This is one of the bad things about contests here...sometimes it just seems like it is personal choice or who likes what kind of artwork the most...It is very unfair I agree totally with you..and after all...Christmas is a religious holiday, but in todays time, not many think of it as such. Your image is very beautiful and lovely! I would have voted for it if I were a judge!! :P

i like your pic and excellent work:)

I agree with you Maira. Christmas is the cellebration of the birth of Christ not Santa Clause. But, I agree with some of what bbratche said, art should be judged for what it is. Sometimes I fell stuck between a rock and a hard place. But everyone has their choice on how and what to belive. And to bbratche, if a christian said you were going to hell because you dont believe in (their) God, then they are wrong. My God judes you for who you are, not what everyone else says.. Im done. Oh, Maria this is a beautiful image, and to me captures what Christmas is all about.

I must say this is very beautiful and represents the true meaning of the event we know as CHRISTmas. The suggested theme for the contest was past, present, and future of Christmas..or something like this. And it's quite funny to me how Santa Claus plays such a major role in today's society. It's all about getting lute and the new XBox 360 system I guess. I don't even want to think about the Easter contest and all the Peter Cottontails we'll see! LOL! Perhaps they didn't want to impose a particular religous theme as to not offend all the other different religious entries. Perhaps they felt that Santa was a safe bet, I don't know. After the Halloween contest, I decided to stay far away from these events, and still believe they should be judged professionally off this site by a 3rd party panel. Similar to the last contest, you have the pride in creating and having your beautiful image, and that will always be yours. It's just heartbreaking to see so much work by so many artists lead to complete disappointment, and to me it's just not worth ride! I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, Maria! Let's get ready for those Easter Bunny images early! LOL!

Beautiful image Maria, sweet expression!!!!

Beautiful entry and I wholeheartedly agree with you! I never enter Rosity Contests as I think also is biased! Wishing you a very Happy CHRISTmas!

Very beautifuly done Maria. I am really saddened by the turning of a Christian holiday into a greed-driven marketing frenzy. I see no connection between a short fat elf in red underwear and the birth of Christ. Have not found what an egg laying rabbit has to do with the resurrection of Christ either, but that is an altogether different story. Again, a very beautiful work of art, and a very Merry Christmas to you too.

Why can't we all just get along? Great image. Religous or otherwise.

i had not taken any interest in the contest, but i agree with you. christmas is meant to be a christian festival. if the contest theme had been the hindu festival of Diwali, we would have expected to see images of a religious nature, reflecting hindu beliefs. if the theme had been veterans day, we would have expected images remembering the fallen. these occasions are meant to have meaning, and excessive commercialisation, political correctness, or whatever else, should not be an excuse for ignoring that meaning.

Maria, don't feel bad. Based on these criteria, Da Vinci would have lost out too :8)

I know you as a very sweet,warm,caring and happy person Maria. And i think it is very fine you upload and write what you mean and feel about this contest. That is not hate :-)) Many other people inhere upload, and write something about something the care about, think about.. So i mean it is absolutly okay you do this too !!! Merry christmas my friend :-)) Hugs Diana

This is a wonderful image, has a medieval look about it, yes it is a shame it did'nt win something but that's how it is win you have 5 judges judging a contest, some have very bad taste in art and it effects the overall outcome, I think the best judges of art are those who are not artist at all or know nothing about art, just like music. I was very dissapointed with the winning images but I will leave it with that.

Yes, this has a medevial feel to it; and my sympathy to those who put a lot of work into an entry, to not even get a mention. I was warned a year ago, that "fuzzy & warm" is what tends to win the annual XMAS contest...R'osity, IMHO, avoids controversy, playing to the lowest common denomination. It's gonna come back, bite the Admin on their collective asses, mark my words!

Beautiful image, but there is some debate on the origins of the season.

Dear Maria. First of all, I will just say that I think it is really great that you write what you feel about this contest. And I totally agree with you, Christmas is a lot more than Santa and presents, as you say, if it wasn't for Christ's birth it would be no Christmas. Unfortunately the material-stuff has taken too much place in the celebrating of Christmas, and maybe that's one of the reasons that I actually do not like Christmas very much. Your picture here of Maria and Jesus is so incredible beautiful, and the way you have posed them and the postwork in this is absolutely fantastic. You should really print this out and use as a Christmas Card for next year. It sad to read that someone think that you are a person with much hate in your heart just because your wrote what you felt about this content. I think everybody who knows you agree with me when I say that you are a person with so much love and thoughtfulness for others in your heart. You are a truly special person Maria, and I am so glad that I have had the opportunity to get to know you :) I wish you and your family a wonderful and peaceful Christmas my friend! ~Love and hugs from Hedda~ vote for this beautiful picture

Maria life is so strange nowadays... I think everybody wants to have the reason and don't care about anyone. I tried an entry, with the angels I posted two days ago, it wasn't accepeted and I couldn't realise why... Is it important? I'm not here to win, I'm here because I like to see peolples imagination and where it takes them. To tell you the true I didn't even care about the results, I wasn't there. I believe everybody have his own reasons for their actions, sometimes uneasy to find out. Descrimination makes no sense on this days. Wish you a merry xmas and be calm.

