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The problem with Christmas

Christmas is an enigma to most people. It's like a rich uncle, octogenarian. You love him, he is insanely funny and provocative, it gives you really nice presents and just might leave you in an Italian villa in his will. But he has to be taken the bathroom regularly, requires a lot of attention, is stubborn and makes you crazy when you have to take him to a fancy cocktail party, because never know when it will pass gas or say something really outrageous, both of which makes aloud.

On the one hand, we all have some joyful anticipation of the season - The fool and heart warming movies and TV specials, decor, children singing carols at the mall every day fruit. On the other hand, fear that many of us the pressure and pace of the Christmas cards, shopping, crowds, and ultimately (gulp) the condition family gatherings.

This social psychosis complicates the season enough, but when you add in the rhetoric of the religious community's war on Christmas, Jesus is the reason For the season, so you enter deeper layers of self-condemnation and anxiety. What do I do?

A good starting point is to unravel the hairball multiple layers of traditions and religious implications that have come to define Christmas. Like most of our heritage modern, more in this kaleidoscopic than it seems. Once we can see what is happening, then perhaps we can bring some sanity and fun to the celebration thereof.

The History of Christmas. Actually, we're talking about the history of the Winter Solstice celebrations, which date back more than 4000 years. Most of our "traditions of Christmas" were originally rituals celebrated centuries before the birth of Christ. The delivery of gifts, carnivals, parades, carolers from house to house, holiday parties, and all actions of the church dates back to early Mesopotamia (1500 BC).

Persians, Babylonians, Scandinavians, Greeks, Romans and Egyptians had all the elaborate rituals that were celebrated at the winter solstice for pay homage to the mythological significance of the sun and the perennial cycles of nature. However, do not rush to dismiss the ancient traditions as pagan rituals simply be. In fact they were very spiritually oriented.

It is true that the peoples who inhabited what is now the years 3000 BC Middle East were polytheistic had numerous gods. But they were also very religious. A large part of their culture focused on trying to learn the will of the gods, and the principles of the traditions of Winter Solstice which reflects the approach. The Romans decked the halls with holly and candles as a tribute to one of its most powerful gods, Apollo. The Norse built bonfires and parties held for several days as a way of helping beat his sun-god of darkness power. These bonfires and feasts are the beginning of our famous "Christmas" record - the "12 Days of Yuletide" It was a long ceremony announcing the power of their gods in the realm of evil.

These beautiful ceremonies and ancient traditions all tried to do what our modern Christian tradition is celebrated now the domain of the supernatural forces of the cosmos in the underworld of man. They tried to honor their gods, and sometimes even assist them in the ongoing battle over darkness.

So who put the "Christ" At Christmas in the first place? Well, now that's an interesting and not entirely complete, historical detective story. The most popular conclusion by archaeologists, anthropologists and scholars of the Bible, is that the pagan traditions were co-opted by the early Christian Church. In the first three hundred years after Christ's death, not time-barred "party" for the occasion of the birth of Christ. This was partly because nobody really knew when or where Christ was born and partly because of the important Christian celebration was the crucifixion and resurrection. Some local churches and monasteries had their own "birthday" celebrations at different times of year, but it was not until the mid-4th century AD that the birth of Christ became an official celebration, with a specific date.

For what happened then? How the various peoples of the Roman Empire and historic religions reject their shrill joy for religion Official Christianity (as decreed in 350 AD) was not easy. Reluctantly, but inevitably, the church accepted the perennial spree diverse citizenship (although a pagan) and the wise decision to include the celebrations for their own agenda. In what many historians regard as a stroke of PR genius, in the 320 AD, Pope Julius I proclaimed that the pagan celebration of December 25 Festival of the Sun "(Natalis Invicti, ie" The Nativity ") From now we celebrate the birth of Christ - ta da! Introduce the official day of Christ's birth.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia Advent, in 402 AD, the "Feast of the Birth of Christ" (the new interpretation of the Nativity) is practiced through the Holy Roman Empire. The Nativity scene itself (you know, animals, barn, etc) did not arise for another 800 years. In 1223, St. Francis of Assisi gave rise to manger scene based on his interpretation of some little-known ecclesiastical customs. Around this time, the donkey that Mary rode to Bethlehem emerged as a character of the Nativity.

But from the beginning, there was dissension within the Church for the celebration of Christmas. For centuries, many conservative church leaders condemned the revelry and strongly criticized the adoption of sun worshipers traditions. When Orthodox pilgrims emigrated to America in 1620, were banned Christmas festivities and symbolism. Back in England in 1645, Oliver Cromwell and his Puritans succeeded in outlawing "the heathen traditions" of Christmas celebrations in England. When Charles II returned to the English throne in 1660, restored the popular holiday, but the custom had only scattered support throughout the American colonies. After the Revolutionary War, many English customs, including the celebration of Christmas, completely disgraced and do not begin to resurface in United States until 1800.

When Americans finally begin to embrace Christmas as a family holiday, old customs were unearthed. In the next 100 years, Americans built a Christmas tradition all their own that included pieces of many other customs, including trees decorating, sending holiday cards, gifts and Christian traditions and stories. In 1836, Alabama became the first state in the U.S. to declare one days of Christmas holiday, but it was not until 1907 that Oklahoma finally joined the club and became the last state to do so. Christmas was declared an official holiday of the U.S. in 1870. The first "official" use of Christmas decorations to attract buyers were in a department store in New York in 1900.

