One of the things I have observed about Christmas is the tensions and anxiety that many experience as they prepare their home for the holiday season. I've seen many homes become places of stress as the right food is bought, table linens found, rooms cleaned, and decorations go up in time. Relationships in families are strained for various reasons- maybe a child is bringing home a new boyfriend/girlfriend- maybe families are uniting for the first time- there are all kinds of things that people stress over! Did I buy enough gifts? Will they like my gift? Will we have time to do all these things? Do I have the money to buy this or that? Pull out the credit cards and swipe away- we'll pay it back later. As Christians we say Christmas is about the birth of our Savior, but the way we celebrate it makes we wonder if the two are related at all.
I have been challenging my Christian readers (and friends who have to deal with my opinions on a regular basis!) to think about the gospel and what it actually means. I have encouraged people to become aware of justice issues, care about the poor, and change our lives entirely from being worldly minded to Biblically minded for a couple years. And I think it's time to attack Christmas.
About 4 or 5 years ago David asked his family not to buy him a single gift and spent the morning watching everyone open their present at his parent's place. I thought he was crazy! Who doesn't want to indulge in the "joy" that is Christmas?!?!? He has been pushing me for a few years to change how we do things. I have made small changes. We buy very little, stick with a tight budget, give money away, and spend much time critiquing the season in general. As our boys are getting older and will start to begin the season this year he has been really challenging me to think about what kinds of things we want to do as a family each year and what things we should let go of. I want you all to know that this is a very difficult thing for me. I think he is right- and have agreed with his criticisms for a few years, but have not been willing to admit his right nor willing to give up some of the traditions I love so much.
So this morning he had me watch this short video:
Well the video is quite convincing that Christians should consider how they are celebrating Christmas and maybe even change their traditions altogether. Before you call me the Grinch finish my looonnngg post!
So let's look at the history of Christmas. I found this information from this site.
Christmas is not really a Christian holiday. It used to be called Saturnalia, a festival where people would worship the sun god. Christmas trees actually symbolize a male penis. The white holly symbolized the sun god's semen. Saturnalia was a celebration of fertility and sex.
However, the Roman Catholic church decided to hijack the celebration and mix it in with Christianity.
So instead of asking why non-Christians celebrate a Christian holiday, you should be asking why Christians celebrate what is essentially a non-Christian holiday.
There is no mention of Santa Clause in the Bible. There is no mention of flying reindeer in the Bible. There is no mention of Christmas trees in the Bible. The Bible doesn't even tell followers to celebrate Jesus's birth (although it does say you should have a day for his death).
So why do we try to "take back Christmas" when it sounds like it was never a religious holiday?
Why do we give gifts?
Historically gifts were given to remember the three gifts the magi brought to "baby" Jesus in Bethlehem. Is that why we give gifts today? I don't. I give gifts because it's what you do on Christmas!
Why do we have Santa Claus?
Read wikipedia.
Why do we have stockings? I found this story that explains stockings (which relates to Santa Claus:
The Legend of Christmas Stockings
One well accepted legend tells about a kindly nobleman whose wife had died of an illness leaving the nobleman and his three daughters in despair. After losing all his money in useless and bad inventions the family had to move into a peasant's cottage, where the daughters did their own cooking, sewing and cleaning.
When it came time for the daughters to marry, the father became even more depressed as his daughters could not marry. At this time the only way a woman could marry was if she had a dowry (money and property given to the new husband's family).
One night after the daughters had washed out their clothing they hung their stockings over the fireplace to dry. That night Saint Nicholas, knowing the despair of the father, stopped by the nobleman's house. Looking in the window Saint Nicholas saw that the family had gone to bed. He also noticed the daughters stockings. Inspiration struck Saint Nicholas and he took three small bags of gold coins from his pouch and threw them one by one down the chimney and they landed in the stockings.
The next morning when the daughters awoke they found their stockings contained enough gold for them to get married. The nobleman was able to see his three daughters marry and he lived a long and happy life. Word quickly spread of this good fortune and soon people all through the village were hanging their stockings by the fire in hopes that Saint Nicholas would leave them treasures also.
From this was born the legend of Santa coming down the chimney and placing gifts in children's Christmas Stockings.
A couple thoughts so far:
1. Christmas is a melting pot of traditions. It's some solstice paganism, some folklore, some Bible stories, some consumerism added by the mass market, and some influence of each individual family's tradition.
2. At the very least did you read about how Nicholas was: famous for his generous gifts to the poor,
That was the whole story behind the man and the stockings.
So here we are...
spending 450 BILLION dollars on gifts for one season. We should really be ashamed of ourselves- Christians or not.
