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Wednesday, December 24. 2008

Holiday Cheers!

I was about to pen my Christmas Eve note and realized I had written nearly the very same piece a year ago. So, here it is again, with a few alterations!
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Well, here it is, Christmas Eve, when some families will gather ‘round the living room Christmas tree, exchange love and material gifts, sit down to a nice meal … and then wonder why Uncle Bob got me that for Christmas. What a knob!

Christmas, of course, didn’t start as a Christian holiday. In many modern and ancient religions this time was to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Many of the trappings we call “Christmas:” the tree, Yule log, holly, wreaths, mistletoe … and a few others I can’t think of at the moment, all had their origins in other religions and were only adopted as “Christian” when the Romans, who controlled most of Europe and the Middle East, forced conversion to Christianity on those they oppressed. To make it more palatable to those they were oppressing, the Romans encouraged their enslaved nations to incorporate their own practices into the celebrations of Christian holidays.

“Christmas trees” go back before the time of Christ actually. Just read this today: in the Old Testament Jeremiah (Jeremiah 10:2-4) condemns those who adorn their homes with cut trees to celebrate the “heathen” religious rite honoring the Winter Solstice. The ancient Romans, before, during and after the time of Christ, would adorn the homes with ornaments and boughs of evergreens and holly to celebrate the holiday of Saturnalia — the Winter Solstice.
 Christmas, until about 350 A.D., was actually observed on January 10th. Constantine, ruler of all that was Roman, moved it to December 25th to more coincide with the feast of Saturnalia.
 Archaeologically speaking — historically speaking — Christ was more likely born sometime in April or May, maybe June. But, apparently celebrating the Savior’s birth and death in the same month seemed … unseemly.

The Yule log comes from the Norseman. They celebrated the holiday of Jul at this time of year and part of that celebration was the Jul Log. And since the Scandinavians cannot pronounce their “J’s” properly like we English speakers, it became the “Yule” log. Get it?
 Another part was a very potent alcoholic beverage called Jul … Maybe that’s where the tradition to be merry at Christmas is derived.
 Actually, the ancient Romans celebrated Saturnalia with rites to Bacchus, the god of everything sinful and delightful! The ancient Roman ornaments were usually in homage to Bacchus, so remember that as you admire your finely adorned Christmas tree! You’re paying homage to wild drunkenness and wild, unfettered sexual excess.

There’s nothing historically Christian about the material trappings of the holiday that are now associated with Christmas.” Except the Baby Jesus and the Nativity Scenes we see dotting the urban landscape. On private property of course, it ought not be displayed on public/government property.

Back when North America was first settled by the Europeans many of these particular trappings of the Holidays were banned by the authorities because they were Pagan and defiled the essence of the day. Things like Christmas trees and Yule logs didn’t become popular until the mid-19th Century. It was the Germans — more precisely German immigrants — who are most responsible for bringing all the accoutrements we now recognize to be a part of Christmas to America.

I like the holiday though, despite not having any affiliation with the religion to which it is ascribed. I live in San Diego with no family anywhere near so we get online communicate. This time of year really gives me reason to appreciate my family more, especially since my brother Carl passed away 29 months ago. He was the only family in San Diego. So, in honor of him I’ll spend the day napping. it’s too cold and rainy to go outside.

In years past Carl and I would go to the beach and take our “Look what we’re doing on Christmas” photos — we were at the beach and occasionally in the water! This we did to torment our family members in the Snow Belt!

Last year when I first wrote this, it was originally intended to be an insulting rebuke to those who think there is a “War on Christmas.” But, at this time of the year my mind often wanders to my family and friends and despite some of their … individual beliefs and peculiarities (and my family is pretty damn peculiar!) … I still love them dearly and would rue the day I found myself on the outside of their love and consideration.

Despite the vast miles between us, my family is as close as ever. Since there were eight of us kids — now seven, but I still consider us eight — instead of getting everyone gifts, my mother created and we adopted, the tradition of choosing names and buying/creating/contriving that special someone a gift. It works great and if you feel like it you can send others gifts as well, but this ensures we get at least one gift for Christmas and spares us the horror of going broke getting gifts for everyone in the family.
 I swear, next year I’ll start sending Christmas cards on time. (2007)
 Didn’t git’er done this year either. (2008)

Last year I received a gift from my sister Mary Lou. She lives in Texas. Some things just seem so … unforgivable … but, she’s my sister so I overlook her choice of where to live. She has two wonderful, grown children and a granddaughter!

Whatever our differences, I can always count on Mary Lou and the rest of my family to be loving and supportive and at this time of year that seems far more important than insulting the people who think there is a “War on Christmas.”

What I’ve learned since first writing this a year ago: it doesn’t matter how you celebrate this Holiday, my wish is “Peace, happiness and prosperity in the coming year be unto you.”

So, Happy Holidays to all my readers … (sigh) … I know there are at least three.

More sincerely, Merry Christmas to my family. I always wish you were here.

Posted by Tim Forkes in HOLIDAYS at 12:01 | Comment (1) | Trackbacks (0)

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