By now Christmas cards have been sent, homes elaborately decorated with lights and puffy inflatable characters, trees elegantly trimmed awaiting “oohs and aahs,” and presents wrapped to dazzle and tease their recipients. Special cookies are baked, tempting eager holiday revelers to overindulge. Santa Clause in all his versions with assorted elves, Rudolph and his reindeer cohort, and Frosty, before he melts, have made their appearances in malls and store displays.
Ridiculous Christmas ditties fill the radio airwaves like “When Santa Got Stuck in the Chimney,” and “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.” Parents dutifully sit through the “holiday chorus performance” of their cherubs singing holiday selections, all in compliance with school multicultural policies. Holiday parties with work colleagues have been dutifully planned and executed.
Literally hundreds of movies containing Christmas content are available for “holiday spirit” viewing with enough sappy emotional sugar to give you a mental coma. Can you miss one December without viewing some version of Scrooge, or Ralphie’s passion for the Red Ryder B.B. gun in A Christmas Story. Not to be outdone by Hollywood, workplace parties, family gatherings, and church celebrations have been planned with anticipation of much merrymaking, and in some cases, too much, outdone only by New Year’s Eve a week later.
Oh, and about the shopping—the economics of Christmas almost defies description. Retailers depend on a strong Christmas shopping season as the core of their yearly profits. Midnight on Thanksgiving Day is a frenzy of wild-eyed shoppers who trample each other in eagerness to grab bargains off store shelves and even from the arms of other shoppers. Phone videos have gone viral.
Gift lists are all about how much to spend and the quality of the gift for each person on the holiday roll call, typically based on an even exchange. “What would so-and-so think if I didn’t spend about the same for a present or even outdo them?” Re-gifting is a social taboo. Credit cards are burning through slides and debt will take all of next year to pay it off with interest rates higher than loan sharks. Hey, it’s all about the “Christmas Spirit.” Should you decide to tone it down, you would have to relinquish the validation of “Oh, you shouldn’t have,” for that expensive gift, even though they would be disappointed if you didn’t.
Imagine what would happen if everyone decided to take the same amount of money they spend on Christmas presents and give it to a favorite charity on behalf of the person to whom they would normally give a gift? Missionaries would not have to itinerate for support. There would be enough to do all of the great charitable work both religious and secular in our communities, and donors would even receive a tax deduction (at least until IRS decides to remove it). Feel free to take a hint here.
Is finding Jesus in the Christmas frenzy like “Where’s Waldo?” How much of what we do is Christ-centered, the whole point of Christmas, and how much is purely cultural tradition out of control? I’m not against celebrations. I like good food, a festive atmosphere, happy people, and gifts. I like outdoor decorations, but it seems that every Christmas we hear about some town’s conflict between putting up non-descript winter decoration like monstrous snowflakes instead of the creche that had been there for 30 years. It tempts us to tap the “like” button for the “Keep Christ in Christmas” Facebook memes sometimes posted by the very people who keep the holiday gerbil running on its wheel.
Here’s a thought: If all of the secular stuff that is called Christmas would be given a different name, the conflict between the sacred and profane would be eliminated and we would not be hearing rants about how we should be wishing people “Merry Christmas,” not “Happy Holidays.” Let’s just call it Winterfest or some other euphemism that works for the season. Like Harry Potter, Santa Claus can remain as a fantasy character who slides down chimneys that don’t exist, deposits presents made in a toy workshop in a polar region visible only to imaginary friends, and eats cookies and milk on his way back up the chimney. Isn’t it ironic that the same people who object to the Harry Potter books perpetuate the Santa myth with their kids. Let’s not even go to the Easter bunny and Tooth fairy.
We can set a different date to celebrate the fact of Jesus’ birth in a more Christian context, even in a different season since most biblical scholars agree that Jesus was not even born in December. We could create completely new traditions that are more in keeping with the meaning of Christ’s arrival. We can keep the old ones that actually agree with Scripture. A real Christmas–what a concept! Back to reality.
Before I’m written off as a close relative of the Grinch, let me assure the holiday loving world that my annual family newsletter is printed, Christmas cards written and addressed, and all mailed on time hoping they are not mistakenly routed to the North Pole among the sea of letters to Santa. Cards and greetings I receive will be read and reread with smiles and gratitude before becoming part of the Christmas decor. The few decorations that have managed to survive multiple garage sales have been unearthed and put into place. If Christmas is still on for this December, I plan on baking Oma’s special cookies while listening to Bing Crosby’s Christmas album like I always do. I plan on inviting family and friends for a sumptuous meal, and purchase gifts without blowing next year’s manicure budget. I will also watch Bedford Falls pour their love for George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life and sneak a peek at Alistair Sim’s portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge’s redemption. The Nativity Story will be read with joy, gratitude, and prayers for peace on earth and good will to humanity. Some traditions are worth keeping.
Whatever traditions we keep and maybe start new ones, let’s do them and pass them on with a glad heart and sane mind. I wish you a happy season of selfless generosity, warm company of family and friends, and in remembrance of the One who came to Earth for the sake of peace.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
May your Christmas celebration have as its centerpiece extravagant worship and joy in the presence of the King of kings, our Lord and Savior, Jesus.
Copyright 2015 by Eva Benevento. All rights reserved.