I can understand why Christians would hijack the winter solstice festivals for their own: it’s a mysterious time, full of year-end contemplation and celebration, the exact darkest moment in the year when things begin to turn around. We light our fires, draw our friends and family close, and drink ourselves out of (or into) our seasonal affective disorder.
(Or, rather, we don’t anymore–which is why I’ve come to look forward to Christmas with all the enthusiasm of a steer limping into a brightly-lit slaughtering pen with “Jingle Bell Rock” playing over its blood-spattered speakers.)
Jesus may or may not have been born around that time; most signs point to not. Hell, Jesus may or may not have been born at all if you want to get down to it.
So save me your “keeping the Christ in Christmas” bullshit. Shove your bumper sticker theology up your asses. Get back to kicking the legs and walker out from under that lady at Wal-Mart trying to get the last dancing Santa.
Meanwhile, I’m pouring myself some egg nog and Bailey’s and trying to think about the glorious mysteries of creation, whoever’s responsible.
May your solstice bring lighter days.
Thanks for so directly and aptly expressing the opinions I feel around this time of year.
I’m hoping that your Christmas post is at least half tongue-in-cheek hyperbole, or that at the least your mood will be lightening, now that we’re almost past the Dreaded Day.
In a tongue-in-cheek response, I’ll pass along a holiday greeting that my buddy in Maine sent me recently. (Please accept as noted that I recognize that you have noted in the past that you are not a liberal, and I don’t mean any offense by the opening appellation.)
To All My Liberal Friends:
Please accept with no obligation, implied or explicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2010, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.
To All My Conservative Friends:
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!