Originally posted 12/8/08 - Hogging the holidays

Christmas is one of those simple things that we tend to complicate. It's when we celebrate the birth of the Christ -- when the God of the universe sent His Son to be born into this world as a human so that humanity could be reconciled to God. Hence all the joy, peace, and good will. That's why we say "Merry Christmas" (or "Happy Christmas").

And no, not everybody believes in or celebrates Christmas, and it's important to be sensitive to that. Just as long as we don't snuff out Christmas.

Here's where it gets really complicated. Scholars have debated for years about whether Jesus was really born on December 25th. And then there's the winter solstice, which I think was some sort of pagan holiday at some point in history, where they'd decorate winter trees, etc. And people get mad about mixing the Christian celebration with the secular holiday on whichever day it's supposed to be celebrated. And THEN people start obsessing with the overcommercialization of it all, and they flock to Wal-Mart and accidentally trample an employee to death (see my previous blog entry). It's enough to discourage anyone from celebrating the holiday at all.

I used to get mad when I'd walk into a store right after Halloween and see all the Christmas merchandise that was already on display. "What the heck happened to Thanksgiving?!?" I'd wonder. Now, Xmas merchandise is on the shelves as early as September.

As a side note, that's another thing. "Xmas" isn't offensive. It's shorthand. From what I understand, the "X" is the Greek letter from which the word "Christ" is formed. (If my language professor dad is reading this, I hope I've done this explanation justice. :))

I'm not offended by seeing Christmas merchandise in September anymore. I say Christmas is a holiday that only comes once a year, so let's enjoy it as thoroughly as we can, for as long as we can. :) Whether or not December 25th is the actual day that Christ was born, that's the day that's designated on the calendar to observe it, so observe it with the gusto that it deserves. :)

I've never had a child, but from what I understand about the pregnancy process, the anticipation of celebrating Christ's birth at Christmastime is similar to the anticipation of a baby's arrival. During the 9-month pregnancy, there's a lot of preparation, planning, excitement, eagerness, exhaustion, joy -- an all-out celebration of the precious life to come. Similarly, starting the day after Thanksgiving (or sometime in September, for that matter), there's a whirlwind of activity and celebration that culminates into a single event that's over before you know it on Christmas morning (or Christmas Eve for some families), with the celebration lingering through New Year's.

As another side note, columnist Ken Brodnax from the Odessa American out in West Texas cleverly labeled a phenomenon as the "holiday hangover" a few years ago. (I couldn't locate the article online; otherwise, I would have pasted the link here for your enjoyment. :)) He says the holiday hangover is a slump that we feel on January and February after celebrating so many holidays from Thanksgiving through New Year's. So, from his point of view, the new year REALLY starts in March (because we're so hung over in January and February). :)

And Christmas is a family holiday (after all, it's when God shared His family with us), whether you can stand hanging out with your family or not. :) One Christmas several years ago, I decided to use my vacation time for New Year's instead of Christmas to visit my family on my mom's birthday. On December 25th, I hung out with a friend in Waco and had fun with her, but for most of the day, my heart was seriously aching to be with my family. That was the only Christmas that I didn't spend with any family. (And I vowed never again!)

So, here's the deal. Keep Christmas simply, thoroughly, and cheerfully, and try not to get wrapped up in the secular commercialism. But just enjoy! Celebrate! Live! Rejoice! Relax! Hang out with family! Chill with friends! Stare at some Christmas lights! Sing some Christmas carols! Taste some egg nog! Throw snowballs if you got 'em! Savor as much of the season as you can, for as long as you can! And remember the One we owe the celebration to in the first place! :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

And God bless us, every one!