Christmas meaning?

Christmas is a fascinating time of year.

While celebrating the birth of Christ is natural in the Christian faith, I understand that he was probably born in September.  December 25 was apparently a big Pagan holiday, which was conveniently used (manipulated) to attract more interest in the Christian church.

On a more ethical note, it is a time of year when giving is actively promoted. It is probably the only time of the year when those less fortunate than ourselves are given a high level of media coverage with “helping them” being the key message. It seems unclear how those same “less fortunate” people manage in between Christmas’s, but at least they are helped over this holiday period.

I have to smile when I see the “Keep Christ in Christmas” signs, because while I support Christmas being a celebration of Christ (Christ and Christmas do have some common spelling), I do have trouble taking the date seriously given the apparent Pagan origin of the celebration date.

What this means to me, is simply that for those of us that wish to celebrate the birth of Christ, then we might as well use the now established date of December 25. We should however acknowledge that the date is not his actual birth date, but is now only symbolic of the event.

Taking this rationale further, we should not be negative about the crass commercialism and self-gratification aspects of Christmas. Perhaps we could believe that they are the Pagan origins coming to the surface?

I consider myself a Christian (although I was called “the most non-christian Christian I have known” by somebody a long time ago), and can use this time of year for contemplating my belief structure. I can indulge in materialistic celebrations if that is my desire but, most of all, I really should acknowledge that there are so many people in our world that are much less fortunate than me.

As Christians, or as members of other religions, or even as Pagans… we really should offer a helping hand to our struggling colleagues. As for keeping Christ in Christmas? Well the sentiment is very nice and Christians will obviously support it… but for others? All those on this planet who are not Christian but will be having a holiday over the Christmas period , please raise your hands. I thought so…….. there are lots of you!

Perhaps instead of debating Christ’s birth date; instead of criticizing the commercialism associated with Christmas, and instead of taking perhaps the “moral high ground” in general, we should just use the time of year to show that we do care about each other. Regardless of any spiritual belief, we all like to be treated with respect. We all want the security of peace; of a roof over our head, and of food in our stomachs.

Our Christmas holiday can be so much more than a convenient, and self-serving, Christian tradition.  You have the power to make it so.

Just thinking!

32 thoughts on “Christmas meaning?”

  2. So much I could say, but I will keep it short. 🙂
    Once again you have made some good points!
    Once again I am reminded of how frustrated God must get! Frustrated with the words we spout off. “Non-Christian Christian”, Really!! Shaking my head! Frustrated with how we put so much more emphasis in “sayings” like “Keep Christ in Christmas”, etc.

    I am a Christian, but yes I get so frustrated with the slogans and certain talk! Don’t even get me started about the little Starbucks controversy going on the other year over Christmas time!
    Where is the action, the love? God wants love poured out, not words! Christianity is Love. Its not about whether you say “Merry Christmas” or ” Happy Holidays”, Its definitely not about whether you show up in church on Sundays! It’s about how you live and….yeah i said I was going to keep this short, Sooo I will close, Keep spreading the love, its not just for one time of the year!
    Oh and I do have to say I love the Minion pic! 🙂

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  3. This is a wonderful post, Colin. Christmas to me is a symbol too for compassion and for sharing love and support. A time that shall remind us that we are all brothers and sister and that we all need each other. That’s why it is a symbol to me too which stands above religion. Thank you for this, Colin… and the Minion 😁

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  4. I had always believed it was Martin Luther who moved the celebration of St. Nicholas in early December to the 25th to coincide with so many other pagan rituals, the winter solstice, etc. and make it all more palatable to Christians.

    I like your thoughts here, Colin, and appreciate the video. It’s important to remember how many are just trying to survive out there. And your picture…adorable.

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  6. It’s a good point. I too believe about the keeping the Christ in Christmas and I know even though the timing of the holiday isn’t quite accurate it’s the truth of what we are celebrating. But we also know that giving gifts and works of charity are ‘loving our neighbours’ as Christ would later say that living others as ourselves was one of his greatest commandments. I think we also have to be objective and see that while some of us are blessed with the wealth to buying presents and celebrate, others do not have this kind of money and Christmas gifts even just for their kids, or having a special meal is stressful when comparing themselves to others. So you are very right there.

    I could have this wrong but what I had learned is that Christmas around December 25 came both from pagans way back but also during a key celebration, time of holidays during the reign of the Roman Empire. And if Christmas began to be celebrated by Christians sometime after the gospels of Matthew and Luke writer there stories of it 30 years after Christ’s death, than it makes sense that they would choose a Christmas date at the same time as the Romans celebrated.
    Just a thought and great post!
    I’m so excited for yours and Carolyn’s books on Dewey. JR got me hooked but I think it will be wonderful once it’s completed 🙂

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  7. We don’t go to church either and although I believe in Jesus and in god I also believe in others too including some of the pagan side of things.then you have some who say the Santa/Father Christmas is not real or wasn’t real but in fact He is/was his real name is St Nicholas which is celebrated in Holland and a few other European countries when he was alive in the real sense he freely gave to those in need and became a saint after he died,many so called Christians seem to forget this and the fact that St Nicholas inspires the gift of giving,xx Rachel

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    • I believe that the term “non-Christian Christian” was an expression based on my claim to be a Christian, but yet did not conform to a number of expectations from that individual. Primarily, I did not/do not go to church on Sundays, and I freely criticize certain churches for having a distorted view of Christianity as I understand it. I have known churches (tend to be in affluent areas) that seem to simply worship themselves. 🙂

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