I think almost everyone enjoys most things about Christmas. The decorations and the tree, the lights and displays. There are so many family and community traditions happen that warm our hearts. Sometimes we feel like Scrooge or the Grinch, but like those characters, something melts our resistance. Te pain felt by the lonely or disaffected might be caused by the remembrance of things past. This year with the economic woes may restrain our giving, but I suspect that the images and feelings of the season will be even stronger.
As no one knows the true date of Jesus’ birth, Christmas was set when missionaries in Northern Europe noted the celebration of the Winter Solstice as a celebration of the rebirth of the light. During the fourth century, the Church took the opportunity to teach that the birth of the light of God is the Incarnation. Henceforth December 25 - which was the date for the Solstice given by the Romans - began to be celebrated as the birthday of Jesus.
Most of our customs, such as the tree and greens, the exchange of gifts, the celebration of wintery things, are pagan in origin, being Roman and Norse. The story of the stable, the shepherds and angels, and the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, are the truly Christian themes. Both traditions bring joy, both bring occasions for celebration. For Christians, though, the main focus should be and always be the gift of salvation given to us by the Incarnation. God became one of us to redeem us and promise life eternal. A great gift indeed.
