Peace and Cheer
Wrapped up in this time of year is the annual palaver-how much Christmas is in Christmas?
There's revulsion by some about commercializing Christmas. Keep Christ in Christmas is a generational mantra. Of recent we hear volumes on the propriety of wishing a Merry Christmas instead of the neutral "happy holiday." None of this would assail our ears if not for the tradition of celebrating the birth of Jesus. All of it from decking halls, festive celebrations, gift buying and giving, faith observances, choirs, carols, Frosty the Snowman to Rudolph and parties and more share a nexus.
Christmas observances this year vary widely from 1915 as it did from 1815 and so on for 2000 years. Culture changes how we celebrate and remember.
An offer of "Merry Christmas" is both aspirational and universal. Everyone is entitled to hear or wish and to enjoy a Merry Christmas. One need not be Christian to have a Merry Christmas nor even to wish that for others be they Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Taoist, Buddhist, Sikh, Wiccan, agnostic, Deist, atheist, Christian or whatever.
An offer of "Merry Christmas" is both aspirational and universal. Everyone is entitled to hear or wish and to enjoy a Merry Christmas. One need not be Christian to have a Merry Christmas nor even to wish that for others be they Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Taoist, Buddhist, Sikh, Wiccan, agnostic, Deist, atheist, Christian or whatever.
Merry Christmas are not fighting words, they are words of peace.
Christmas 1863 was hard for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
The poet's wife died in a fire and his son, against his admonition, went to the Civil War. Longfellow wrote CHRISTMAS BELLS that year. The poem was published in 1865. Despair, loss of faith and hope and then something in the bells….
It has become an oft recorded carol, though unlike most.
See you down the trail.
I just heard a piece on NPR yesterday about how Christmas was not declared a federal holiday until 1870. And until then it was illegal to celebrate it in Massachusetts because the Puritans had ruled it out as messing with the "true" religion. Anyone singing carols was prosecuted for disorderly conduct and schools and businesses were fined if they closed for the day. I'd never heard this before. Nevertheless, I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteIt was a quiet religious observance before it became a holiday, sales season and cultural festivity. The very best to you, SWMBO and the cats.
DeleteBest wishes to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteThank you. The very best to you.
DeletePeace to you and yours Tom!!
ReplyDeleteJill D.
Jill-
DeletePeace, Joy and Cheers. Hope to see you in the new year.
Thanks, Tom. And a merry Christmas to you, Lana, Catherine and all of your clan.
ReplyDeleteSteve Figler
Thank you Steve. Our very best to you and Valerie. Hope to see you up this way in 2016.
DeleteI always find your posts uplifting and educational, a great mix. I hope you and your lovely wife have a wonderful and very Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThanks Stephen. The very best to you and Mrs. Chatterbox. Thanks for the wonderful posts.
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