Problems with Christmas

[luvsJack]

A few years ago I started a thread saying that if Christians feels so strongly about focusing on Jesus at Christmas then they should make a collective effort to do so instead of focusing on the symbols of Christmas (Santa, Trees, gifts). I got an overwhelming negative response about "you celebrate your way, and I'll celebrate mine." At the end of the day, people *want* to celebrate the santa/tree way...that's my theory. Secondly, why are there so many shootings at Christmas time?

We do focus on Jesus, the celebrations of Christmas in our church come first and foremost. We have a tree and we visit and believe in Santa and we give gifts--but that doesn't mean our main focus is not on the reason for the season.

The gifts symbolizes the gifts given to the Christ Child.
The tree is an evergreen and symbolizes the everlasting life offered to us by Christ.
The wreath is a circle, with no end and no beginning, and symbolizes His never ending love for us.

Before someone gets going on the fact that any of this was originally pagen--it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter what these things mean to you, it doesn't matter what it meant a long, long time ago--these are the meaning of these things in my home and it is how we celebrate the holiday and keep Christ in all we do.

Oh, and Santa is all about the spirit of giving and symbolizes to us the way Jesus would want us to treat others. Santa is a fun way for kids to understand the spirit of giving.

I firmly believe that everyone should celebrate the holiday in anyway they choose or not celebrate as they choose. This is the way I celebrate it.


Oh, and to answer the comment about a church being a business: Tithing by the members of the church is not for the church to make money. It pays the bills of the church and it pays the preacher. Most churches don't even break even. All expeditures are voted on by each and every member of the church and no one is required to give anything. That is totally up to the church member and God.

 

[skater]

A few years ago I started a thread saying that if Christians feels so strongly about focusing on Jesus at Christmas then they should make a collective effort to do so instead of focusing on the symbols of Christmas (Santa, Trees, gifts). I got an overwhelming negative response about "you celebrate your way, and I'll celebrate mine." At the end of the day, people *want* to celebrate the santa/tree way...that's my theory. Secondly, why are there so many shootings at Christmas time?

I do focus on Jesus at Christmas, but I love the traditions started in my life as a child. This in no way takes away from my love for Jesus. So, yes you're right - I do "want" to celebrate Christmas with santa, tree, cookies, being around friends and family, etc., as well as worshipping God.

It is sad that there are so many shootings at Christmas. We experienced something like that many years ago. People get very emotional at this time, don't they?

 

[C.Ann]

Since I've let go of the notions that I "have" to do this and I "have" to do that, nothing really bugs me about it..

Well - except for the ridiculous Christmas Newsletters and Christmas cards from very close family members that don't have the "time" to sign their names to their cards - even though they're retired and have plenty of time to go cruising; have their 3 o'clock margarita's every day; sit outside on the patio in Florida soaking up the sun; etc.. Yep - very, very "busy"..

I find each holiday season actually getting better - now that I have "allowed" myself to do only what I want to do; purchase gifts for only the people I really care to; spend less money each year; and stop trying to create the "perfect" Christmas - which doesn't exist..

 

[christineann]

I'm with you, skater. I respect others' rights to believe what they want and to celebrate Christmas the way they want, if at all, but if the secular side of Christmas (Santa, tree, etc.) were more important to me than the celebration of the birth of Christ, I would not enjoy it like I do. Our Christmas is rather low key as far as gifts. Several years ago, I suggested to my (now-former) fiance that in lieu of Christmas gifts to each other, we make contributions to the homeless shelter in our city. I really didn't need anything, nor did I want anything from him since he often criticized my belief and hated Christmas. He was insulted that I would even consider not giving him a material Christmas gift and balked at contributing to "a bunch of bums" (note, I said now-former fiance).

I doubt the people who trampled the Walmart employee were thinking about anything but the latest electronics and toys at the time.

Ask any emergency worker.......there are many shootings at Christmas because people who are bitter and hostile get together and argue, and more often than not, they are drunk!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all

 

[LilyWDW]

I respect others' rights to believe what they want and to celebrate Christmas the way they want

... and people like myself thank you for it. Now if only more people around me would be as understanding as you are and then my holidays would be just that much better. I am not a religious person but I do celebrate Christmas as a season of joy and giving. I enjoy the traditions that have developed over the years, both within my family and through out history. I love finding and giving that perfect gift for somebody.

I just don't celebrate the Christian beliefs...

But where I live people don't seem to understand that. That's really the biggest problem I have during this time of year. All I ask is to be allowed to celebrate what I wish to. I don't keep others from having their belief's... I just ask for the same.

 

[bimshire]

I hate all the trivial talk on a certain TV network about how Merry Christmas is missing and only Happy Holidays is used. What a drivel!

I hate all the preparation: cooking, shopping, putting up the lights on exterior of the house, etc.

Three years ago and again last week, we went on a cruise. We had asked our teens, do you want us to buy presents or do you want a cruise for your Christmas gift? They chose the latter. Just tonight at dinner we were all reminiscing about the fun we had.

The ship was decorated, they did the cooking, I loved the white sandy beaches and sunny days (I hate cold weather) and just relaxing on a lounge chair on the open deck of a cruise ship with no distractions like cell phones, text messaging or squabbling relatives.

