Some say there is a war on Christmas,
but really, there has always been controversy surrounding this
holiday. It has its roots deep in paganism, and has always had a
secular aspect.
It is the celebration of the birth of
Christ for Christians today, but even the idea of celebrating a
birthday of any kind is a pagan – or secular – idea. In ancient
times only rulers and the very wealthy celebrated birthdays, and it
was seen as a very self glorifying thing, not something a modest
religious person would do. It has been banned at various times in
Christian circles because of its worldly beginnings and secular
aspects.
In the Americas it was flatly rejected
and condemned by the Puritans because of its pagan origin, and
because it was often associated with drunken parties.
It did finally catch on, but I think
its history is part of the reason it is controversial. It has gained
acceptance in religious circles, and that may be why some people see
the secular aspects as an attack on Christmas.
Even today there are religious people
who object to the idea of celebrating Christmas, usually because of
its pagan origins. But I do not want to be making any kind of
judgments. I still say people should do what they want and be
tolerant of those that do differently, which is more biblical
attitude to have.
The bible makes no mention of when
Jesus was born, but it does give us a couple of clues. It says
shepherds were watching their flocks by night, which means it was a
time of year when there was plenty of grass and light. Certainly not
the middle of winter, and more likely late spring when days are
longer.
Dec. 25 was chosen, not because anyone
thought that was the real day, but because it was a time of
celebration already in place. The Romans celebrated their Gods in a
mid-winter feast in late December. The Pagans (religions in Europe
before Christianity arrived) also celebrated a mid-winter holiday in
late December. The idea of co-opting that into celebrating the Birth
of Christ first came about in the fourth century and was more related
to the Roman celebrations.
There was not a lot of interest in
Christmas in the “dark ages” but it did catch on again later in
Europe, and that is where the pagan holiday was adopted.
In the middle ages people went to
church on Christmas morning, and in the afternoon had a big party
with lots of carousing and partying. Even then people decried the
commercialization of the holiday.
Nothing new under the sun.