So What does it mean today? Basically, this means no history "truth" to any relative of the comments we've come to accept, if we are talking about pagan holidays or religious. All are made. There is little point in fighting, or impatient, any of them if you ask me.

No One has taken the Christ out of Christmas. It's still there if you want it to be, but has never been his private domain. Which is the problem? The Church slid the pagans to begin with, and was a strategy with considerable success. Today, more people worldwide practice of Christian traditions than ever before. Is not that enough? Remember, the Romans tried for about 1,000 years to make a purely Christian celebration of Christmas and all that did was to divide and antagonize the millions of people for whom it means something different. Do not make the mistake of fact that the old Cromwell. Go ahead and do it your way, is a beautiful tradition. But let everyone enjoy their own way.

Yes, Christmas is also about money. And for those who shake their heads in disgust on the marketing of it, you need a quick reality check. Christmas shopping is the single most important economic cycle in the USA. Hundreds of thousands of companies depend on whether their own existence. From a commercial standpoint, health, does not exist, someone would have to invent it. The money that is past, Christmas, for everything from lights to twinkley tickets and fairly new cars is the fuel that keeps our economy to connect throughout the year. Forget the new houses, is the hundreds of billions of dollars spent on Christmas Day that America remains economically strong.

Christmas has a huge positive impact on other aspects of our culture. People are nicer and more tolerant. There have been truces and cease-fire called in times of war by because of Christmas. More than half of the donations collected for all organizations in the U.S. roll during the Christmas season. Yes, I know, some of which have to do with the end of year tax exemptions, but also has to do with kettles of the Salvation Army red, their angles, and donations from goodwill. It is a time of year when people feel a greater sense of social consciousness and charitable organizations benefit from that feeling of goodwill. Pity do not pony up the whole year through the way they do at Christmas.

What about people pay more attention to others, or enjoy with decorations and music? Let's cover our yards to blow up Santas and reindeer mechanics. Let us turn our living rooms into small magical havens of jolly old elves and candles and angels. Maybe if we spent more time in contact with the child in ourselves, not have much interest in pollution the planet and kill people who have different political views or religious than us. Who cares why we have this expanded awareness of good will? If it is a belief in a particular God (or gods) or is simply a willingness to open ourselves to the most benevolent of our nature, what is the difference to do? IT'S ALL MADE UP! Everything that elevates man's humanity to man is good, no matter where it comes from!

Now these things in family. I know it can be a pain in the ass. But you know what? At some basic level, which we all yearn for a connection to our roots and our past. Is it too much to ask of ourselves to put aside our media-electro-stimulation-fast pace-gotta-pay-the-rent-in-the-beach-condo-someone-please-entertain-me addiction to the very things that destroy peace and harmony in our lives? Come on, you have 364 days from others who may succeed and become obsessed with being sufficiently good and worry about every little ounce you put on this year. You can afford to spend a fraction of their oh-so-important agenda of contact with your blood. Even if all are ass holes intolerable, so what? Practice forgiveness and acceptance.

If you do not want to send Christmas cards, do not. The mailman will love you. In my view, anyone who keeps a checklist of who sent Christmas cards and then make a sort of opinion about what you need to get a real life. And as for all that pressure to buy gifts ... Get over it! He will not kill off your ass and think about other peoples enjoyment. And speaking of butts, will not stop kissing kill the people who really do not want to buy gifts for but no. Buy gifts for people who want to buy and to be as generous as you want be. If you do not want to purchase a gift, do not. Sometimes it may be appropriate to make any gesture, but there are many things you can do anything but buy the latest electronic gadget or such. Flowers, plants, fruit candy or great job. And you can always make a donation to YOUR favorite charities on behalf of another person. Article No. 1 is having fun with your gift purchases and staff put some thought into it. The Rule No. 2 is suffering ALLOWED! (Incidentally, if you happen think that books make a Christmas gift, then I have a big favor. Check out my book "Your MEGAgiNormous Rules.)

The "time" Complaint. No time, lots to do, blah, blah, blah, blah. Look, if you do not have enough time to fun at Christmas is confused about what is important. I'm pretty sure that when you are lying on your deathbed, one thing is not said is: "Hey, I wish I'd spent more time in the office and less time to enjoy Christmas. "There are 525,600 minutes in a year, only around 1500, which actually receives Dedicated to enjoy Christmas. What, are you crazy? No doubt you can fit your busy life on the other 524,000 minutes.

Christmas is too big to be confined to a single ideology. It belongs to all people and all history. That has endured for thousands of years, bringing together people and celebrates hope and renewal. It is an excellent time of year that gives us permission to transcend our normal petty natures. We became kind and gentle, and caring for others and make small things that let others know that we care. We have fun, dammit! What, your life is so full of fun you can not take anymore?

Stop worried about what you perceive is wrong. It's just stupid to make it a conflict or some sort of litmus test that only serves to divide us. Take what you like it and leave the rest. And let others enjoy their own way. There is something for everyone at Christmas. It really is the most wonderful time of year, we just allow whatever. Have a Holly Jolly one!

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