Q: Do Buddhists give gifts to one another on any special occasion/holiday? I know Buddhists living in Christian countries often give gifts at Christmas. But in strictly Buddhist countries, do children/family members ever receive gifts on holidays?A: Many more holidays in Buddhist countries, like Thailand, involve giving alms (dana) to monastics rather than gifts to friends and family. Days like Magha Puja or Asalha Puja include supporting the Buddhist Sangha (Monastic Order) and alms for monastics (canned goods, etc.) Vesak, which is often called "Buddhist Xmas" in the West, is one of the most sacred Buddhist days and also includes gifts of charity.
In a lot of traditional Buddhist cultures, like Sri Lanka, birthdays are celebrated by giving gifts -- which is a great form of making merit -- instead of getting them. The goal is to reduce greed, one of the great causes of unhappiness. But due to Western influence, many Buddhists also get them nowadays. More
Xmas festivities begin with Las Posadas, nine consecutive days of candelight processions and lively parties starting Dec. 16th. In urban and villages neighborhoods throughout Mexico, youngsters gather each afternoon to reenact the holy family's quest for lodging in Roman imperial Bethlehem (mexconnect.com).
In a lot of traditional Buddhist cultures, like Sri Lanka, birthdays are celebrated by giving gifts -- which is a great form of making merit -- instead of getting them. The goal is to reduce greed, one of the great causes of unhappiness. But due to Western influence, many Buddhists also get them nowadays. More- Thais celebrate international holidays from Halloween to Xmas, using the opportunity the way the West does -- capitalizing on it (mythailife.com).
Xmas festivities begin with Las Posadas, nine consecutive days of candelight processions and lively parties starting Dec. 16th. In urban and villages neighborhoods throughout Mexico, youngsters gather each afternoon to reenact the holy family's quest for lodging in Roman imperial Bethlehem (mexconnect.com). A Buddhist Solution to Xmas
Wisdom Quarterly
I grew up in a brown, liberal-leaning, West Coast family, Catholic with Puritanical roots. We celebrated the Holiday Season in typical California fashion: the dying tree, the polyester batting snow, the annual TV specials with all the best Claymation and super-catchy ditties like Little Drummer Boy.
I grew up in a brown, liberal-leaning, West Coast family, Catholic with Puritanical roots. We celebrated the Holiday Season in typical California fashion: the dying tree, the polyester batting snow, the annual TV specials with all the best Claymation and super-catchy ditties like Little Drummer Boy. My memories of the holiday are mixed. There weren't always gifts -- one year there was none -- but there was always food, family, and alcohol. O, how the adults loved their alcohol!
My parents went into debt to get presents under the tree. We took it for granted. My friend at school talked of going to Temple. It wasn't a Japanese temple, maybe Jewish or a lesser Christian sect, like 7th Day Adventist.
My parents went into debt to get presents under the tree. We took it for granted. My friend at school talked of going to Temple. It wasn't a Japanese temple, maybe Jewish or a lesser Christian sect, like 7th Day Adventist.
The Church in all its manifestations seemed miserable, a punishment, and I had no idea I would one day be saved from it all by becoming a Buddhist. Now as a Buddhist looking back, I can appreciate it and be grateful. The greed made me American, the Pagan roots Scandinavian-Irish-German-French, the mixed Latin ethnicity Californian, the friends tolerant, and family made it sweet.
We were all searching for something beyond our cultural inheritance. I never dreamed I would find the Buddhist roots of Christianity, Judaism, and so much of what we claim as Western (Greco-Roman). And California was the place to find it. I grew up with a small Zen Buddha, I still have it, and a beautiful Kwan Yin figurine. I asked my mom about them. "That's the Chinese Virgin Mary," she explained, "and the other is just Chinatown tchotchke."
Hotei, Zen Santa, who carried a bag of gifts and candy for children was a monk and bodhisattva. He is often called Happy or Fat Buddha even though he is NOT a buddha.A Buddhist Problem with Christmas
Jess Row (Slate.com)
I grew up in a white, liberal, East Coast family, Unitarian with Presbyterian roots, and we celebrated Christmas in a typical American way: the tree, the school pageant, the Burl Ives carols, the Claymation Rudolph on television. Most of my memories of the holiday are happy ones. But... More
If my brother could rap or draw or do stand up impersonations
A Traditional Scandinavian Christmas
Varla Ventura
Lock up your daughters. And your sons! No child, strike that, no mortal is safe in the dark hours of Christmas Eve. For there lurks the Christmas troll, drunk on spirits and cavorting with the witches, waiting to trick you into a midnight ride. Early 20th century author Clement A. Miles was a historian and an anthropologist of sorts. His 1912 collection of Christmas traditions which he deemed “both Pagan and Christian” is not just a cross-cultural look at the origins
of Santa Claus. Here you will find werewolves, bogeys, and trolls. You will find curses and hexes and imminent death, rituals of the dead and goblin offerings. You will be warned of The Devil and cautioned against laziness. If you are in Bavaria, take heed of the Berchte -- a wretched bogey who cuts the stomachs open of naughty... More"Live Your Life" (and stop chasing that paper) from our favorite
hardcore Christian White Rap Screamo group Plea for Purging
(Homer1co) After a prolonged battle with NFL management, unionized players have a lot of nerve playing in a state that is going to deny labor rights to workers. That makes NFL players scabs or hypocrites. Should we boycott the NFL until they get their head back in the fresh air and out of...? All union-member NFL might consider doing the same. The NFL players' union should be the one to call for a Superbowl strike but it is the 99%. Without the union NFL players would not be where they are today. More
As Indiana pressed forward to pass the (Doublespeak) "Right to Work" bill, Gigguy Warner and his fellow tradesman have something to say about it. This bogus bill is wrong, and senators need to hear our voice as unionized workers. The round is lost but the fight is not over!