The Meaning of Christmas

Ah, yes. Christmas is here at last, a time of year where materialistic possessions and a lust for greed and power overshadow even the hardest driven family values. I can’t help but wonder how this holiday turned into the corporate monster that it is. I wonder if you asked a group of people what Christmas is really about, how many of them would actually know. Of course, there is a ton of room to express your own opinions and values into such a question; but I believe that there is one underlying, undeniable truth… and it has little to do with Santa Clause or Jesus Christ (I’ll get to that in a minute).

When I was growing up my parents did the absolute best they could for my brother and I at Christmas time. We struggled with financial burdens and bankruptcy as a family, and although times were hard, we made the absolute best out of every situation. I learned at an early age that there is always a silver lining no matter how dark whatever you are facing looks. Any who, we loved celebrating Christmas because it gave us the time to spend together as a family since my parents worked all the time; and it also gave us the opportunity to express our gratitude for one another by the gifts we gave. Most of the presents we exchanged were simple handmade crafts, except for the occasional trinket or cassette tape for my Walkman (that my mother gave to me because I used it a hell of a lot more than she did). It was simple, inexpensive, original, and damn was it great!

If you want to know my opinion; Christmas is really about three things: Love, Family, and Giving.

Jesus Christ stood for these three things, and if you believe in the religious story of Christ, I hope that you let those values shine through this holiday season; not just give family and friends stuff because it’s “Jesus’s birthday.”  To all my fellow Pagan brother’s and sister’s; while you celebrate the Winter Solstice and light up your tree as you emerge from the darkness I encourage you to instill these values into your holiday as well. Many of you still celebrate Christmas with your families even though it has been dubbed a Christian holiday (and why not?! You would be surprised to find how closely the meanings of the two holidays are to one another.  For example: The sun conquers the darkness just as Jesus brought the light.) I suppose what I am trying to say is that there is a lot more to ‘giving’ than just going to Wal-Mart and purchasing a trinket you think someone will like. It needs to be done in love and the people you buy for should be treated as family.

I asked my 6 year old what she thought Christmas meant. Of course she immediately started jumping up and down screaming, “PRESENTS, PRESENTS, AND PRESENTS …oh, yea…. and Jesus!”  I laughed with her and told her to get her younger sister and put some shoes on; I wanted to take them somewhere and it is a surprise. About twenty minutes later we are in the car and headed towards the mall. Both of my daughters were asking hundreds of questions trying to figure out where I was taking them. We finally arrive and they are ecstatic! They thought I was taking them there to buy toys for Christmas; which in a way, I was. The three of us walk about a table that is covered in Salvation Army logos and I start talking with a kind lady about the process to “adopt” two angels. There is a tall Christmas tree covered in cards with information on them. I tell the girls to go and pick out one each; my six year old who can read helped my youngest decide which angel she wanted to pick. They came back with their angels in hand and give them to me; I finish filling out the paper work and grab the designated bags to put the presents in, we thank the lady who helped me and leave.

We drive from the mall to a Wal-Mart Supercenter and head for the toy aisle. The three of us go through the requests that our angels had put on the card and fill up our cart. I ask the girls’ to think of something that they would like to give that is special; something just from them. They do so and we check out. Once we got back to the car my youngest asked the question that I had been waiting to hear. “Why are we doing this?” I explain that the angels we picked from the tree and bought the presents for are going through a hard time; and if it wasn’t for them, the Angels wouldn’t be having a Christmas this year. The way that those two girls lit up once they understood what we had just done was amazing. They felt so proud and joyful; it shone through their eyes and smiles. THAT is what Christmas is about. Helping others who are in need by giving what you can, from the bottom of your heart; as if they were your own family.

 I hope that no matter what religion you are a part of you take a minute to reflect on why you are celebrating this year, and remember that no matter what faith you claim; we are all in this together. One Love.

Happy Holidays Everyone.