 

[skater]

I hate all the trivial talk on a certain TV network about how Merry Christmas is missing and only Happy Holidays is used. What a drivel!

I hate all the preparation: cooking, shopping, putting up the lights on exterior of the house, etc.

Three years ago and again last week, we went on a cruise. We had asked our teens, do you want us to buy presents or do you want a cruise for your Christmas gift? They chose the latter. Just tonight at dinner we were all reminiscing about the fun we had.

The ship was decorated, they did the cooking, I loved the white sandy beaches and sunny days (I hate cold weather) and just relaxing on a lounge chair on the open deck of a cruise ship with no distractions like cell phones, text messaging or squabbling relatives.

You don't have to watch a certain TV network and now you realize you don't have to do all the preparations. Sounds like you made it work for you. Glad you had a good time.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

the people who get miffed at "IT'S NOT 'HAPPY HOLIDAYS' IT'S 'MERRY CHRISTMAS!" geez calm down! not everyone celebrates Christmas and there are more important things to get yourself upset over.

and the whole "holidays are for being with your family!" well....when you don't exactly have the best family in the world.....they're the last people you want to spend time with.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

If you pass the collection plate, you are a business. If you wish to be offended by this fact, that is certainly your right. A minister who is not telling his customers what they want to hear will not be in business for very long. His members will take their bucks to the congregation more in line with their personal views, and he will be up the creek without a paddle if he can't attract new members. Churches do close.

If you wish to attend church, that is fine with me. However, when people who attend church to justify their faults start telling me that it makes them a better person that those who do not attend church or who attend a church which condemns what they personally are doing instead of those they wish to stand in judgment of, I just tune these people out.

I had a very nice Christmas. There was nothing commercial about it and no self-righteous preaching. There was no need for Christmas gifts nor decorated trees for us all to have a nice time. It was the most relaxed winter holiday I have ever had. I have no problem with anyone spending the Christmas Day in church all day long if that is how they choose to spend the day, but Christmas has not been stolen from Christians. Christmas customs predate Christianity.

I am finished here. If you are upset with me and getting the final word is important to you, this is your opportunity. However, writing a sermon to convert me is pointless because I won't be here to read it.

i agree with you 100% that is one of my main issues with organized religions. i'm sorry....why am i paying you?? God doesn't need money...he has no use for it...so...again...why am i giving you money?? i'm pretty sure they get some sort of funding for stuff like that.

i kept asking myself that question for a long time until the last church i went to when i was 16 with my parents had a function at the pastors house...which was located in Lewiston Heights...a VERY high class part of town. it's a gated community, you have to be buzzed in by security. and this pastor would constantly preach about how "YOU MUST TITHE!" that was one of the main reasons i stopped going to church. i can celebrate and do all of those same things if my own home if i need to, thank you.

Christmas is neither religious nor commercial for me. Most of the Christmas rituals have Pagan origins anyway, and churches do get in on the commercialization of Christmas with elaborate ceremonies for Christmas to increase attendance and the take in the collection plate so let's not pretend that the stores are the only guilty parties.

My husband and I went to my friend's house for lunch on Christmas. We all ate together, but nobody brought any gifts for anybody. It was nice. It was low-key and no pressure so everybody was friendly, even though most of us had never met each other before. Everybody there is someone that I would like very much to see again.

omg THANK YOU!! i keep mentioning that to people and they don't want to listen. the Christmas tree, the Yule log(hello!! it has the word YULE right in it!) it's all from the Pagan religion! Christians wanted to convert all the Pagans over to Christianity so they made all of their holidays around the Pagan holidays so it would be easier to "convert"

Christians even OUTLAWED Christmas for a while because at first they didn't want the Pagan's celebrating and once they found out they were doing it anyway, that's when they went "ohh..we have a holiday then too!! Christmas!"

and your Christmas day sounded a lot better than mine! i had to go to my in-laws then to my parents house, all the while coming off of being sick, and my DH went to his families function without me later because i still wasn't feeling good, all the while he had to listen to his DSIL complain about how i missed that and another family function(i was REALLY sick for a while)

 

[skater]

the people who get miffed at "IT'S NOT 'HAPPY HOLIDAYS' IT'S 'MERRY CHRISTMAS!" geez calm down! not everyone celebrates Christmas and there are more important things to get yourself upset over.

and the whole "holidays are for being with your family!" well....when you don't exactly have the best family in the world.....they're the last people you want to spend time with.

As a Christian, I don't get hung up on the happy holidays thing as long as no one gets miffed at me saying Merry Christmas. My sister is not a christian and we have come to a great understanding and respect for each other. I feel free to talk about my faith and she feels free to discuss her views. In fact, my faith is such a huge part of my life that I'm not sure we could have a meaningful relationship is I was not allowed to be open about it. We used to get aggravated with each other, but our love and mutual respect won out. I really wish the world could be like this, but I don't think its ever going to happen. Everyone is so touchy now - christians and unbelievers alike.

I toally understand what your'e saying about family. Some people are in not so great and even awful situations with family (mine is not perfect either), and that makes the holidays very difficult for many. I think if that were the case, I might try to take my kids out of town for Christmas and do our own thing if financially feasible.