The Reason for the Season
I love Christmastime.
I love it because, in practical terms, it can be a true antidote to seasonal blues, a reminder of the joys of friends and family, a reason to feast and spend and play.
I consider it largely a secular, cultural holiday. I love the symbolism, the Santa mythology, the way it's infused the secular side of life. It has evolved into a celebration of generosity, kindness, and seasonal joy. "Joy to the world" after all must include parts of it that don't believe in the divinity of JC.
After all, the line in Luke 2:10 is "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."
ALL PEOPLE. Not just Christian ones, or Jewish ones.
Plenty of Christians over the years have been concerned about the rampant commercialism (I know of at least one song from Shakespeare's time complaining about it, and of course the Puritans banned Christmas entirely).
Of course, the "reason for the season" crowd are mostly worried about Jesus, which is rather ironic because Christmas is really just rebranded pagan solstice festivities.
I love the idea of Hannukah. A festival of lights, a reminder in the darkest time of the year that belief can bring comfort and that miracles happen. Plus it's a feast of deep-fried food, and who wouldn't love that? Plus it lasts eight days and is mostly marked by pretty candles.
Hell, even though it's a modern invention, I like the idea of Kwanzaa. Celebrate your heritage, I say. Remind yourselves of your core values. Kwanzaa's about the Seven Principles: Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith. To me, as an outsider, that says "Stick together, remember where you came from, and work for a better future" -- these are not values unique to the African-American community, but rather values any culture or people might share.
The old pagan Yule holiday survives in MANY traditions, from Yule logs to gifts to decorated trees to Christmas ham.
. . .
All of which add up to one big PILE of reasons to celebrate -- even to celebrate a sacrifice that brings hope, or that denotes the turning of the year -- and most of them predate Christianity. The season *IS* the reason, beyond all others.
Because dammit, it's cold outside, and the weather tends to isolate us, and it's dark all the time, and (at least in the olden times) food was getting scarce.
So we have a festival that celebrates togetherness and generosity, that reminds us that light and warmth will return to the world -- but until it does, we've got each other. It's a celebration of life, whether you mean one very special baby, one rather unlucky hog, one rather randy roman god, or, well, just about anything that reminds us we're lucky to be alive and glad to share that happiness with each other.
That's why I love Christmastime -- no matter what it's called.
If you see me on the street, wish me whatever seasonal wishes fit your culture, and I'll happily accept your well-wishes.
I love it because, in practical terms, it can be a true antidote to seasonal blues, a reminder of the joys of friends and family, a reason to feast and spend and play.
I consider it largely a secular, cultural holiday. I love the symbolism, the Santa mythology, the way it's infused the secular side of life. It has evolved into a celebration of generosity, kindness, and seasonal joy. "Joy to the world" after all must include parts of it that don't believe in the divinity of JC.
After all, the line in Luke 2:10 is "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."
ALL PEOPLE. Not just Christian ones, or Jewish ones.
Plenty of Christians over the years have been concerned about the rampant commercialism (I know of at least one song from Shakespeare's time complaining about it, and of course the Puritans banned Christmas entirely).
Of course, the "reason for the season" crowd are mostly worried about Jesus, which is rather ironic because Christmas is really just rebranded pagan solstice festivities.
I love the idea of Hannukah. A festival of lights, a reminder in the darkest time of the year that belief can bring comfort and that miracles happen. Plus it's a feast of deep-fried food, and who wouldn't love that? Plus it lasts eight days and is mostly marked by pretty candles.
Hell, even though it's a modern invention, I like the idea of Kwanzaa. Celebrate your heritage, I say. Remind yourselves of your core values. Kwanzaa's about the Seven Principles: Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith. To me, as an outsider, that says "Stick together, remember where you came from, and work for a better future" -- these are not values unique to the African-American community, but rather values any culture or people might share.
The old pagan Yule holiday survives in MANY traditions, from Yule logs to gifts to decorated trees to Christmas ham.
. . .
All of which add up to one big PILE of reasons to celebrate -- even to celebrate a sacrifice that brings hope, or that denotes the turning of the year -- and most of them predate Christianity. The season *IS* the reason, beyond all others.
Because dammit, it's cold outside, and the weather tends to isolate us, and it's dark all the time, and (at least in the olden times) food was getting scarce.
So we have a festival that celebrates togetherness and generosity, that reminds us that light and warmth will return to the world -- but until it does, we've got each other. It's a celebration of life, whether you mean one very special baby, one rather unlucky hog, one rather randy roman god, or, well, just about anything that reminds us we're lucky to be alive and glad to share that happiness with each other.
That's why I love Christmastime -- no matter what it's called.
If you see me on the street, wish me whatever seasonal wishes fit your culture, and I'll happily accept your well-wishes.