here?
Apparently, for japanese people, blue lights are very japanese-like, their own stuff.....multicolor lights are a foreign thing.
cleo
I thought the blue lights were because the new blue LEDs are eco-friendly, with low power consumption. And they do look nice against the night sky.
pathat
Had a lot of good times around Takashimaya Times Square.
Never cared much for the "illumination", though.
smartacus
Shinjuku really does overdo it with the illumination, but it is quite spectacular when they turn them on at the same time each night.
Wayne_san
Been there at Christmas. December isn't "midwinter". It isn't that cold, either. After Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at St. Mary's in Nazareth, walking around in a light jacket was quite comfortable.
Still, it's ironic (comically) that the holiday is actually a Christian spin on a previously "pagan" holiday. And now, it's a huge commercial enterprise.
Japan was a very cool place to spend Christmas (speaking as a non-christian bachelor half a world away from family and their traditions).
Foxie
They should have put more penguins and maybe a few polar bears....I find that there are too many blue lights everywhere for Xmas illuminations....it becomes a bit boring.
Miyaratmosphere
Actually, I like the blue lights though, but the price makes you go hmmm... Blue Lights are very Japanese tradition, nice one though. Not like the multicolor ones back home..hahaha
realist
"calculating from clues given in the Bible, Christ was born in the autumn..." Must be reading a different Bible from the one I have been reading for the past decades....
The CHRISTmas lights in Shinjuku are always very impressive, and this year is no exception. Blue lights seem to be "in" at the minute...I dont mind - they are pretty. A job well done, Takashimaya!
cleo
Read it again. You won't find a single reference to the nativity taking place in winter.
Luke 1:5 says that John's father, Zacharias, was "a member of the Abijah division of the Temple service corps." (Living Bible) 1 Chronicles 24:15 assigned the priests of the Abijah division to begin temple service at the start of the 9th week of the year. But at the end of the week, Pentecost had begun, so he would have remained on duty until the end of the 10th week. Luke 1:23-24 records that Zacharias returned immediately to his home, and that John was conceived shortly thereafter - probably during the last half of Sivan, the 3rd month in the Jewish calendar. Allowing for a normal 9 months pregnancy, John would have been born in the springtime. Luke 1:36 records that the angel came to Mary when John's mother Elizabeth was 6 months pregnant. Luke 1:31 reports that Mary conceived very shortly after the angel's visit. Assuming a normal, 9 month pregnancy, Jesus would have been born about 6 months after John - sometime in the fall of the year.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/xmas_date.htm
Moderator: All readers back on topic please.
marushka
very nice, i adore Christmas illuminations and this one is very well done
hellhound
Suica illumination
flatearther
So pretty! I have to disagree though, blue lights are popular back home in the States, too. no big difference from the displays I'm used to, except maybe a little more low-key.
newsninja
the blue lights... its to stop the suicides - didn't you read the other JT article? interestingly enough - those blue lights to stop the suicides were at the train stations... go figure... go toot toot... go commute !!!
newsninja
for those who are feeling suicidal and can't find the story... first there was yellow peril, then the threat of the reds, then came the green revolution and now we have the deep blue... and for those of you who saw the movie of the same name - you will know he joined the dolphins and left the earth... suicide by drowning perhaps? http://www.japantoday.com/category/lifestyle/view/more-tokyo-train-stations-start-using-lights-to-stem-suicides