Maria, No truer words were ever spoken. Jesus Christ is the reason for the season. All other belief is not accurate. I loved the Easter bunny idea. Absolutely right. Only ignorance is the debate of the season. One has only to read the bible to see that. If you believe in Jesus you will celebrate his birth no matter what. Other's unknowledgable understanding should not allow you to not love Christmas, his birth, the reason for the season. Don't keep it to yourself. Shout it from the roof top, like Maria has done. And keep it in your heart. I feel that if those not understanding your thoughts, Maria, would read the bible, HIS word, they would be closer to understanding. Because once they picked up the bible to read, His mercy would give them understanding.And they would learn. What do those who do not believe in Jesus Christ think Christmas IS. What's it for? Walmart to sell more stuff. Where did it derive? A drunk in a bar thought of it? Who started it. The Easter Bunny? What's the background? Must be an orgin somewhere. It's in his Word, the bible. More power to you sweetie, for speaking what you feel. And hey, this one, thinks you hit the nail on the head. PW

I'm not going to say to much about the contest because I was not a judge so do not know how they worked it. Somehow I don't think it was against religious or non religious images though. At any rate I do love your image and agree that alot of folks care more about "stuff" than they do the true meaning of the holidays (whatever their belief is). A minister in my city (not of my faith) posted a huge bulletin board downtown that says "Merry Jesusmas" just as a small reminder to those who forget. Food for thought at any rate. Your image is very nice though and I thank you for the links to the other images as well.

Jim Carey was on The Conan O'Brian show last night. Conan wished Jim Carey "Happy Holidays" to which Jim replied; "Oh, do you mean 'Merry Christmas'. Then he said he will take it a step further and wish everyone a Christ-ee, Christ-ee" Christmas. Then he said he was going to rent a cabin in the woods of Canada far from lawyers and have a vigil celebrating the birth of the Christ child! He was obviously upset with the PC atmosphere of Christmas. Anyway, nice image and M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S ! (or should I say Chrismahhanukwanzika!)

Very beautiful work Maria! I hate when people write X-Mas. It is Christmas and it is good to remember the reason for the season. Hugs...

Beautiful work Maria, and yes I agree with you about the favoritism here it does happen and how some art is recognized more than others its the reason so many excellent artists have left. As far as Christmas being the birth of Christ well actually He wasn't born then, Shepards dont' have flock out at that time the rainy season starts in late October and sheep can't be out in the field then. Just that people do celebrate it at this time. Some of the spiritual art should have gotten some mention. Have you ever noticed that you don't get many viewings in that catagory either. Maria does not have hate in her heart, she is just trying to show love for all artists here not just some. Why are the religious ones left out is what she is saying. Most of all cencorship now adays is against the name of Christ have you ever wondered why, it invokes such strong feelings.

Maria, first of all, great image, lovely cloth painting - I can see you put your heart and your faith into this and it shows. As for Rosity, well, I too was surprised at the number of purely commercial images that won - toys and santa and such - I would have at least expected something more "homey" a few scenes of family and the history of giving and caring and gathering together. That too is part of the season, as well as the religious aspect that is important to many. But the judges are only people, and they are probably like the majority of people, for them, Christmas is Santa and toys and cards and shopping and all that. I would have chosen different, as would you or many others - the winners of this contest somehow managed to please these particular judges - other judges would have resulted with other winners. It's just the way it is. I do understand your frustration and Bravo for speaking out on your convictions!! Continue to do so with your words and with your art. But don't let the anger and disappointment fester. Perhaps you expect too much from others? Nothing wrong with that, but it does lead to disappointment. We can only expect the best from ourselves - and hope that others will follow our example, but if they don't, let go and turn your eyes and heart elsewhere. The judges did their best in their own way. And you must continue to be the best you can and express your feelings and convictions in word and art. Thank you for the links to some wonderful and awesome images.

It is a wonderful image, Maria and I think everybody can see that you put your heart in it!!! I can understand your anger and I agree with you, but there are a lot of times I can't understand Renderosity and her decition!! It is the same with the Hot 20, there are so many wonderful artist who deserve to be in there and other which are in really have only enough friends who vote!!! It is not okay like it is and I looked through all this entries for the contest and I, like you, really can't understand the decition, but we can only accept it our opinion is not everybodies opinion! Don't let it put a shadow on this wonderful Christmas with your family, just forget it, there are more important things in life!!!! Hugs Ute

Beautiful heartfelt image Maria! And yes Christmas was long ago polluted beyond reconison as has nearly all Christian celebrations. Sad!

A wonderful Christmas scene Maria.....!!! Merry Christmas to you and your family.....!!!

Merry Christmas Maria to you & your family!! Absolutely gorgeous image, what Christmas is really about IMHO Xcellent

Im so glad you stand up for what you believe in hon. Many people just let things go unsaid but im all for standing up for what you believe. As i know you very well (you are my best friend) I know you do not have any malice or jealousy in your soul and that you are stating a fact out of truth and not because you feel sour that your entry was not picked, you are simply not like that. I am so glad that you took the religious route for your entry hon because even if you didnt win you showed everyone that there is a special reason for christmas other than which perfume you might recieve or how drunk you will get. Good on you for speaking out my sweet friend and i luv you lots. Big hugs Trish xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

One last word and I'll shut up... VOTE Love you my friend! aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhooooooooooooooo Wolfman

Hi sweetie smile Your entry is simply amazing!!! I love the pose of mother and baby Jesus smile To me christmas is about family, friends, to give and share.. To care, to love and to have a peaceful time.. BIG hugs from your friend Christel

Wonderful image Maria, I think that there is truth in your words. don't believe in god myself but the story of christmas has lost a lot of its value in this modern society where everything is based on commerce. You are right to give your own opinion. Don't pay to much attention to these contests because there will always be this kind of things happening. I wish you and your loved ones a very merry christmas.