Maybe Charles Schulz was onto something when he did A Charlie Brown Christmas in 1965. In the classic cartoon, Charlie Brown declares that Christmas "has gone commercial". 46 years later, the statement "Christmas has gone commercial" has, well, gone commercial! For the past 5-10 years, "Keep Christ in Christmas" has been as common as "Happy Hanukkah" and "Happy Kwanzaa" when it comes to holiday statements. When Rick Perry claimed that Obama is attempting to take "Christ out of Christmas", I shook my head. I wasn't really shocked, because I heard this before; but I was amazed that another Right Wing Bible Thumper has nothing better to do other than blaming the Left for all the problems in this world. Now I always thought that Christmas is a celebration of Jesus' birth not a stage for the whole Church and State thing. I mean the basis of this country is the whole seperation of Church and State, but that's just me.
I'm a little bit in the middle about this, and I'll tell you why. As a Christian, I believe in Christ and His birth. It is also a positive holiday, since when we come to it, Christ had a pretty hard life. What people often forget is that Easter is THE principal Christian holiday. Easter bears more importance since Christ died and risen and became The Son Of God. Not to knock Christmas, Christianity pretty much began with Easter. Yeah, Christmas is a positive holiday, since it's about Christ's birth. Birthdays are a little more fun than someone getting crucified and slowly bleeding to death on a wooden cross.
Then you have the conservatives, like Perry, who beat on the drum over the whole "Holidays vs. Christmas" issue. I had seen a story on CNN a while back about this guy who put up an "art piece" in his yard in which Jesus is holding a gun to lifeless Santa Claus lying on the ground. Of course, this scared the children who lived near the "exhibit", and many a parent is pissed off over this. Now, obviously this "Christian artist" has the wrong idea and is in desperate need of psychiatric help. However, I do agree when it comes to Christmas, we should look towards Christ as a central figure and not Santa Claus. Santa Claus is a fun figure, he is also a positive figure, you can say that he is a Christian (in fact he IS!). Of course, Santa Claus taken after St. Nicholas, a well known Saint popular in Central Europe. The message of Santa giving gifts to those who deserve gifts (mainly poor children), is a nice parable to Christmas since Jesus Himself was a poor, practically homeless child and received gifts from prominent figures. Yet really, Christ does come first! Then again, if you know that Santa's around, you want to buy a round of Jager shots for him and his elves if you see him in a bar-- okay more like milk and cookies since he's on the job.
If we want to delve deeper, Christmas was a compromise between the Romans and Pagans when the early Christian Romans invaded the British Isles. The Pagans, mainly Celts, grew trees inside their homes to celebrate their fertility god. During a certain time of the year, it's hard to tell what time since 10 month calendars were used, the fertility god's holiday would come in which the trees were decorated with flowers and polished stones. The Romans were intimidated by this, since they were trying to teach Christianity to these Pagans. A deal was made in which the same ritual can be done on Christmas (a much lesser known holiday) which was close to this Pagan holiday, which was called of all things YULE! Yes, Yule as in The Yule Log, Yuletide spirit, and the "'Yule' love it" tagline in Scrooged (great movie BTW). Yule and Christmas became a partnership, the "Christmas Tree" became a product, throw in Santa, Andy Williams, and your Aunt Agnes drunk on eggnog, and you get Christmas today.
Also, have we not forgotten that Christmas is...A SERIES OF HOLIDAYS! First we got Christmas Eve, which is known as "Advent" (which in itself a multi-day event). Then we have Christmas Day which starts the Christmas SEASON! Yes, "SEASON" as in SEASONS GREETINGS, which actually is an appropriate term since we're involving Christmas as a whole: which lasts...12 DAYS! Yes, "The Twelve Days Of Christmas" is more than a Christmas Carol about some bird (probably pooping) in a tree. Each day in those twelve days brings out a certain significance. Such as the last (12th) day or The Feast (or Day) Of The Epiphany; this is when The Wise Men (y'know "We Three Kings blabbity da blaaah") came and gave the Infant Jesus gold, myrrh, and frankincense ("Guitar Hero", or in this case "Gregorian Chant Hero", wasn't out yet). Add in Hanukkah, which was appropriate for Jesus since he was Jewish, and then you have *TA DAHH!* THE HOLIDAY SEASON! Besides, didn't Andy "Mr. Christmas" Williams himself a bigtime Christian and a well known Republican have a hit with "Happy Holidays"?
The bottom line is that separating "Christmas" and "Holiday Season" is like separating the chicken from the egg. I am a Christian, and I am proud of being a Christian (in fact, I'm Catholic so please take that with a grain of salt). Christmas reflects the positive side of Christianity, in which Easter identifies Christianity itself. I think Christ should remain in Christmas; the image of Christmas to me is The Nativity, and what happened at the manger in Bethlehem. The image of Christmas should not be centered on Rudolph, Santa, or even Andy Williams (sorry, Andy). However Andy and his friends are spared because they are a part of the holidays, not THE part, but A part- the part that makes us happy. I might not see Frosty The Snowman at Midnight Mass come Christmas Day, but I'm gonna need him (as narrated by Jimmy Durante) when I am mingling with friends and family. In the words of Linus; "...and that what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown"! And is that what it should be: celebrating good times with friends and family and have some "me time" with The God of your choice? This should go for everyone, Christian or Non-Christian.
