This blog began as a sarcastic view upon the world. Simply, I was going to write about the dumbness that we encounter in our everyday lives. There was a diatribe about gas pumps that used to get tons of hits. Then, there was part of the Sonic Drive-In business model. Recently, I went after people who choose to drive big ass vehicles.
It is now the season to discuss the problem with Christmas. Actually, we should make that plural.
Food – I have no problem with the food that is prepared for Christmas. I think it is awesome. In fact, it is awesome enough that it should be prepared all year. That, therefore, is the problem. If something is good enough to eat in December, then it is good enough to eat in June.
Sausage balls are one of my favorite foods, but I only get them at Christmas. That is a ridiculous concept that needs to be immediately changed. They should be a staple of the daily diet.
I also like boiled custard. Those of you who drink eggnog are doing the wrong thing. You should be drinking boiled custard. You should also be drinking it all the time.
Music – There is only one good Christmas song, and it only has one decent version. The season is not complete without hearing Bing Crosby and David Bowie singing “Little Drummer Boy.” However, even it should only be played on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. There is no reason to start playing Christmas music the day after Halloween.
That, therefore, is the problem. Christmas songs are played too early and too often.
The Three Wise Guys – They traveled from afar while following the brightest star in the sky. They bore gifts for the child that they knew would be found under its light. The journey must have been difficult and long. The three men, being wise, had plenty of time to contemplate the importance of their mission. I wonder if they knew the impact their trip would have on the world’s economy.
Three men bearing gifts for a newborn child created a tradition that would overwhelm the holiday designed to honor that very child. That, therefore, is the problem. The giving and receiving of gifts dominate Christmas. People fight to grab products on Black Friday. Stores cannot wait for the end of the year because they know that is when profits will be made. The holiday has become a contest to see how many gifts we can cram under a tree.
If the three wise guys had left the gold, frankincense and myrrh at home, then things would be quite a bit different.
Paganism – I have no problem with paganism. In my opinion, women can dance naked in the woods all they want. That, therefore, is not the problem. The issue is that people fill their houses with pagan symbols and do not realize it.
All of those Christmas Trees that people spend time setting up and decorating. Yep, it is a pagan symbol. It may come from some nature rite. It could be a way to bring nature into the home during a long winter. It could be a lot of things, but it definitely comes from a time before Christianity reached Europe.
Oh yeah, we cannot forget the wreaths. These things have a long pagan history. Heck, Roman emperors even wore them on their heads like a crown. Those would be the same Romans that Pontius Pilate worked for. Yep, paganism.
Characters – Santa Claus. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Frosty the Snowman. The Grinch. Heat Miser. Cold Miser. There are a ton of characters that have been created for Christmas. That, therefore, is the problem.
All of those Christmas characters have come to dominate Jesus, the character for which the holiday was created.
Reason for the Season – We spend a lot of time doing a lot of things at Christmas. People prepare special food. People spend a lot of time listening to songs. People spend a lot of time spending a lot of money. People spend a lot of time decorating their houses. People spend a lot of time watching television specials and taking pictures with Santa Claus.
That, therefore, is the problem. We spend all that time and forget about what Christmas is all about. I am not the most religious person in the world, but we should not forget that Christmas is a religious holiday celebrating the birth of a man who greatly altered the world.
This is not meant to be a religious debate. Some people believe, and some people do not. Millions upon millions believe in other religions and religious figures. However, no one can deny that this is a holiday that honors the man who one of the world’s major religions is based on. All of this other stuff just takes away from that.
SBI: A Thinning Crowd 
I would like Christmas and the holidays to NOT be a problem. I don’t understand why in the past few years, suddenly everything is an issue. I used to love the holidays. Not because I’m Christian, but because I love the music, rituals, foods, friends, wrapping paper, trees with light. And now, everyone complains or argues about everything. It’s ruining the holidays for me.
It’s turned into a time of hustle and bustle instead of a time to sit back and enjoy.
And everybody is angry about something. It’s very wearing, emotionally. It should be fun. It used to be fun.
I just keep playing the part of the Charlie Brown special where Charlie Brown asks if anybody knows the meaning of Christmas, and Linus explains the true meaning of Christmas. Great post today
Thanks. Charlie and the gang make a lot of sense. Sometimes, our world sounds like the adults in Charlie Brown.
Very true
If people are by and large happy, I think that far outweighs the ‘problems’ as you state. We’re not a predominantly Christian country in India but almost everybody gets into a happy state of mind around this time. That counts for a lot, especially in these times. Cheers, man 😀
Thanks. You’re right about people being happy, but everything around here is too fast paced. Of course, that also makes a lot of people happy.
Christmas films. I can watch ‘Wonderful Life’ any time of the year!
It’s a good one. I meant to put George Bailey in the character category, but I forgot.
i was raised a Christian, but it did not eventually fit me as a Spiritual path. I often envy Christians however, for the deep Spiritual reverence and significance Christmas has for them. Yet I do feel that Christmas – like anything – is what I make it. And it’s still a very special time of Love, Giving and Gratitude that I share as possible.
Jesus – a messenger of God with a mission. Not the first. Not the last.
We are not forsaken. Have a good one.
Thanks. I would like to see the commercialism taken out of the equation. Get it back to spending time with family and friends.
By the time you read this, you may have your boiled custard if Larry didn’t take it to someone else. Merry Christmas 🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅
Pam
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I have it. Thanks for making it.
Yeah, I like the little drummer boy! 🙂
It’s a good song. Hearing Ziggy and bing sing it makes it even better.
Absolutely! 🙂