Hohoho

I love the idea of a War on Christmas, as though this holiday were some monolithic creature embodying all that is holy, and is under attack by evil robot atheists. The Puritans and Calvinists would argue that a war should be waged on that pagan winter festival, and they were hard core christian soldiers. Most of what we call tradition is a mishmash of older religions, children's literature, and made-up sales promotions. But if we remember it fondly from childhood, it must've always been so, right? Anyone who doesn't have the same idea is hostile to us, right? More fodder for F**X news hysteria. Yellow journalism at it's finest.

But then, strident evangelicals can assert straight-faced that the bible needs to be taken literally, making me wonder if they can actually read since the book is so utterly contradictory even if different translations aren't taken into account. Where the bible tells them to depict the holy family in plastic or plaster on their front lawns... well I'm not a biblical scholar, maybe it is in Deuteronomy.

The market can make a sales day out of Veteran's Day - so desperate are they to separate people from their money. Of course christmas is a capitalist wet dream, it's been a gift giving holiday since it was Saturnalia. Shopping to sooth anxiety, shopping to feed the 'christmas spirit', shopping to stimulate the economy and be patriotic at the same moment. Buy loads of christmas cards and stamps, even if most people make a pile of them, then throw them out.

But of course the message is muddled because the extremists simply want folks riled, it can mean whatever they want it to mean at any moment. "They" want to take away Jesus! "They" want to take away your right to go to church once a year on Christmas! "They" want to remove your memories of unwrapping presents from Santa! Such evil theys they is. Make "them" make everything go back to when christmas was perfect and we were seven!

Ah the pain of disappointed, fully imagined, unvoiced expectations from everyone.

Figure out what is important, in the darkest hours. Which traditions bring joy, who can be included without demanding obedience of them, enchant children, respect faith, share warmth, - celebrate thusly. So in cold sadness, there is a spark of beauty, the comfort of love, the generous sharing of foods and thoughtful gifts. There is a spirit there, when we all want to come together and await the dawn.

We don't do cards or gifts, usually get a small tree up the week of, make sure to get with friends. We go along, but make no demands, quietly pass on any but the most personal presents to those more in need. Not about to take sides in this battle.