Entry 2194, on 2021-12-27 at 21:36:55 (Rating 2, Comments)
Well, another Christmas is over, so I guess it's time for another "meaning of Christmas" rant. Actually, in line with my more moderate attitude on most subjects now, this won't actually be too ranty.
I thought I should cover this subject after reading a letter in the local newspaper commenting on how "the original reason for Christmas" has been forgotten, how we have all given in to rampant consumerism, and how the hero of Christmas seems to have become Santa rather than Jesus.
First, what is the orignal reason for Christmas? Well, it depends on what you mean by "original", but I think it is fair to say it is to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Before I go any further, I should say no one really knows if Jesus actually existed, and they certainly don't know when he was born if he did exist, but let's just ignore those small details, which should really be the subject of a separate post.
So in the context of Western culture from the last 2000 years that is true, but before that the same time of year was celebrated as a mid-winter festival instead, and obviously had no Christian significance (because Christianity didn't exist yet).
It seems that there is a precedent for the meaning of a day of celebration (or the "reason for the season" to use a more pithy phrase) to change its meaning there already; so why not do the same again?
I guess the best reason is that we don't have anything particularly inspiring to change it to. I mean, should the new deeply significant reason for Christmas be to buy a lot of junk for people when they don't really want or need it, or to imbibe excessive amounts of alcohol, or to stuff ourselves full of turkey? While all of those activities are fine, I can't accept them as the basis for the biggest holiday of the year in most Western countries.
Of course, many of us already experience no religious aspect to the day at all. I don't think I experienced a single religious element to the day myself: I heard no Christmas hymns, no mention of Jesus or mangers or wise men, no prayers, and no entreaties for attending religious institutions.
No doubt a person living a more religious life than me (in other words just about everyone) might have had more exposure to the religious elements of Christmas than I do, but I suspect it is fairly minimal for everyone here in New Zealand - as well as many other more "advanced" countries - and I think it is getting less as time passes.
So is this a problem? Well, as I said, I think Christmas is now very superficial, so that is unfortunate, but in the end holidays are like everything else: they are influenced by market forces. If people want less religion in their holidays then that is the way the interpretation of the holiday will tend to go.
As well as this, obviously it is possible for there to be more than one meaning, which would differ from one person to another. I'm sure that more pious people have opportunities to experience a deeply religious event if they want to. And I have the option of doing the opposite. Again, the market provides the "products" people want.
I look at Christmas as a way to celebrate mid-summer (I live in the Southern Hemisphere) and to recover from another stressful year (yes, they all seem stressfull!)
I have a collection of religious cartoons, and one which could be seen as relevant here is titled "This is how the religious treat others". A religious person walks up to a couple sitting on a park bench eating ice cream and says "My beliefs forbid me, to eat ice cream in the park on Mondays". They say "Then don't do it". He replies "You do not understand: as I believe that, you also are forbidden to do so".
So religious people shouldn't be trying to tell me what Christmas is all about, and I won't try to tell them, of course. It's just an extension of my libertarian philosophy, where I encourage people to do what they want, but ask them to extend that same privilege to others.
It's simple, really: just celebrate your way. Happy Summer Solstice, everyone!
Comment 1 by Anonymous on 2022-01-28 at 21:56:48:
Why was this necessary? Everyone does what they want at Christmas. Why the need to preach to us?
Comment 2 by OJB on 2022-01-28 at 21:57:33:
Well if what you say is true then it was unnecessary, I agree. Bit I’ve heard various people claiming that their view is the only correct one, so this is for them!
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