Where are you Christmas?

Christmas is only 5 days away, but where is the cold weather, the holiday cheer, the magic? It seems like it has all disappeared. It is 60 degrees outside, sunny, strange. This isn't Christmas. People are hateful, vengeful, angry. Why do we fight so much around the holidays? People come into the hospital with more chest pain and heart attacks around the holidays then any other time of the year....why? Because they are so stressed out by their families. We shouldn't feel stressed by our families or Christmas.

That is not what the holidays are about. They are about......presents. Okay so maybe not presents. Christmas is about love. No matter your faith - the holidays are about love. Christmas, the birth of Christ - the birth of any child is cause for immense amounts of love and joy. Christmas is an ancient celebration of family and the winter solstice... Kwanzaa, a celebration of family, community, and culture....Hanukkah, a celebration of a one day supply of oil lasting eight days and the defeat of the forces opposed to the practice of Judaism.

Why can't we make these holidays like they used to be - simple and pure. There is an ancient Christmas celebration called, Saturnalia - the best-known winter festival, which was popular throughout Italy. It was a time of general relaxation, feasting, merry-making, and a cessation of formal rules. There was drinking, gambling, and singing, and even public nudity. Of course they were honoring the god Saturn. It sounds like a good time to me. Lasts 8 days... I am all for it. You are supposed to drink Christmas ale too. I can do that.

And where did this Santa Claus come into the picture?

Santa Claus is a variation of a Dutch folk tale based on the historical figure Saint Nicholas, or Sinterklaas, who gave gifts on the eve of his feast day of 6th of December. He became associated with Christmas in 19th century America, and was gradually renamed Santa Claus or Saint Nick. In 1812, Washington Irving wrote of Saint Nicholas "riding over the tops of the trees, in that selfsame waggon wherein he brings his yearly presents to children.Father Christmas, who predates the Santa Claus character, was first recorded in the 15th century, but was associated with holiday merrymaking and drunkenness. (that's fun). In Victorian Britain, his image was remade to match that of Santa. The French Père Noël evolved along similar lines, eventually adopting the Santa image. In Italy, Babbo Natale acts as Santa Claus, while La Befana, is the bringer of gifts and arrives on the eve of the Epiphany. It is said that La Befana set out to bring the baby Jesus gifts, but got lost along the way. Now, she brings gifts to all children.

So that is the beginning of our Santa Claus.... and the toy commercialism.

Well Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Feliz Navidad....

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You've been promised, we've been waiting
Welcome Holy Child

Hope that You don't mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long-awaited Holy Stranger
Make Yourself at home
Please make Yourself at home
Bring Your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
Word now breaking Heaven's silence
Welcome Holy Child
Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us in born
So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy
Perfect Son of God
Welcome to our world