Opus 2013-385: On the Street: What Are They Celebrating?

How long can our culture war on Christmas and still celebrate it?

As I walked into Panera, a bakery/restaurant chain, I noticed the latest poster by the door.  It was very colorful and eye catching and said, “Jolly and joyful.”  That was all.  Why?  About what?  It demonstrated the current schizophrenia of our culture on Christmas.  People have this idea that we should celebrate but don’t want to admit the reason for the season.  What does a company that has bread and coffee as main offerings have to be joyful about?  Is it because I came back?  That doesn’t seem to be worth a poster campaign.

At our school we will be having a “winter program.”  We have a “holiday tree.”  What holiday?  We will be leaving for two weeks for a “winter break.”  Why two weeks?  Does the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” come to mind?  If it was a winter break it should be for three months because that is how long winter is.  It should celebrate with the sacrifice of virgins on an altar.  That would be closer to the pagan tradition than “stockings hung by the chimney with care.” 

It is Christmas.  That means it is the day that the Roman Catholic church chose to celebrate the daily worship mass with the emphasis on the birth of Jesus, the incarnation.  It was part of a year long teaching curriculum that includes Trinity Sunday, All Saints Day and Pentecost.  Our culture used to celebrate the birthday of our King. 

Remove Christ from Christmas and you have no special reason to be joyful and jolly is still just a character trait.

Merry Christmas.

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