What is the real meaning of Christmas?

More than ever, I believe that the real meaning of Christmas is weeks of preparation, a desperate bid by shops to make up their retail shortfall, sending cards out to enough people so they don't feel snubbed and the need to give good presents to our nearest and dearest.

It's about Santa - or Father Christmas, Rudolph and the other reindeer. It's about mince pies, pretend snow and Carol singing (although not Carols).

On another level Christmas is about surviving and not letting people down. It's about holding the family together without arguments and it's about surviving all the parties without making too much of a fool of ones-self.

It's not that I resent these things, I actually enjoy them. I love that we spend more time socialising and doing things for other people. Christmas is a great way to look forward to the harshest weather of the year. I would hate if Christmas was removed from the calendar.

...but as a Christian, I am less aware of the Biblical significance of Christmas than ever. It seems, at best, secondary to everything else I associate with Christmas. It's like a tagged-on meaning to Christmas for me, and a great many of the others I speak with.

Jesus' birth is not the real meaning of Christmas, it is the emphasis on this winter festival that Christians place. The festival would happen just the same without it. I seriously doubt whether Christmas does much in the way of reinforcing the Christian message. It seems to act more as a sort of guilt-inducing party-pooper:

“Sure, you're having fun and eating too much - but shouldn't you be thinking about the REAL meaning of Christmas?”

I could forgive anyone who comes up with a “whatever” response to that one.

So what is the real meaning of Christmas? I would say that Christmas will have its own meaning for each of us every year. The message changes in the same way that the world changes and we change. This year, the message for me is that I am so very fortunate to be part of a loving family who truly care for one another. I am also thrilled to be living in the best place on earth, as I call it. I am also slowly learning to shed the past and move on into the promises of the future. It's not been an easy journey at times, but I am grateful to be travelling it.

Each year there is much to learn, and much to resolve for the future. My thought would be not to take refuge in tradition alone, but to look for new ways reach out to those around us and help to make the world a more smashing place to be. Just like Jesus did.

Oh shit. I promised myself`I wouldn't do that.

So Merry New Year And  A Happy Last Christmas To You All!

Comments

[Ruby]

Personally, I would like to rethink entirely the way I've been celebrating Christmas. I'm not Christian, and my family isn't religious, but every year we do the traditional gathering and gift giving. I love the food and fun with family, but I hate giving gifts just because it's a certain time of year. It was delightful as a child, and I wouldn't want to change that for the world. For us as kids it was a holiday of fantasy and excitement, with Santa Claus and his surprises. But it never had any underlying religious meaning, and so now, as adults, when we keep doing the same thing, there's just nothing to it for me. I like the Christmas tree, but I'd be just as happy putting it up in June and celebrating randomly then. Or creating our own, new holiday, since it's simply a reason to be close to family, share good food and fun. That can be done anytime. But I don't know how to sell Mom on the idea, because she's into tradition, and doing things the way everyone else is doing them.

Though I'm not religious, I am loving and caring, and I think we'd do well to treat people with the compassion we do at Christmas all year round. I think it would be good to give people gifts on average days, not just Christmas, and to think about the homeless and the hungry in ways we tend to do mostly when it's Christmas, or here in the U.S., at Thanksgiving. I'm not big on saving up celebrations or kindness for special occassions. I wish we'd all have more Christmas spirit year-round. I'm thinking about throwing a big party on a silly little holidy no one celebrates, like Arbor Day or Flag Day, and using it as an excuse for being together with loved ones and appreciating life--without all the trappings of these big commercial holidays.

Sorry if I got off topic and rambled.

[AndyC]

Ruby: Never apologise for speaking from the heart. It's cool.

[Rebecca]

I believe that people try to create the traditional 'Christmas Card'image of Christmas, all round the fire with the stockings and rosy cheeked children, dog etc.

I don't feel the pressure of Christmas, but some reason have always got really agitated at the people who do. If you crave perfection on any occasion or in any role, it just isn't going to happen and you end up disappointed.

So however, you celebrate Christmas, be it in a religious, family, as simply as a restful day or all of these things, remember, that basically it is a time, to take time out from other days of the year, it really can be as simple as that.

This year I painted, thanks Ian, as I would have just done housework, yes I really would have and that is where I feel pressure to create the perfect house and I am constantly disappointed.