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Because I love Christmas
Origins of Santa Claus
Frugal Articles
Recycle Those Old Christmas Decorations
Articles published elsewhere
Funky, Free and Frugal Christmas Decorations
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Christmas: A Christian HolidayThe meaning and the origin of Christmasby Pat Veretto Christmas is a Christian celebration, there's no way around it. Yes, I know that it supposedly grew out of various pagan celebrations and holy days. I know that the Mesopotamians, the Babylonians, the Persians and more "celebrated" this time of the year with ritual worship to pagan gods. I know, too, that, at least in the United States, Christmas is undoubtedly, undeniably, irrevocably and totally, Christian. If you don't believe me, take a look at the Christmas card racks almost anywhere. You'll see it there. Look upon the gaudy, brash decorations and you'll find, somewhere among them, a rendition of a nativity scene; an angel; a star. Take a drive around town when the decorations and lights are up and count how many stars and shepherds and Marys and Josephs and Baby Jesus's there are. Even in the most "liberal" of towns you'll find them. How did all those other mid winter "holy" days culminate in this climate of rejoicing and Christian exultation? (Forget the shopping and wrapping for a moment.) Practically speaking, the Catholic church declared Christmas, or Christ Mass, to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ (whose actual day of birth is unknown, by the way), to correspond with superstitious activities surrounding the shortest period of daylight each year. This was the day and night when early peoples sacrificed to the sun to coax it's return. (Somehow I think the odds were stacked, so that the "god" would respond.) "Out of the darkness, into the light" is a fitting description of this holiday. Is it so strange that the Church chose this particular time to honor Jesus? There are those Christians who refuse to celebrate this holiday because of pagan roots, or because it seems to deify Mary or present a mythological picture of the Virgin and Child. There are Jewish people who feel left out of our culture at Christmas time. There are Muslims and Buddhists and many other religions represented in America, who find nothing to celebrate; nothing to qualify Christmas as a holiday. There are those who celebrate it as a dark holiday. There are those who fear Christian allusions to the holiday and want them removed. Thus, lawsuits over traditional scenes and decorations are changing some of our national celebrations. Shhh... don't anybody tell them the concept of "Santa Claus" started out to be a Christian Saint. Back to Christmas! |
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