Ask anyone, particularly if they are much older, and they will tell you how special Christmas is and has always been to them.
Through listening to their stories plus those you could add, it’s easy to think of Christmas as a wondrous mix of such ingredients as music, decorating a Christmas tree, giving and receiving gifts, having good food and drink, taking the kids to see Santa Claus, and sharing stories and good times against the large and forever relevant backdrop of celebrating the birth of Jesus.
Put it all together and we begin to more fully understand and more deeply appreciate what Christmas has been about for all these hundreds of years. Although it has been observed in a manner befitting its reason for existing, it hasn’t always been celebrated the same everywhere. Even more important, through the ages its acceptance and even its existence has been tested. Regrettably, that’s happening now.
Over the last four hundred years of America’s history, we have been enjoying all the memorable and enjoyable qualities and traditions that Christmas brings forth. For many reasons it has been the most special time of the year. Now, however, all of that is slipping away — a result of our society’s long standing and cherished Christian beliefs becoming increasingly secular.
For example, although Christmas songs are being heard, most no longer relate to the reason for the holiday. Fewer nativity scenes are seen. Christmas caroling has all but disappeared. Fewer Christmas cards and websites depict biblical scenes. Santa Claus isn’t coming down nearly as many chimneys or greeting as many kiddies in gaily decorated department stores. Yet, that is only a glimpse of what’s happening.
For as long as anyone could remember, Christmas was a stand-alone, a single and significant shining event. Now, Christmas is not only being lumped with New Years on the back end, but also Thanksgiving on the front end with the result being referred to and marketed as the “Holiday Season.”
Even more alarming have been changes in the holiday itself. Not too long ago, Christmas was the only holiday with few to no external distractions. No stores were open. No one worked except those in such essential services as police, fire departments, and hospitals. Christmas was truly a day by, of, and for families — a day of giving and receiving, bountiful and delicious meals, rest, and thoughts of meaningful reverence.
All of that has changed. At first, commercialism edged into the holiday as if it were a mere mistake, a bad judgement call. Now, after-Christmas sales begin as early as noon — hardly enough time to hurriedly unwrap the presents, grab lunch, and get gone toward the stores on the “must visit” list.
Even if you have been able to avoid that intrusion, this year’s Christmas day will be the first time football will be playing to a national audience. The promoters have reminded us that surely by early afternoon we will have become so bored that we will welcome the “entertainment” opportunity of watching two teams battle, bash, and bruise their way through four quarters and across a hundred yards of mayhem.
Nor is this latest effort to dismantle traditional Christmas likely to stop there. Forces beyond the control of any individual will continue to taint, then ultimately discard Christmas as we, the celebrators and believers, have always known it.
Always remember this: Among the masses, the more that’s hacked away at any holiday, the less of it there is to celebrate, and if hacked long and hard enough, the only outcome will be that it will exist in name only, become a hardly noticeable bump in the endless road of ordinary days.
There is, however, a logical yet simple and welcome counterpoint. No matter in which direction society goes, Christmas, a very special time for families, will continue to exist because the reason for it and the values associated with it is a state of mind.
As such, and this is a choice afforded to everyone, it will always be available to observe, enjoy, love, and revere — a glorious and memorable part of life that can’t be prevented, changed, or erased.
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Here’s wishing all my readers everywhere a very Merry Christmas.
