Christmas
A re-run from last year
I consider myself a Christian. I was born a Christian, I was sent to Sunday school and church as a child, what would you expect me to do or be? Convert to Judaism? Become Muslim? Believe in nothing? All possibilities, but I am too lazy to switch beliefs and not prepared to believe in nothing, so I call myself a Christian. I seldom go to church, and to tell the truth I have my doubts. Many Christians would say because of that I am not a very good Christian. I would respond, “How Christian is it for you to judge me?”
Anyway, if I could make one argument for being Christian, it would be Christmas. Christmas is the greatest holiday of all. Easter has more significance in the religion, but nothing tops Christmas. Christmas is the reason many Christians remain Christian. It is one thing to give up some beliefs, but give up Christmas? NEVER!
Christmas is a great holiday. It is not a day, it is a season. Atheists may try and stifle Christmas, but it will never happen. We have lights, we have presents, we have a Saint who flies in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. Who can top that. We have music that lifts you and just makes you feel good.
Christmas is so big it is should be more than just for Christians. Christians invite everyone to enjoy this the greatest holiday of all. You don’t have to call it a celebration of the birth of Christ, just call it a celebration of life itself (to Christians, kind of the same thing.)
Give presents, hang lights, sing, celebrate! Wish strangers “Merry Christmas!” It’s OK. Christmas is more than a religious holiday for Christians, it is a season of cheer and friendship and love for everyone. It transcends any religion. It is a season for sharing, and should be shared by all regardless of your belief.
So, if you are a Jew, a Muslim, Hindi, agnostic, or you believe in nothingness…you can still get in the spirit of Christmas. Yes, it is a Christian day, but Christians believe in sharing, and we are more than willing to share Christmas.
Merry Christmas to all!
It's interesting that Christmas is the most popular Christian Holiday, even though it's hardly Christian. To make it convenient, when Rome became Christian they decided to celebrate Christ's birthday on the same day as Saturnalia, an ancient Roman holiday marked by the giving of gifts.
ReplyDeleteChristmas is more fun when you give it away, after all.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, the Bible says nothing about commemorating the birth of Jesus in future years nor does it say anything about remembering the day he rose from the dead; does say to take communion and remember what he did for us on the cross. Stephen was definitely correct on how Christ's birthday was decided to be celebrated upon. Funny thing is, historically it is believed Jesus wasn't born in winter but more likely the fall.
ReplyDeleteIt still is a great holiday to celebrate though!
Merry Christmas!
betty
This Jew wishes you a Merry Christmas!!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas back at you! I hope it's a wonderful time for you and your family!
ReplyDeleteI like Christmas. I love seeing decorations on buildings and trees, I like seeing the happy expectation on children's faces, I mostly like hearing the music. What I don't like is the stores pushing Christmas as early as September and the demented rush to spend, spend, spend, lest you be seen as less than your neighbour, as seen on TV advertisements.
ReplyDeleteAmen, and best wishes for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteAs Stephen pointed out, Christmas Day was selected by the church so that they could meld with the pagan celebrations this time of year, which are all about life during the darkest days. Celebrating life is always a good thing. I have lived 7 decades on this planet and never encountered an atheist trying to stifle Christmas...just lucky I guess.
ReplyDeleteMost Jewish folks I know celebrate Christmas.
ReplyDeleteYou sound like a "hard shell" Baptist deep down. You have described my feelings about religion and Christmas. Have a good one at your house.
ReplyDeleteI like the chocolate covered cherries and looking at the bubble lights:
ReplyDeleteR
Oh, you forgot that it's also cookie season...I love Christmas cookies! Even though I could bake them anytime of the year, it seems I never bake them until December. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteAs long as I can say Merry Christmas I'm happy.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous weekend, Joe. ☺
Couldn't agree more, it's a great holiday. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteLove your next to the last paragraph. Yes!! Merry Christmas Crankies.
ReplyDeleteWhy be anything less than nice? Merry Christmas, Joe!
ReplyDeleteVery well said Joe, Christmas is a holiday for everyone no matter what religion you practice, Christmas is a time of laughter, love, and the celebration of life. Merry Christmas to you and your family Joe.
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas, Joe.
ReplyDeleteThe timing of Christmas/Saturnalia is several days after winter solstice. The celebration of daylight becoming longer after months of days becoming shorter is common in many cultures. And very ancient.
ReplyDeletePaul L. Quandt
As several people have mentioned, Jesus was quite probably not actually born on December 25, but this was a day of celebration in many cultures, probably in recognition that the sun was not going away as days began to get longer again, it is also the day chosen to celebrate the birth of Jesus, it is as good a day as any since no one can find the actual birth certificate.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, and thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI know a number of atheists who celebrate Christmas. Nothing wrong with that.
ReplyDeleteBack in middle Europe, before Christianity arrived, the pagans used to put fruits and stuff on trees in the woods to feed hungry forest animals during winter solstice. The dead of winter and darkness, trees, hanging stuff on trees...sound familiar? Nothing wrong with that, either. :-)
Merry Christmas to you and Mrs. C!
wonderful piece of writing Joe!
ReplyDeletei either cannot believe in nothing as whenever i think that there is no one to take care about me i feel so empty ,meaningless and LOST so it is better to stick with what my senses ask to do.
yes i am one who loves and enjoys christmas spirit and believe that this is celebration of life .
either here many muslims don't fast or they just fast to keep stomach empty rather than staying away from all bad acts or behaviours still when it come to celebrate Eid (yearly festival after fasting month) they come forward so including me we all love to celebrate LIFE ,even i love to celebrate each BREATH which is sooo short sooo unpredictable