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Christmas seems to be falling out of fashion. Pagans eschew it because of its Christian themes; Christians eschew it because of its pagan birth. The raging debate about the origin and meaning of Christmas can give you whiplash. Did you know, for example, that Jesus Christ views Christmas as whoredom with false gods? *giggles* Or that gift exchanging can be traced back to the Roman holiday of Saturnalia?
The thing is, I don't really care.
I believe that good and evil exist in the hearts and minds of humanity, not in a tree or a pair of fuzzy mittens or a date on the calendar. I also believe in personal choice.
Therefore, I choose to commemorate the birth of Christ on December 25th. I choose to enjoy the company of my family and give them gifts. I choose to gain ten pounds every year drinking nog and eating brownies. Doing so does not make me a slave to societal pressure or weighty history. I honor the spirit of the winter holiday, however it came into being, for the amazing contributions it has made to our world in the form of inspired music, movies, books, and random acts of senseless kindness. I will take hold of Christmas--and every holiday--and use it to produce good without regard to rampant commercialism or family dysfunction.
I also choose to honor the choices of others, whether they celebrate Winter Solstice, Chanukah, a fat guy with elves, or nothing at all.
So while I think it's very cool that 4,000 years ago, a German dude cut down an evergreen in honor of his god, Baldur, it has absolutely no bearing on why or how I celebrate during the holiday season. I claim Christmas for my own. If you don’t like it, too bad. I'm going to be nice to you anyway.
Happy Holidays!!!
The thing is, I don't really care.
I believe that good and evil exist in the hearts and minds of humanity, not in a tree or a pair of fuzzy mittens or a date on the calendar. I also believe in personal choice.
Therefore, I choose to commemorate the birth of Christ on December 25th. I choose to enjoy the company of my family and give them gifts. I choose to gain ten pounds every year drinking nog and eating brownies. Doing so does not make me a slave to societal pressure or weighty history. I honor the spirit of the winter holiday, however it came into being, for the amazing contributions it has made to our world in the form of inspired music, movies, books, and random acts of senseless kindness. I will take hold of Christmas--and every holiday--and use it to produce good without regard to rampant commercialism or family dysfunction.
I also choose to honor the choices of others, whether they celebrate Winter Solstice, Chanukah, a fat guy with elves, or nothing at all.
So while I think it's very cool that 4,000 years ago, a German dude cut down an evergreen in honor of his god, Baldur, it has absolutely no bearing on why or how I celebrate during the holiday season. I claim Christmas for my own. If you don’t like it, too bad. I'm going to be nice to you anyway.
Happy Holidays!!!
