The Christmas Message: Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All Men
Christmas originally began as a commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Today, Christmas day is enjoyed all over the world bringing people of all communities, ethnics and culture together. Love, joy, peace on earth and goodwill to all men are the hallmarks of the Christmas message.
Looking back at the history of Christmas, you notice that the festival was not always celebrated on the 25th of December. In fact, before AD 354, Christmas celebrations were held on the 6th of January.
It is interesting to note that many of the traditions of Christmas such as the exchanging of gifts, the decorating of trees, mistletoes, holly branches are borrowed from other ancient festivals that were celebrated during the same this time of year, such as the festival of Saturnalia, the worship of Saturn, and Yule, the winter festivities celebrated in Germany. The word Yule has its root in "jolly", and now aptly depicts the Christmas season! Jolly old Santa has his history in St. Nicholas, who was Bishop of Myra, now present-day Turkey. St. Nicholas was famous for giving gifts to children and his works of charity among the needy. His fame spread throughout the middle ages and he has somehow found his way to be the focus of modern Christmas celebrations. He is known as Santa Claus in America, as Shengdan Laoren in China, as Father Christmas in England and as Pere Noel in France.
The highlights of Christmas traditions include exchanging Christmas cards and gifts amongst family and friends, singing of Christmas carols, nativity plays and showing charity to the needy. Houses are brightly lit at this time of year with colorful outdoor lights. Behind the living room window stands the beautifully lit and ornamented Christmas tree crowned with the "Star of Bethlehem" signifying the star which led people to the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Many people, living in the warmer climates of America, can only dream of a "white" Christmas, and thus transform their front yards into an artificial winter wonderland with Santa on his sleigh and his helpful reindeers led by Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer. There are light-hearted variations such as Santa on a Harley Davidson!
Christmas celebrations revolve around Christmas
shopping. Shopping centers all over America are
splashed with decorations in the Christmas theme
colors of green and red. Christmas songs are played
over loudspeakers. Every shopping mall has its
very own Santa, live and in-person, entertaining
young and old alike with his cheerful "Ho, ho,
ho" and wishing all a "Merry Christmas" or "Happy
Holidays". There is no stopping the joy and merriment
of the Christmas season. It is infectious and
many a Scrooge have been won over by the sheer
generosity and magnanimity of spirit displayed
during this season.
Most people enjoy family times decorating the Christmas
trees, hanging up Christmas stockings over the fireplace
so that Santa can come and fill their stockings with
Christmas goodies. Family members enjoy choosing thoughtful
Christmas gifts for each member of the family. Tradition
involves placing these gifts under the Christmas tree
on Christmas Eve and waking up early on Christmas
day to open their gifts! Traditional celebrations
often include midnight Christmas service on Christmas
Eve or on Christmas day. A traditional Christmas is
usually family-centered and many families come together
for Christmas. A family dinner could include turkey
and ham.
Traditional Christmas is not what it is today. Today Christmas celebrations are somewhat askew from depicting the original Christmas but we do have Christmas events that remind us of what the festival originally was all about. Nativity scenes take us back in time and tell us the story of Christmas. Today our celebration of the festival is mixed with a bit of traditionalism, a bit of history and a bit of folklore. But even today the heart of the Christmas celebrations remains the same: love, joy, peace and the spreading of goodwill to all men. Merry Christmas and happy holidays!
