What Is Christmas All About?

I thought I knew

What is the reason for the season?

This is the December prompt by the publication Promptly Written.

I like these prompts and often respond, so I thought, “Good one! I’ve got this!”

But the more I thought about it the more confused I became.

I’ve been celebrating Christmas for decades, as both a child and an adult. Like most westerners of my generation, I’ve attended numerous children’s performances of Nativity plays, and am thoroughly familiar with the wonderful cast of characters: stunned shepherds,well-traveled wise men, a harried inn-keeper, a desperate husband and tired young mother, an infant, and angels, sheep and oxen, and the occasional sheepdog and stable cat.

Could this be the reason for the season? Maybe not, or not only.

At least in the northern hemisphere, there are the ancient pagan beliefs around the winter solstice and the return of the light, the rich symbolism of the Christmas tree, Holly, Mistletoe, Ivy, the Yule log, and candles to name just a few. This introduces another vast understanding of the reason for the season.

So where does that leave me?

The Promptly Written prompt refers to many other December festivals, with most of which I am not familiar, including, but not limited to:

Hanukkah (also known as Festival of Lights) — Nov. 28th-Dec. 6th Dhanu Sankranti — Dec. 12th Geeta Jayanti — Dec. 14th Yule (also known as Winter Solstice) — December 21st

I look forward to learning about them from those who celebrate and understand.

So what is it we are celebrating?

Nowadays this season has become commercialized, and many children (and adults?) think it is all about Santa and gifts, food, and family gatherings, In some western democracies all religious symbols, even angels and stars, are forbidden in public places for fear of offending the non-religious. Santa and decorated trees prevail — and candy canes. How did they get into the celebration?

I gained further food for thought from Ellen Baker’s story I Changed My Mind About Christmas Gifts.

Clearly, I need to think some more and ponder how the familiar and taken-for-granted can become so wondrous and strange.