Merry Christmas Everyone

Yes, I know, I’m late by a few days this year. The festive season was a bit more frantic than usual.

I love Christmas. I look forward to the day itself and also the build-up, usually beginning a few weeks after Halloween. Not everyone is a fan though. 

Walmart Anonymous

Grumpy:    You never worked in retail.

Me:          That’s true, but I can sympathize with the cashiers, stockboys, greeters, and floor sweepers who have to listen to Paul McCartney’s wonderful Christmas or Mariah Carey’s gift wish, over and over since mid November. 

Grumpy:    But you don’t know ‘cause you aint done it. 

I sense hostility brewing. I gather myself for a clever response.

Me:         It’s not necessary to actually have the flu to feel bad for someone who does.

Grumpy:    So now Christmas is an illness. Make up your mind.

You can’t argue with recovering store workers.

I’m Not Religious

Oh, get over it. Neither is Scrooge or the Grinch. No one knew exactly when Christ was born so the festival celebrating the return of the sun (“Yule” in Scandanavia) was usurped and renamed in order to help convert the heathen hordes in Europe. How you think of Christmas is your choice. 

It’s Too Commercial

One year we decided that we wouldn’t exchange gifts at our big family get-together on Christmas Day. It didn’t work. Suspicious that somebody would ignore the directive and in the spirit of goodwill, bring presents anyway, everyone brought them. 

When half a billion people are exchanging gifts, naturally Big Business is going to vie for part of the action. But commercialism brings us the holiday specials on TV and some of our cherished icons like Santa and Rudolph. 

It Has Lost Its Meaning

What is this “meaning”? It’s different for different people. For many it’s an opportunity to reconnect with family and friends. For the religious it’s the idea that in the midst of a chaotic brutal life, God has sent his son to us with a message of salvation. I’m not debating the issue. It’s true that for many it simply represents guilt-free consumption.

But if you ask me, the theme, both religious and secular, is change. The possibility of a personal epiphany is the message brought to Ebenezer Scrooge, George Bailey, and The Grinch. The enormous popularity of books and movies like these, suggests that the meaning of Christmas is still alive and well.