Sure the tradition of Christmas is great. Getting together with family, lots of food, gifts for everyone. But what does any of it have to do with the original Christmas? The trees are Pagan in origin. The idea of giving gifts is Pagan. Who is this Santa Clause? This Papa Noel? Whose idea was it to put lights everywhere? So now it’s completely either Pagan or Commercialized. So to bring it back we need to take the extra time to remember the nativity scene by the fireplace and the story of Jesus Christ as Uncle Alan reads the scripture just before kids tear into their presents. We don’t care anymore about the original meaning of Christmas. And perhaps we shouldn’t. After all, we as a whole are not sure the original existed.
I’m glad we can still get candles (Pagan) and Holly and Mistletoe (Also Pagan), and make the season whatever we make it to be, year after year. But I hate that it’s the commercialized Christmas that is endorsed. I hate that kids remember that Uncle Alan has to draw out the old boring scriptures time after time, as they eagerly await it being the polite time to rip open the brightly colored paper on the next gift. They don’t really care about Jesus, they care about Santa. Perhaps they shouldn’t. Perhaps we should learn from them and let the whole thing slide.
Wasn’t the original Christmas actually in August anyway? Before the Christians changed their calendar to make it easier for Pagans to convert, and changed their traditions to make it easier for Pagans to convert, and banned the use of Pagan Congregation halls to make room for Churches of Christ. The original original Christmas, was actually Yule. But they don’t cover that in the Christmas story. A little history with religion might be nice once in a while. Spice up that Nativity Story a little.
