Everywhere you look, it's seems like there is evidence of people celebrating Christmas. People have wreaths on their doors, Christmas trees can be seen in the window, and Christmas songs can be heard on the radio. People talk of Santa coming to their houses on Christmas. Christmas seems bigger and bigger every year, yet it seems so commercialized. Christmas is really a Christian holiday, yet many people who are atheists celebrate, and they don't even now the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas has turned int something that it's k for anyone to celebrate, but should it really be that way?
Christmas is actually a time to celebrate Jesus' birth, the savior coming into the world. The Bible tells the story of how Jesus's parents, Mary and Joseph, had to travel to look for a place to stay as Mary was expecting. It was unusual for her to be pregnant as she was a virgin, but the angel, Gabriel, came to her to say that yes, she would be bearing a child. It was hard for Mary and Joseph to find a place to stay as Caesar Augustus had issued a decree so that people had to register in their town of birth. Finally, Mary and Joseph came upon an inn. It was full, but there was a stable in the back they could use. So, they had to baby there and Shepherds came. It is thought that the Wisemen came to visit Jesus in the manger, but they actually came to visit him when he was older.
Today, however, people have seemed to forgotten that. Christmas today is partially about giving, which we should still do, but it also focuses solely on getting gifts. All people care about is getting what they want for Christmas, ad get upset when they don't get anything. Most people don't even understand that the traditions we have of giving gifts comes from the original Christmas story. We get gifts because the Wisemen gave Jesus gifts to celebrate his coming. We hang the star on top of our Christmas trees because the Wisemen came to Jesus by following a star they saw. The only reason people think of "Santa" giving gifts is because Santa represents what Christmas is about: giving.
This year, we should think of how Christmas was meant to be thought of: the birth of Christ, a season of giving to those less fortunate, and a time to spend with family. Even though Christmas has become more commercialized, we should still think of these as we celebrate. We should also continue to celebrate the meaning of Christmas throughout the year. No, we shouldn't get gifts everyday, but we should still give to those less fortunate, and spend time with family.
"You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus." -Luke 1:31
