the Real Christmas

Let me start by saying I was raised as a Catholic. I was baptized, had first communion, and got confirmed. I went to church every Sunday in my best clothes with my mother in our matching coats. We observed every day of holy obligation on the calendar. I was afraid to swear, have sex, and die because I was sure I was going to burn in hell even though I had gone to confession a thousand times.

I grew up and started to ask questions. For example how could a mere human ordained by other humans have a better connection to God than I, also a mere human? How was it so much better that I would have to tell him my deepest darkest moments and expect his judgment and penance to absolve me? Why did I have to go to church every week if God was everywhere? If God was indeed a forgiving God why did I have to do penance to be forgiven? Why is there a purgatory and a hell? Shouldn't an all knowing and all seeing God know that I was the best me I could be at each and every second of my life considering I was a human? If I was made in his image how perfect could he be? Maybe there was something more to spirituality than a religious tag. Maybe it was just about the golden rule; do unto others as you would have done unto you.

I have recently read several articles on this site regarding the abominations of the Christmas holiday and how non-Christians are horning in on something so sacred. You all need to do a little research if you honestly think Jesus Christ was born on December 25 and only those who believe in him as their savior have a right to celebrate at this time of year. If you think Christmas trees and gift giving and lights are a religious right you need to check into the history of these thing. I have watched several programs on educational television over the last few weeks regarding the actual historical information about Christmas as we have come to know it. I have read more than a few articles and spent time researching the subject. Let me give you just a taste of what it is all about.

First off nothing in the bible or the scriptures say that Jesus Christ was born on December 25. In fact from the information available in the bible it is more likely that he was born in the spring. Please note December 25, surprisingly close to the winter solstice, happened to be the date of a Roman celebration for the sun god. Seems reasonable doesn't it? The days were getting longer, more hours of sun, lets party, we must have done something to appease the sun god! And then the Church came to town and try as they might to squelch the pagans and their way of life they just weren't as convincing as nature. The science of the universe was working against them. What to do, what to do? Well of course you would do what anyone wanting to suck up the life of another would do, you adapt and incorporate and make what is theirs your own. So… the church sucked up the pagan holiday, deemed it the birthday of Jesus and set off running.

Christmas trees and presents, the best and worst of the season depending on whom you talk to. Let's start with the tree. Nowhere in the bible does it say and there next to the haystack was an evergreen tree with lights and glass balls and plastic decorations of candy covering every inch of it. The song is O' Tannenbaum for a reason people. The tree tradition started in Germany and parts of northern Europe, at least from everything I've read. Guess what! It too centered on a pagan tradition celebrating the winter solstice. The evergreen tree and the longer hours of daylight were a sign from the god of the sun that renewal was on the way. Coincidence? I think not. They even brought the tree into the house to be a constant reminder during the most desolate part of the season.

Presents, presents, and more presents. The joy of shopping in the crush of the season, the bliss of giving, the thrill of receiving, thanks to all the heathens who made this possible. Yep, heathens, pagans, it had zero to do with Christ. Sorry to enlighten you all. Romans again, at the time of the winter solstice, see a trend here? The Emperor accepted gifts as tokens of his constituent's appreciation and hope for a prosperous new year now that the sun was shining longer. What kind of gifts would be available in the winter? What was green and fresh and held the promise that growth would begin soon? Well I guess that would be evergreens! Of course there was this one guy who thought he deserved better than tree branches…not Jesus…Caligula, the roman emperor who deemed it necessary that he receive gifts on a given day just after the winter solstice. He got cakes and honey and gold. Way to work the subordinates. Just so you know nothing about this mad man seems very Christian like. Though it is mostly speculation just the implication of incest, treason trials for his own gain, and the psychological profile of a megalomaniac don't lead me to believe he was doing unto other's as he would have done unto him. Of course if you watch any of those educational programs there is the new theory that he and many others of the time may have had heavy metals poisoning from a multitude of 'conveniences' in their lives; a major side effect of this type of poisoning, mental illness.

Of course some Christians will say it's all about the Magi or the three kings and their gifts to the Christ child. Well okay but why is there a history of it happening before he was born? And then there is the thing about him not really being born in December. And even if he was the kings didn't show up until 12 days later with the gifts. That's called the Epiphany, or little Christmas on January 6. Of course if the kings, who may or may not have numbered three, may or may not have been wise men, and are not actually named in the bible, came from afar it would have taken them longer than 12 days to arrive. In fact based on biblical details giving the names of their kingdoms it may have taken them as long as 4-6 months to get there. What are the chances the baby was still swaddled in a blanket laying in a pile of straw? Someone call child and family services! I won't even get into the star thing.

And then of course there is St. Nick. He was actually a bishop known for giving to the poor, especially the children. Any church will tell you to be charitable all year long but honestly, if you think about it, isn't the dead of winter the most needy time of year? Spring or summer offer opportunities to live off the land and find work in any number of places that are closed during the winter months? Oops sorry, that made sense didn't it?

In the United States the gift giving didn't really kick off until the 1800's. Got to love the Victorian age of excess. And a big up to those wonderful stores that started staying open late, decorating, and of course advertising. Christmas was going to be driven forever more by the almighty dollar. Yes, Santa started long before Coca Cola used him in an ad but thanks to their red and white logo the suit has become standard issue. Thank you Thomas Edison for inventing the light bulb and thank you to his assistant for deciding to put them on an evergreen tree in his New York home. I'd like to thank the electric companies for promoting the outdoor lightings, but I can't. Nope that goes all the way back to the long dark pagan winters in the northern latitudes when they would leave lights burning as beacons to travelers and to ward off the gloom before the solstice and lengthening days. Irony of ironies there's that solstice thing again.

Most of what we know as Christmas today has absolutely nothing to do with Christ. It is a product of melding all spiritual endeavors past and present into one day. A day when everyone of every race, creed, color, religion, and geographical area should be able to come together and feel that they are connected to each other through some inexplicable source that drives the universe and is beyond our comprehension. It is a time of year to take stock in what we have and what we have been given and take time out to appreciate each other and what we contribute to each other's lives. No man is an island unto himself no matter what his or her religious affiliation is.

I am no longer, nor was I ever, truly religious but I believe there is something else and that soul is not lost. I believe in the spirit of Christmas. The basic instinct to reach out to our fellow man in the spirit of love, peace, friendship, appreciation, happiness, giving, charity, and light.

This article is my Christmas gift to you. Those of you who feel the need to wield your religious sword and smite me with the forces of your almighty, all seeing, all forgiving God, be my guests. Those of you who read this and realize no matter what religious belief you hold the basic human morality of unconditional love is the basis of it all, congratulations!