I must admit that I watched the Seinfeld special on NBC last night. As I did so, I was reminded of "Festivus," a creation of Frank Costanza (George's father). The family tradition began one year when Frank was shopping for a doll to give George, and lost the final doll in the store to another man who grabbed for it at the same time. He called it "A Festivus for the rest-ivus." You can read about the Festivus traditions here. (I do miss Seinfeld.)
I bring Festivus up on this, the busiest shopping day of the year, because it reminds me of the commercial insanity that the Christmas season has become. It seems that stress, credit-card debt, and crass commercialism are what the holiday is all about. I cannot imagine what it is like to wake up and go to the mall at 6am! The mindset of someone who would do that is completely alien to me. Fortunately it is also alien to my wife! Seinfeld apparently understood the critique and tried to make something new, however silly.
Christmas itself has become so neutered in our culture that it has nothing really to do with Christ. The traditional Christian hymns of Christmas (carols) are rarely heard outside of the churches. Whether you're hearing music on the radio of TV or out at the mall, it is likely that you will hear songs about Santa, Frosty, other forms of winter precipitation, and even a hippopotamus, but you will probably not hear one about Jesus. You will hear warm stories and messages about Christmas that may have a lot to do with family, the needy, the wishes of children, and the like, but you won't hear much about the virgin birth.
What is the point of the holiday? Presumably it is a celebration of winter, or family, or warm feelings and tradition. It is a cotton-candy holiday - one that tastes really sweet but has no real substance, and may simply leave a stomach-ache in its wake. I'm reminded that the early Church chose to celebrate Christ's nativity on December 25 in large part to co-op a pagan holiday that revolved around the winter solstice. I guess we've come full circle, as a pagan (or at least non-Christian) holiday is celebrated during this time, to co-op a Christian holiday that the culture remembers celebrating (even if it doesn't remember why).
So they ought to call it something else because it doesn't really have much to do with Christmas. Maybe "Wintermas." Or Festivus.
5 comments:
Alex, It's a pleasure to meet you! I found you through Hewitt's blog.
I'm in retail and I hate the "retail" Christmas. If all this gaudy hype and plastic creation of wonderland were actually centered around something secular I'd probably be more appreciative of it.
I've been with May Department Stores for 22 years now as an executive in it's west coast chain. Each year we drag out the "holiday stuff" earlier and earlier. Each year the sexy nighties for Mrs. Claus arrive tackier than ever. Each year tons and tons of merchandise and collateral arrive for us to build a holiday season experience... yet not one pound of it expresses any acknowledgenment to Christ, baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph. Well,in the gift card department you will find some wonderful cards with the right expression of Christmas. And that's where I do most of my shopping. After living with all these clothes and nick-nacks day in and day out throughout the year it's really hard for me to actually pick something up and turn over my money for it...I'm tired of looking at it! Why would I want to take it home? What we (big and small retailers alike) have done to Christmas is nothing to be proud of. -Wagonboy (Michael)
wagonboyright@msn.com
P.S. Easter is another season us retailers have smothered.
I put some thoughts on your other blog concerning Christmas and commercialization.
Today I am putting a quote from Rodney Clapp on my blog. It is from a great essay I stole from entitled, "let the pagans have the holiday."
We could let the pagans have the holiday, sure. We could let the evil one have the whole world for that matter. But then wouldn't we be the ones missing the true meaning of Christmas?
Christmas means that God became flesh and dwelt among us. He made a difference. He pointed people to the truth even when the truth had become clouded by tradition and godlessness and the kingdoms of men. And just as he was the light of the world, he told those that followed him that they also were to be that light.
We have a message. And this is the time of the year when many people are most open to it. That's an open door from God. We mustn't squander it.
We continually squander it. The church squanders it each year with its singing Christmas trees and huge productions.
I cannot remember the last time I heard the meaning of Christmas and Christ's incarnation as expressed in Mary's Song, Luke 1:46-55 (not just verse 46-47) in church around Christmas.
We are not going about it in a usefull manner. If you look at my blog, you will be led to Rodney Clapp's article which is insightful in the face of the same old "Reason for the Season" sentiment.
I can’t believe that the stores are already selling Christmas decorations. Where has this year gone?! Pretty soon it’ll be time to send out holiday cards. Unbelievable! I’ve been surfing around to see if anybody’s talking about the latest gift ideas for the holidays. I never know what to get my relatives, especially those far away. My keyword search led me to Festivus - a cotton-candy holiday. While your blog wasn’t exactly on topic, I really have enjoyed reading your posts. Happy Holidays!
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