Don't Like Christmas? Don't Celebrate It

Sunday, December 25, was Christmas Day. Christians celebrate this day in memory and honor of Jesus' birth. However, it is not "written in stone" that Jesus was even born in December - some believe it might actually have been in the early spring.

December 25 has been designated as Christmas Day since AD336 (AD meaning Anno Domini, Latin for "in the year of the Lord"). Using my calculator (my sister is the mathematician - I like words), that means Christmas Day has been around for 1,686 years! And yet there are still some who every year seem to enjoy taking a punch at it.

There is a Passion Play in Eureka Springs, Ark. For those who don't know what that is, it is a dramatic presentation which depicts the "passion of Jesus" - his trial, suffering and death. The presentation has been going on in this Ozark Mountain community since 1968 - it celebrates its 54th year this year.

Recently there has been some controversy in the Arkansas community as someone there decided they didn't like a nativity  seen being put up in a park there. A local organization, Beta Sigma Phi, has been putting the display up since 1950 - for 72 years. Once it was put up this year, someone threatened to file a lawsuit, so it seemed the inclusion of this display depicted Christ's birth would not be a part of this year's Passion Play - about Jesus.

Christmas Day was begun because of Jesus. Over the years, it has evolved to include a variety of traditions such as the jolly old elf wearing a red suit. Santa has been  associated with Christmas since around 1840 - for 82 years.

The origin of Jesus and Santa are both in history. The legend of Santa can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. This monk was well known for his piety and kindness - he was known to be a protector of children. Many legends were associated with this man who it is said gave away all of his wealth in order to help the poor and sick among us. It is this charitable heart which coincided with the Christmas celebration of gift giving.

Jesus, too, is a "real figure" in history. Even the popular "History Channel" recognizes there was a man named Jesus who walked this earth, stating "within a few decades of his lifetime, Jesus was mentioned by Jewish and Roman historians in passages that corroborate portions of the New Testament describing the life and death of Jesus."  So Jesus isn't just in the Bible - he's in the pages of "regular" history as well. A Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus, mentioned Jesus in his writings about the Jewish people in 93AD - that would be 1,929 years ago.

So back to the nativity scene in Arkansas. This is nothing new. Every year, somewhere, someone is attempting to have nativity scenes removed. It appears they want to remove anything and everything that is remotely religious about Christmas. Ironic, don't you think? Considering everything in the reason why Christmas was started in the first place is based around religion one way or another.

So what their problem with a nativity? If they don't believe in Jesus, that's okay. It's their choice. But do they celebrate Christmas? Do they take the day as a holiday? Do they hold their hand out for that Christmas bonus?

My take is this. If you don't believe in Jesus and don't want to celebrate the holiday much less the "reason for the season" - then don't. But why do you not want a nativity scene displayed? I get you don't believe, but when you look at it through non-believer eyes it is merely a display of a family and a small child. Do you not like families or children either?

Here's a different thought. Quit complaining. Quit trying to push your beliefs on others. If you don't believe - fine. Nobody says you have to. Just enjoy the decorations, because if you don't believe that is all they are to you.

Or if you don't like the holiday at all, quit taking the day off as a paid holiday. Quit taking the bonus check. Quit partaking of all the Christmas goodies your coworkers bring to work. (And everyone complains about hypocrisy in religion - go figure.) More importantly, quit trying to ruin the holiday with 1,686 years for others.

As for me, I believe. And no amount of Scrooge on your part will stop that. So, what is Christmas to you?