the christmas season is upon us. as i look around in our house, there are santas, angels, snow people, fairy houses, lighted trees, snow globes, gaily wrapped packages, crèches, and sleighs everywhere. outside the house, in front and back, there are wreaths, garlands, trees, and santas, all lit in the darkness of night. we watch our favorite christmas movies, some sappy and filled with clichés, others moving, but all fun to watch nevertheless. it is a magical time of year.
the wonderful fictions that have come together to create our american christmas are largely the inventions of charles dickens, clement moore, st. matthew, and st. luke. as with everything else "american," our christmas is a blend of traditions from many places. without the dutch settlers of new york we might have a very different santa claus or none at all, without our german forbears we might not see christmas trees everywhere, and in many different regions of the country we experience the contributions of hispanic culture, african culture, and other ethnic cultures. if it had been left to the puritans, those "pilgrims" that are recalled each thanksgiving, we might not be celebrating christmas at all.
sometimes i think we go too far in our political correctness in excluding religious traditions when we try to be inclusive in our christmas observances and decor, but i worry, too, that many are pushed aside by the insistence that christmas is strictly a christian holiday. i tire of hearing that "jesus is the reason for the season," when for many jesus is not the reason at all. mr. trump and his ilk are insistent that we must wish everyone a "merry christmas," since extending a "happy holidays" greeting would "de-christianize" christmas. maybe in their minds, only christians should have a christmas.
what is it about christmas that transcends religion? peace on earth and good will to all are certainly things that should hoped for, and christmas reminds us how important those hopes are. generosity and providing for those in need are other traits of the season that remind us that we should keep christmas in our hearts all year round, as mr. dickens suggested through the words of ebenezer scrooge. spreading light throughout a darkened world, refusing to keep our lamp hidden under a bushel, is another of the important messages of christmas. these are ideals that are not the exclusive property of christianity but ones that are shared by all religions and by those who endorse no religion. if we are truly generous, we won't celebrate christmas only as a christian holiday but as a universal holiday that reminds us of all that is good about humanity.
may we see in christmas an opportunity to renew our belief in the goodness of each person. may we fill our lives with peace and good will. may we carry the message of christmas into every day of the year. may all that is good be the real reason for the season. shalom.
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