Is Christmas Still Spiritually Connected?

Child Holding Nativity pendant which symbolizes true meaning of Christmas - The Birth of Jesus Christ. (Photo: © Jameskho/Dreamstime.com)

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By Akerele Christabel

December 28, 2023
3:54 pm
Los Angeles, CA

Unveiling The Origins and Practice of Christmas In Our World. Christmas, a much anticipated holiday celebrated by both adherents and dissidents, arrives again. Everything is colored in red and green as the biggest religious holiday in the world is on the scene. In Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, families attend midnight mass, their hymns echoing through the hallowed streets. Nativity scenes adorn homes, while the scent of spiced lamb and warm bread fills the air. In Mexico, families gather for Nochebuena, a joyous feast on Christmas Eve. Children eagerly await gifts from “Niño Dios” (Baby Jesus), while Posada processions with piñatas fill the streets with laughter and song. In Ethiopia, Christmas coincides with Gena, a vibrant festival celebrating Epiphany. Families wear flowing white garments, attend church services, and share

Unveiling The Origins and Practice of Christmas In Our World.

Christmas, a much anticipated holiday celebrated by both adherents and dissidents, arrives again. Everything is colored in red and green as the biggest religious holiday in the world is on the scene.

In Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, families attend midnight mass, their hymns echoing through the hallowed streets. Nativity scenes adorn homes, while the scent of spiced lamb and warm bread fills the air. In Mexico, families gather for Nochebuena, a joyous feast on Christmas Eve. Children eagerly await gifts from “Niño Dios” (Baby Jesus), while Posada processions with piñatas fill the streets with laughter and song.

In Ethiopia, Christmas coincides with Gena, a vibrant festival celebrating Epiphany. Families wear flowing white garments, attend church services, and share a traditional feast of injera bread and spicy stews. In Japan, where Christmas is a secular holiday, couples enjoy romantic dinners and exchange gifts under sparkling Christmas trees. The festive season brings a welcomed respite from the fast-paced life, a time for families to bond and create cherished memories.

Yet, beneath the glittering facade of festivities, a deeper question begs for an answer: How does Christmas translate into a lived experience across the globe, where traditions dance with modern trends, and faith mingles with merrymaking?

Chritsmas: It’s Origins

Millennia ago, cultures celebrated the winter solstice, a pivotal moment when darkness yields to the promise of returning light. The boisterous Saturnalia festival roared in Rome, a time for feasting, gift-giving, and uninhibited revelry. Among Nordic tribes, they celebrated Yule (Nordic and Germanic cultures). This twelve-day festival celebrated the shortest day of the year and the return of the sun. Feasts, bonfires, sacrifices, and ritualistic drinking commemorated the occasion.

Then, Christianity emerged, radiating its message of hope and redemption. Early Christians recognized a compelling parallel between the solstice’s rebirth of light and the birth of Jesus, the “Light of the World.” Gradually, December 25th became the designated day to celebrate Jesus’ arrival, in the process co-opting and transforming some pagan customs.

The Christmas tree, once a pagan emblem of life and fertility, was adorned with twinkling lights mimicking a newborn king’s celestial canopy. Or picture the Yule log, once a pagan tribute to the sun god, now crackling in hearths, fostering warmth and togetherness.

As centuries marched on, Christmas blossomed into a wide range of customs unique to each cultural tapestry. Nativity scenes, miniature universes whispering the story of hope and humility, found their place in churches and homes. Carols, with their poignant melodies and timeless tales, wove faith and festivity into an aural tapestry.

For many, Christmas became a time for introspection, a chance to reconnect with faith and family. Candlelit Christmas Eve services resonated with hushed reverence, while Christmas mornings witnessed the unwrapping of gifts and the unfolding of shared laughter and love.

But times, like winter winds, shift and change. In 2023, the festive hum of Christmas takes on different notes. Once a sacred season steeped in religious reverence, Christmas has undeniably undergone a significant transformation in contemporary times. Evidence of this shift towards secularization and commercialization is abundant, weaving itself into the very fabric of our December experiences.

Christmas holidays see church pews remain increasingly empty on Christmas Eve, replaced by shopping sprees and festive gatherings devoid of overt religious elements. Symbols of religious significance like nativity scenes face resistance in public spaces, while carols once echoing with spiritual messages now compete with secular holiday tunes. Even the figure of Santa Claus, initially a benevolent gift-giver intertwined with Saint Nicholas, has transformed into a jolly salesman, his image plastered on everything from toothpaste to credit cards.

The commercial juggernaut of Christmas is undeniable. Initially conceived as a symbol of generosity and love, gift-giving has morphed into a pressure cooker of consumerism. Ads bombard us with the “perfect” gifts, stoking desires and anxieties. Black Friday madness spills over into December, pushing materialism to the forefront, leaving the true spirit of Christmas buried beneath mountains of wrapping paper.

Traditions, once the anchors of Christmas, now often drift in the tides of trend. Family gatherings may prioritize elaborate Instagram-worthy displays over genuine connection. Homemade meals traded for restaurant reservations prioritize convenience over shared culinary experiences. Carols sung around the piano succumb to playlists curated by algorithms, disconnecting us from the collective joy of shared voices.

Perhaps the most telling evidence of Christmas secularization is the disconnect between its commercial and spiritual aspects. Christmas marketing campaigns rarely mention the holiday’s religious origins, focusing instead on idealized family moments and material comforts. This creates a paradoxical disconnect, leaving many grappling with a sense of emptiness amid the festive frenzy.

While not inherently harmful, the undeniable shift towards secularization and commercialization raises questions about the future of this once deeply religious holiday. Will the embers of faith and genuine connection manage to flicker through the glittering snow of modern Christmas, or will the holiday become a mere spectacle, its spiritual core lost in the relentless jingle of cash registers? Perhaps the answer lies in our choices and how we choose to reclaim the true meaning of Christmas amidst the clamor of the season.