Saturday, December 27, 2008

Why do you call it CHRISTmas??

I realize I may lose readers by saying this.. but I'm going to say it anyway..

I mean, honestly.. it's kind of insulting. If you are not CHRISTian.. and you celebrate that holiday that falls on December 25, why do you call it CHRISTmas?? Why not just call it GIVINGmas? or SOLSTICEmas? or WINTERmas? Wouldn't that make more sense? or.. better yet, make fun of our economy's stance and call it SPENDmas! After all, Christmas is the season for spending.. right? Because with out spending there would be not giving, and no recieving, right??

Wrong.

Because Christmas is about recieving Christ. It's about God giving His son. It's not about 'holiday spirit', it's about the Holy Spirit. And if you don't believe in any of it, why call it Christmas? why even celebrate it?

I once asked a friend of mine this. Her mother and step-father are Christian. Her husband is an ex-Mormon. She is a 'non-believer'. For her children? she plans to 'present both sides of the argument and let them decide'. I asked her one year (I was providing part time babysitting for her son at the time), 'Why do you celebrate Christmas? I mean.. what is it about in your house?'

She said: Well, you know.. we like to do the Santa thing and celebrate the season of giving and stuff like that. I don't know.. it's just fun, you know? Why not?

I don't get it.

Yes, I realize that the December 25 holiday is not 'in fact' the day Christ was born. I fully understand that the whole holiday came about as a response from the church to the heathens and their seasonal celebrations. They wanted to give the heathens a Christian holiday to celebrate so that they could still enjoy holiday tradidions but with a Christian spin. They created Christmas. The way I explain this to my children: You know how sometimes you have a birthday party on a day that's not really your birthday? because that day, for whatever reason, works better for celebrating? That's kind of what Christmas is like. It's not the day Jesus was born, but it IS the day we celebrate his birth.

A lot of Christians get a bit miffed over the whole PC issue that has come up in recent years - the idea that we should all be saying 'Happy Holidays' instead of Merry Christmas. Honestly? I don't mind it at all. Partly because one of our best friends happens to be Jewish. It does make more sense to go about with 'Happy Holidays' on our lips, because we never know what the recipient might actually celebrate.

J asked a WalMart checker the other day "How was your Christmas?" without really thinking much of it. The young man answered "Actually, I don't celebrate Christmas. I celebrate Hannukah." To which we replied "Well, Happy Hannukah then! how is it going?" and had a conversation about what kind of traditions his family had and about our favorite Jewish foods and where to get them. Mmmm... Maybe I'll make some latkes this weekend..

Anyhow. So yeah, it irritates me that so many people claim to celebrate Christmas. I wish they would just get over it and come up with some other secular name for what they celebrate - like Clausemas, or Buycrapmas or something like that.. and quit claiming a Christian holiday as their own. Not just all the non-believers out there, but especially those who claim to be atheist and say they celebrate Christmas. For real? 'I am certain there is NO God.. but I will celebrate the birth of His son.' HA!

No, I don't believe that Christmas is for everyone. I don't care if you want to pass out presents on December 25.. but why not just call it Santa Day or some other stupid name? If there is no Christ, there is no Christmas.

15 comments:

Captain Dumbass said...

Damn! My heathen ass is stingin! Still, I'll keep celebrating Christmas anyway. You'll have to try a lot harder than that to get rid of me, CPM.

ChurchPunkMom said...

well... SHIT. I thought that would work for sure! ;)

Pamela said...

a-zing-a-zing-ah.

Irish Gumbo said...

(clapclapclap)

CPM:

Deep breath, my dear. And I agree with the Captain, it will take a lot more than that to get rid of me! I'm like a bad penny that way.

I'm sure you know by now that I am not a devout Christian. I'm still working on whether I am a Christian at all (I'll explain THAT later); but this post was truly great!

I can understand it more when its presented with some fire and some passion, I dig that sort of thing. You make a very good case, and I like the dialogue it opens up (I may just make some latkes myself).

A breath of fresh air, I must say. And the "Buycrapmas" line? GOLD, bay-bee! That was a LOL moment for sure!

Well done, m'lady. Bravo! ;)

Jon Dayton said...