Look at this link and compare the amount of money needed to help aid in some of the greatest problems of our world regarding people.
So here's where I rant and then I am done. :)
The fight to preserve Christianity from being sold to the market as a religion that allows you to do your own thing while millions of Christians suffer from the lack necessities like clean water, adequate housing, food and nutrition, and medical care needs to be brought into the bright lights of every football stadium in this country! How we can really go out evangelizing wanting people to believe in a God who created and loves each individual person while we blatantly drive obnoxiously large vehicles, heat massive houses, allow food to rot before we get a chance to eat it, spend massive amounts of money on unnecessary things, and ignore the outright injustices in THIS country like LACK OF EDUCATION for kids in at the very least DETROIT which leads to people not being able to have a job, know how to feed their children properly, which leads to obesity, lack of decent housing, dependence on the "system" for food and medical care which leads to lack of motivation to even try because once you get paid $8 an hour you lose those benefits the system offered you and now you are even more poor than you were before you had a job.
Changing how we celebrate Christmas will not change the massive needs in this world in a year. But changing our hearts and how we live on a regular basis will. Seriously. If you knew the small things that people are doing around this city and every other decaying urban or rural city in this country- that are actually changing people's lives you'd be encouraged to join the fight.
Jesus did not come to save you from your drama. He came to save you from yourself and all the things that pull us away from caring for one another.
So let's start being generous.... This year. And every year. In every month. Not just with our money, but ALSO with our time.
Let's start believing in a God who deeply cares about the poor. And not just making sure they have a turkey on November 24th, 2011, but that they have a meal for their family 365 days a year. Let's actually be the reincarnation of the living God while we have the chance.
And may you uphold me to this standard because my flesh wants to do things the way I always have because I love Christmas and the way it makes me feel.... but God has called me to something higher.
Let's crucify the ugliness of Christmas and celebrate the joy of the Cross.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Oh and I think there is one member of our family that would like Christmas to be about him anyway. :) (Just to add some humor!)
4 comments:
Good stuff adrienne.
Good thoughts Adrienne
Memories of childhood are sometimes lost on a child...especially when there is divorce in a family. Parents on occassion may be able to shed light on lost memories...here are a few of mine for you, my dear Adrienne.
Christmas was always a busy time in your childhood. Your father led advent services throughout the season in preparation for the coming of the birth of Christ...it was a time to stop to reflect and await. It was a time to be taken quite seriously as when the coming of Christ into one's heart as if for the very first time. A rebirth of one's own of sorts.
Christmas eve there for 3 or 4 services - always packed - many people returned to church on this day having visited only one other time during the year - Easter. To welcome these people into our midst was a great joy. To hear the stories of life, to see the happiness in their faces - the whole "family" was once again together.
You and I would attend two of those Christmas eve services, and then we would come home - your father would be able to join us between services - and we would have a simple soup supper. It seemed appropriate to have it be soup and simple in honor of the humble Christ. Then we would sing happy birthday to Jesus. Dad would return to finish the services and you and I would read the Christmas story - although you had already heard it in church it was something we did together quietly as you, my excited child, would drift off to sleep. You wouldn't know this but my tradition then was always to watch Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It still hits me hard as nails when I watch it - which ever version it is. And, there are many.
The morning was exciting. You would greet me in the morning with excitment for the gifts. And, yes, a doll was always there. From the very first Christmas when you were three months old with a Raggedy Ann that I stitched with a heart and "I love you." I always thought a doll was such a good idea. I always had one. So did my sisters. Your uncle, my brother, was given a stuffed animal. In some strange way, the toy gave us a way to love something other than ourselves. It personified the way we humans can care for each other at our very best.
But more than anything else it was the singing of the hymns that brought our voices togther in harmony. Joy to the World. Away in a Manger. Do You Hear What I Hear? The Little Drummer Boy.
I remain grateful in my greedy and selfish human state that once a year I am reminded to close my eyes and thank God that somehow in some weird way we are reached through the most absurd of human traditions to be charmed by a baby's birth and to give thanks for those we know and love. And maybe, just maybe, to do better tomorrow.
Great thoughts Adrienne. When I actually think about it - the loveliness of the Christmas season is all about getting together and experiencing the joy of being together. The part about opening presents has, in reality, always been a bit of a letdown because it never really brings the joy of being together. The best parts of the season are talking together, working on a puzzle, going to the church Christmas program, listening to the Salvation Army bell ringing, and doing something together to make the season wonderful for others - THOSE are the things that bring the "warm memories" of this season - not the bling under the tree, but the pause of the quiet dark evenings with the family as we contemplate the wonderful news of Jesus birth. Thanks, for reminding us of this - especially at this time - as we approach the time of Thanksgiving.
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