Why are we celebrating Christmas again?

Hello, everyone!

Sheesh, way to go, Trish, for keeping up with your blog. I know, I feel super cruddy about it...but don't worry, I am still keeping up with my faith and a part of Cru on campus! It's super fun, guys. If you ever have the chance check this group out. So awesome! But anyway...I've decided to write a post about a very important holiday coming up...CHRISTMAS! All the presents, getting presents, shopping, food, and just watching as many Christmas specials as possible!

Whoa...backup...since when did that become the definition of Christmas? Last time I remembered Christmas was a holiday to celebrate one of the most important dates in history. But, sadly...Christmas has become a holiday to help retailers make more money and feed people's greed.

I've been looking up interesting Christmas facts to countdown the days until Christmas on my Facebook, plus sandwiching in bible verses from Luke, and I found some really interesting facts about the actual day of Christmas and how it exactly came to become the holiday we celebrate today.

Around the 4th century, Christians were getting tired of the holiday, Saturnalia, that pagans were celebrating to celebrate the god of agriculture and turn the social order upside down for all of December. Slaves became masters, peasants were in command of the city, and everyone drank to their hearts content. In hopes of diminishing this holiday, Christians decided that they would celebrate Jesus' birth on the last day of the festival since they had never celebrated His birth before (just the resurrection, Easter). Unfortunately, when settlers moved to the United States in the 17th century, religious freedom was embraced and Christmas was outlawed. Finally, politicians got some sense knocked into them and made Christmas a federal holiday on June 26, 1870. Yay!

Pretty sweet, huh? So why after all that effort would we decide to turn Christmas into a holiday of greed? Well...humans are sinful and we tend to tell Jesus to shut up and take the backseat while we drive. It's even worse for those who don't believe in Jesus because they become the sole passenger in their journey through life. But we Christians can do something about it! We can tell people the true meaning of Christmas and refuse to conform to foolishness. None of this "Happy Holidays" junk and fear of offending people. It's CHRISTMAS, people, and we have the religious freedom to shout from the rooftops "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" because that's what this season is about. Sure, you can say Happy Holidays, but follow it with "and Merry Christmas!" just to get the point across.

Isn't this a little harsh to the non-believers? I don't think so. Because Jesus deserves some recognition, believer or not, because He's just that awesome. I think He really likes it when we acknowledge Him. ;)


(I think of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" every time I read these verses):

"While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'" - Luke 2:6-12

So awesome. God, ruler of the universe, sent His only Son, Jesus, King of the Heavens, to take up the form of a lowly human so that He may save us all from evil. And that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

Love you <3