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Contributed by John Sammon
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Monday, 05 December 2005 (read 2045 times) |
 Okay.
It’s that time of year again. Time for my obligatory Christmas column.
I promise not to knock Christmas like I’ve done in the past, even
though it’s a must-conform once a year ritual that involves a cash
outlay that I can ill afford.
I promise not to do that, find fault.
The controversy this year is over the Christmas tree, and whether it
should be re-labeled “Holiday tree” instead of Christmas tree,
especially on the White House lawn, or government property, so as not
to refer to Christ, so as to be fair to people who don’t believe.
Though there have been complaints about this ridiculous example of
political correctness, this is one of the most ironic of oxymorons,
because the people who want the tree re-labeled Holiday tree are right
for the wrong reasons.
The Christmas tree is not a Christian symbol.
Christmas, the Santa holiday, has nothing to do with Christ.
Did Christ and his disciples ever put tinsel on a fir tree? Did they
ever wrap presents and give them to each other? Did Christ dress up in
a white beard and red suit?
No!
They are two separate celebrations celebrated the same day.
Santa Claus was some German pseudo-pagan myth figure that strangely
enough hit the big-time in Victorian England, much like Jerry Lewis did
in France. Below is the timeline of Santa history:
1700 – Santa Claus, not looking anything like he does today (he wore
green), is a German myth from the pagan mists of the 12th century.
People burn a Yule log, drink a cup of grog, and that’s it.
1800 – Nothing is changed. People are worried about Napoleon.
1900 – Victorian English are the first generation who cherishes their
children instead of regarding them as cattle. They decide to do
something nice for junior. Uncle Nigel down the street carves junior a
little wood horse. That’s it. That’s all. No presents are exchanged
with anyone else. They bring in a fir tree with lighted candles and
burn the house down.
1951 - Coca Cola Company re-draws a new marketing image of Santa, the
one in the red suit with the jolly face we recognize today.
2000 – The entire economy of the Western World depends on Christmas gift giving.
What happened? How did this come about? What does the birth of Christ have to do with shelling out money? Nothing!
Let me get this straight. A fat German action hero in a red suit who
rides a cart pulled by forest animals and who squeezes down your
chimney shares a holiday with an obscure first century Jewish preacher
who founded a world wide religion and who was nailed to a cross by
Roman authorities?
And what about the tree?
It’s not a Christian symbol, not like the Jewish candle holders (menorah) are a Jewish symbol.
John the Baptist wouldn’t recognize a tree with plastic balls and
lights on it. You see! The politically correct busy bodies are a pain
in the butt…..but they’re historically right.
There isn’t even any definitive agreement on when exactly Christ was
born, December 25, June 9, take your pick. What year, 2 AD? That’s a
good guess. The only clue we have is the bright star the wise men
followed which could have been Haley’s Comet.
So, the whole holiday is a mix-mangled mystery wrapped in an enigma.
I have to close now. I’ve got to buy my Christmas tree and do some shopping.
©2005, SammonSays.com. Reprinted with permission.
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