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[bookmagic]

Excuse me, everypony! If it's not too much trouble, I have a question about something that I really need to know the answer to.

In the time I've been here, I've tried to learn as much as I can about human culture, but... I'm afraid there are still a few things I don't know about. [MORE LIKE A LOT. But Twilight Sparkle isn't going to admit to that.

Comments

[makemebreakfast]

Oh, well that's easy.

I mean, I'm not an expert on human culture but I know a lot of stuff. The thing that's coming up for what people mostly celebrate in America is called Christmas. It's a religious ceremony concerning Christianity.

There are other celebrations too around that time, like the Winter Solstice for Pagans, Hanukka for those of the Judaic faith, Kwanza for...well I'm not sure what that's associated with.

Still, near the end of December is a big holiday time for humans. Most center their big holidays around that time because it's the end of the year, and I think it was because of one of the biggest Pagan holidays at that time they centered a lot of celebrations around then too.

[Wow...Arcueid sounds...surprisingly knowledgeable. Hey, she's gotta know about these things, right? It's odd that Arcueid can ever be informative...but she's studied into this kind of stuff just to understand humans better.]

[bookmagic]

Wow! That's an awful lot of holidays. Isn't it stressful having so many at the same time?

[makemebreakfast]

Well...it depends on what religion a human follows as to what they actually celebrate.

I think in America Christianity is largely dominant, so most people just celebrate the one holiday, Christmas.

Most humans find a religion and stick to it, so in certain times of the year they just have to worry about the one at a time. I kind of don't really understand them at all, though...and I feel like there's one I'm missing or something.

It's all settled around human beliefs, though. Humans need religion or they feel like they've got no explanation for anything.

[bookmagic]

Oh! So different groups celebrate different holidays, according to their beliefs. I see.

...How can they all believe in different things, though?

[nothing_is_grey]

There are a lot of winter holidays and they very depending on region, culture, and customs.

There isn't really such a thing as "human culture" as humans are too diverse. Even within groups you have smaller groups of culture, you even have culture based on the age of a person.

[bookmagic]

Oh! That makes sense. It's like how the earth ponies have Winter Wrap Up, which I'd never experienced back in Canterlot!

I guess I made too big of a generalization.

[nothing_is_grey]

A bit. Though I'm sure everyone here will be more than glad to share their specific customs of this time of year.

[bookmagic]

I hope so! I want to learn as much as I can.

[fireandiceland]

Christmas.

[bookmagic]

And what exactly is "Christmas"?

[fireandiceland]

It's a holiday. What you do depends on where you live. But usually you decorate for it.

Mayfield will probably ruin it.

[bookmagic]

They don't really have a great track record with this sort of thing, do they...

[frilly_filly]

Whatever it is, it looks like a lot of fun, doesn't it? And of course everypony is going to need new seasonal outfits to match the festive color scheme.

[bookmagic]

It does look very festive. And I wouldn't expect any less from you, Rarity! You're always so inspired.

[frilly_filly]

Well, I do try.

Oh, Twilight - pardon me for changing the subject so suddenly, but there's something I need to ask you.

[bookmagic]

No, it's fine! What is it?

[secretgod]

It's for Christmas, Christmas!

It's the day when Christ-san was born! Of course, I'm planning on celebrating his birthday this year, too, and maybe this year I can actually catch Santa in action!

[bookmagic]

Oh, it's somepony's birthday?

[secretgod]

That's right! He should be glad that we're all celebrating his birthday, even if he is a dead man!

[bookmagic]

You're celebrating... even though he's dead...?