I don't know what the big deal is about Christmas. When there are several holidays dedicated to drinking and another batch that are pretty much just for candy what's the harm in having a few catch phrases and nativity scenes thrown in along with the spend-fest?

Kat said...

I get what your sayin and kinda agree, but I think Christmas also gives us a chance to share our faith and the reason behind Christmas to others. Just a thought, but I totally get you on the why would you celebrate it if you don't believe in it thing.

Erin Moore said...

I'm a Christian and am totally okay with non-Christians celebrating Christmas. In fact, I think it's a good thing. It gives me hope.

Non-Christians have to say the name of Christ every time they wish someone a Merry Christmas. They acknowledge Him with each Christmas card they send and with each gift. I love that children who grow up in secular homes have at least one positive association with Christ - CHRISTmas!

All of my family members are non-Christians and I have to say that it warms my heart to hear Christmas music (which is really Praise and Worship music) playing at their houses. As I pray for their salvation, I can't help but think that Christmas is one time of year that they are at least confronted with the birth of Christ.

Just my two cents.

Amy said...

I agree with ya but i am sure you knew that. I heard an episode of a show called Studio 360 its a public radio show.

ChurchPunkMom said...

I'm all for sharing our faith. However, I'm not for celebrating Christmas for any other reason than Christ. When people say 'Oh my God' I don't take that as them acknowledging God. So I don't take them saying 'Merry Christmas' when they don't believe in Christ as them acknowledging Christ.

If there are non-believers who do include Christ in their secular celebration of Christmas, then be my guest! Celebrate His birth right along with us! I'm all for the 'Chreasters'! Maybe someday that minimal exposure will penetrate their heart. But it does bug me when people will 'celebrate Christmas' and not acknowledge Christ - I really don't agree that simply saying 'Christmas' counts as acknowledging Christ.

Part of my beef with it all is that 'Christmas' seems to have become something else entirely.. that people are trying to remove Christ from Christmas. That's just stupid.

Irish Gumbo said...

Hey:

Just wanted to let you know, your post has been running around in my head since I read it. really given me some food for thought. I wasn't sure how to articulate what I was feeling until I read the last paragraph of your last response below. THAT was a fine summary!

I think that's why Christmas as it is celebrated today soemtimes makes me sad: The emphasis seems to be on something entirely other than its namesake, its reason.

That, among other things, is why I 'lost my religion', as they say in the South (so does R.E.M.).

I can't say honestly, that I have Jesus or God in my heart; sometimes, I wish I did, just so I could stop arguing with myself. Other times, I acknowledge I have a lot of reasons to not believe.

In the meantime, I just wanted to say thank you for giving me some 'nutrient-rich' food for thought. :)

ChurchPunkMom said...

IG: hey, that's what I'm here for. ;)
as for arguing with yourself.. that's a healthy thing. it's your inner compass trying to steer you in the right direction (or wrong, as the case may be), it's the good in your heart, your knowledge of right, warring with that sinful nature that we ALL possess. Don't forget, even the 'best' Christians struggle with sin! it's when you stop arguing with yourself - when you start doing whatever the hell you darn well feel like without a second thought.. that's when it's time to start worrying. ;)

Anonymous said...

Great post! I was feeling the same frustration this Christmas season. Probably one reason is because of the news stories about the atheist groups' ads and signs.
(http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,450445,00.html
and
http://www.theolympian.com/670/story/682029.html)
Anyway, you articulated it well.
On the other hand, we can rant and rave about what "they" do, but at least we have the peace with God that the angels proclaimed that great night..."Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14)...and Jesus told the disciples..."I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Peace that passes understanding, indeed! ;) I am grateful for it!

Happy New Year,
Amanda S.

McKenzie said...

There's always Festivus, right?

Michael from dadcation.com said...

I hear what you're saying, but I also get a 'rita on Cinco de Mayo and a dark beer on St Paddy's Day, despite fitting neither demographic for either holiday's "owners."

So, I'm glad we have Christmas and will celebrate with an acknowledgment as to its origin, even if others don't.

ChurchPunkMom said...

HA! see... I can't relate, Muskrat... I'm Irish, and I married a Mexican. So we celebrate both too! lol

 
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