I am writing this blog in response to all the serious overtones of Christmas, and yes, as a Christian, Christmas is serious to me but not as serious as Easter. My relationship with God is my business, as well as others who follow other religions, it's their business- again the whole "seperation between Church and State" thing kinda gets in the way. Yet, the time I spend with my friends and family is OUR business-- meaning me and those I hold dearly, especially if you are a relative or a friend of mine. And I know it's the same way, with you the reader.
So to all, have a Merry December 25th, even though most likely Jesus was most likely born during the summer months!
I'm a little bit in the middle about this, and I'll tell you why. As a Christian, I believe in Christ and His birth. It is also a positive holiday, since when we come to it, Christ had a pretty hard life. What people often forget is that Easter is THE principal Christian holiday. Easter bears more importance since Christ died and risen and became The Son Of God. Not to knock Christmas, Christianity pretty much began with Easter. Yeah, Christmas is a positive holiday, since it's about Christ's birth. Birthdays are a little more fun than someone getting crucified and slowly bleeding to death on a wooden cross.
Then you have the conservatives, like Perry, who beat on the drum over the whole "Holidays vs. Christmas" issue. I had seen a story on CNN a while back about this guy who put up an "art piece" in his yard in which Jesus is holding a gun to lifeless Santa Claus lying on the ground. Of course, this scared the children who lived near the "exhibit", and many a parent is pissed off over this. Now, obviously this "Christian artist" has the wrong idea and is in desperate need of psychiatric help. However, I do agree when it comes to Christmas, we should look towards Christ as a central figure and not Santa Claus. Santa Claus is a fun figure, he is also a positive figure, you can say that he is a Christian (in fact he IS!). Of course, Santa Claus taken after St. Nicholas, a well known Saint popular in Central Europe. The message of Santa giving gifts to those who deserve gifts (mainly poor children), is a nice parable to Christmas since Jesus Himself was a poor, practically homeless child and received gifts from prominent figures. Yet really, Christ does come first! Then again, if you know that Santa's around, you want to buy a round of Jager shots for him and his elves if you see him in a bar-- okay more like milk and cookies since he's on the job.
If we want to delve deeper, Christmas was a compromise between the Romans and Pagans when the early Christian Romans invaded the British Isles. The Pagans, mainly Celts, grew trees inside their homes to celebrate their fertility god. During a certain time of the year, it's hard to tell what time since 10 month calendars were used, the fertility god's holiday would come in which the trees were decorated with flowers and polished stones. The Romans were intimidated by this, since they were trying to teach Christianity to these Pagans. A deal was made in which the same ritual can be done on Christmas (a much lesser known holiday) which was close to this Pagan holiday, which was called of all things YULE! Yes, Yule as in The Yule Log, Yuletide spirit, and the "'Yule' love it" tagline in Scrooged (great movie BTW). Yule and Christmas became a partnership, the "Christmas Tree" became a product, throw in Santa, Andy Williams, and your Aunt Agnes drunk on eggnog, and you get Christmas today.
Also, have we not forgotten that Christmas is...A SERIES OF HOLIDAYS! First we got Christmas Eve, which is known as "Advent" (which in itself a multi-day event). Then we have Christmas Day which starts the Christmas SEASON! Yes, "SEASON" as in SEASONS GREETINGS, which actually is an appropriate term since we're involving Christmas as a whole: which lasts...12 DAYS! Yes, "The Twelve Days Of Christmas" is more than a Christmas Carol about some bird (probably pooping) in a tree. Each day in those twelve days brings out a certain significance. Such as the last (12th) day or The Feast (or Day) Of The Epiphany; this is when The Wise Men (y'know "We Three Kings blabbity da blaaah") came and gave the Infant Jesus gold, myrrh, and frankincense ("Guitar Hero", or in this case "Gregorian Chant Hero", wasn't out yet). Add in Hanukkah, which was appropriate for Jesus since he was Jewish, and then you have *TA DAHH!* THE HOLIDAY SEASON! Besides, didn't Andy "Mr. Christmas" Williams himself a bigtime Christian and a well known Republican have a hit with "Happy Holidays"?
The bottom line is that separating "Christmas" and "Holiday Season" is like separating the chicken from the egg. I am a Christian, and I am proud of being a Christian (in fact, I'm Catholic so please take that with a grain of salt). Christmas reflects the positive side of Christianity, in which Easter identifies Christianity itself. I think Christ should remain in Christmas; the image of Christmas to me is The Nativity, and what happened at the manger in Bethlehem. The image of Christmas should not be centered on Rudolph, Santa, or even Andy Williams (sorry, Andy). However Andy and his friends are spared because they are a part of the holidays, not THE part, but A part- the part that makes us happy. I might not see Frosty The Snowman at Midnight Mass come Christmas Day, but I'm gonna need him (as narrated by Jimmy Durante) when I am mingling with friends and family. In the words of Linus; "...and that what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown"! And is that what it should be: celebrating good times with friends and family and have some "me time" with The God of your choice? This should go for everyone, Christian or Non-Christian.
I am writing this blog in response to all the serious overtones of Christmas, and yes, as a Christian, Christmas is serious to me but not as serious as Easter. My relationship with God is my business, as well as others who follow other religions, it's their business- again the whole "seperation between Church and State" thing kinda gets in the way. Yet, the time I spend with my friends and family is OUR business-- meaning me and those I hold dearly, especially if you are a relative or a friend of mine. And I know it's the same way, with you the reader.
So to all, have a Merry December 25th, even though most likely Jesus was most likely born during the summer months!
