Season’s Greetings

This is an ambiguous title that covers all religions and belief systems and celebrations of the winter solstice. Some use the greeting “Happy Holidays,” and other refer to specific religious holidays. I never can get the spelling for Chanukah correct for Judaism, Kwanzaa for African traditions, and the Persian festival Yaldā. In the East, they celebrate the Dongzhi Festival. Of course, Christians celebrate Christmas.

When you consider the holidays, you also have Santa Claus, the Yule tree (or log), Snow Men (why no women?), and a wide range of holiday songs that address everything but Christmas. The spirit of giving has been commercialized and starts in October. We almost ignore Thanksgiving, which is celebrated only in a few countries. Epiphany is an afterthought.

Lighted decorations are strewn not only on roof tops, but across acres of land and huge buildings. Some areas even have contests. People argue about the benefits of live trees versus artificial trees. A colorful tropical shrub became the most popular plant, the poinsettia. All these have traditions and myths. Oh yes, you also need candles. The problem is finding tapers since most stores only stock the ones in jars.

These holidays are primarily focused on family and/or religious activities. We have Christmas concerts and plays, some of which focus on the nativity of Jesus. We think of the stories of Charles Dickens as the epitome of Christmas, but in fact they represent one of the most repressive periods in English Society.

These traditions are very specific to segments of societies all around the world. It is hard to find a Christmas tree in the tropics. The differences are more than just geography; they primarily are cultural. I refuse to pass judgment. I believe that each of us should be able celebrate our own traditions in our own way. I also think it’s ridiculous to picket a nativity scene in front of a church. That’s their right, and no one should be offended by it. The question becomes more complicated when it is in front of a public building.

Jesus was a Jew who celebrated the Jewish holidays. We mark Christmas to celebrate his birth, but that doesn’t override the rights of others to celebrate their traditions. People talk about putting the Christ back in Christmas, but I think the term has become so broad in context as to include many religious traditions, even if they have different names.

This is a season of celebration that goes back to pre-history and is as modern as today. I am not offended by Jingle Bells, or Rodolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer that spark joy in children of all ages. The gift of love is universal and is most important in an era filled with hate.

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