Then today, my cubicle-mate and I got into a discussion about the Holidays, and he was talking about how annoying it all is to him: put the lights up, take them down, go further into debt, drive forever to visit family, etc. He just kept saying, "What good comes of it? I can't see that we're any better off." And it seemed so strange to me that a generally cheerful and goofy guy like him could find so little joy and so much angst in this time of year.
I love Christmastime. It means friends are coming home. It means decorations are everywhere. It means people are giving and receiving gifts (big or small). It means time with extended family, and time off from work or school. Its cozy and fun and festive. And I can't help but smile at all the little things... because that's how I am.
But Christmas is an entirely different thing from Christmastime (or the Holidays, as it is more politically-correctly known). And while, someone like me (enjoying little childhood things) would still enjoy the way the world celebrates this season, it really doesn't serve any purpose (for lack of a better word) without Christmas... the real Christmas. Not Santa Claus, not mistletoe, not parties, not snow, not presents, but God.
'The word Christmas entered the English language sometime around 1050 as the Old English phrase Christes maesse, meaning "festival of Christ." Scholars believe the frequently used shortened form of Christmas -Xmas- may have come into use in the 13th century. The X stands for the Greek letter chi, an abbreviation of Khristos (Christ), and also represents the cross on which Jesus was crucified.' -MSN.comAnd I'm glad that such a large portion of the world celebrates Christmas, regardless of how they do it... I just wish I knew how to explain how much it really means, and that it doesn't have to be hollow.
2 comments:
I think you mean "hollow," dear. Empty? Yes?
What's interesting is to find other religious types like myself who dislike Christmastime. There are a plethora of reasons, the main one being that even though Jesus is what makes this time special, like you say, even those in Christendom treat Him like another commodity--another item to be bought and sold during the holidays. I guess what I mean is that this time of year is equally meaningful and meaningless. Meaningful because of what we're supposed to be celebrating, but meaningless because of how few people actually care. It's like it shrinks the meaning down to a grain of sand that you have to go searching for, when most people just want more presents.
I'm still working some of this stuff out. I'm just thinking and leaving a terribly long comment. My bad.
Retail is especially empty. For a time of year that's supposed to be filled with general goodwill, I get to see the worst in people when they come to buy an ipod. Blech.
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