Yesterday while shopping for Christmas gifts, Pecan and Pumpkin pies and other "festive" treats, I stopped and browsed through a "Nostalgia" book. These are the books that are typically given as birthday gifts because they contain illustrations and cultural trivia from the birth year of the recipient.
As I browsed through the book I wasn't surprised to find that most of the focus was around the TV shows and movies that were popular during that particular year.
What is the Nostalgia book for 2005 going to look like?
What topics will it identify as significant for this year?
In my book, I'd say one of the significant topics of 2005 will be the media battles between the "Religious Right" and the "Liberal Left." So far the 21st Century has shown itself to be media-centric. History, although unfolding more quickly than ever right before our eyes, is being filtered and interpreted more than ever before. As I write this, the news media focus of late has been the so-called "War on Christmas." In a pluralistic society is it appropriate to wish someone "Merry Christmas?" Or, instead, should we be saying "Happy Holidays," or "Best Wishes for the Season?"
The crux of the matter, strictly in my opinion, is that once again the dreaded "Cult of Literalism" is rearing its ugly head. Like the arguments between Creationism and Evolution, they are fueled by the emphasis on literalism by those who identify themselves as "Christians." (See my earlier post http://lifeingrace.blogspot.com/2005/10/cult-of-literalism.html)
In the Eastern Orthodox Church - December 25th is commemorated as the "Feast of the Nativity of the Lord." and although it is viewed as one of the major feasts of the church year, it is not THE most important celebration. That is reserved for Pascha - the feast of the Resurrection - commonly called "Easter" in the western world.
It really doesn't take much research to find that what is culturally celebrated as Christmas is very different to the spirit of the actual historical event. Christmas is a kind of "pagan stew" made up of cultural folk traditions blended with distorted versions of the events of the nativity. For example, in the typical Christmas play, the shepherds and wise men (Magi) all show up at the stable together. In the biblical account in St. Matthew (Chap. 2)- the wise men come to "the house" where Jesus is living some time after the birth. Obviously, poetic license excuses this and makes for colorful representation.
The tradition of gift giving, in the spirit of the Magi, was likely intended to inspire almsgiving and rememberance of the poor - not as an encouragement to selfishly storm shopping "mauls" to hunt down "hot items" (which translated, means expensive.)
Fruit cakes, Pumpkin Pies, Mistletoe and "Christmas" trees are more likely the culturally inspired celebration of the changes in the seasons than in the celebration of the birth of the Emmanuel (God with us.)
So, with the Orthodox I will say "Happy Feast Day." Which is the usual seasonal exchange on the commemoration of a significant event in the life of the church. Meanwhile I'll just say that the wishing of "Merry Christmas" to someone should not be intended to mean that one is forcing Christianity on them, anymore than telling them to have a "great Thursday" means that we want them to be Vikings (Thor's Day!) Likewise, wishing someone "Happy Holidays," probably does not offend Jesus, and likewise should not offend any Christian.
I remember a great line from an old Wayne Watson song called "That's Not Jesus" - It went "He doesn't need me to defend Him, He just wants me to obey."
Yes, we live in a pluralistic society - which means that everyone (Christians included) should allow people to live relevant to their own culture and heritage. But this war over "politically correct" words to traditional Christmas carols and well-wished expressions of greetings is petty and a total distortion.
The Holiday Cat
Some friends sent us a "Holiday Cat" - it's the figurine of a cat that comes with different outfits that can be changed for each season, so you can leave it on display and simply change its clothes to reflect the "Holiday" theme. Sounds like a new tradition to me. The Happy Holiday Cat.
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