The Meaning of the Christmas Season
While there are many people in the world who view Christmas as a religious celebration of the birth of Christ, I believe that Christmas has many other important meanings for us.
On listening to Christmas music this week and thinking about the thoughts and emotions it brought up, I began to think about just what I think makes Christmas important. I’ve found that there is quite a list for me:
Christmas is a time:
Christmas Tree
- when it’s OK to express our emotions openly;
- for sharing – ourselves, our time, our wealth, our gifts;
- for reflection on winter’s promise of spring –Winter Solstice;
- for listening to and singing familiar carols and songs that connect us to past ages and traditions;
- to reflect on family connections and childhood through individual traditions of food, music and memories;
- to connect with something universal, something bigger than ourselves;
- to participate in this social/cultural occasion that helps us share the common set of values of peace and love;
Love
- for celebrating the joy and abundance of our world;
- for expressing our creativity in the way we decorate our communities, homes, and our tables;
- of connection and visiting;
- for reading a good book;
- for a party;
- to get dressed up in our finest;
Bright White Unseen By Roger Byrt
I hope that you can find the time for some reflection on the true meaning of Christmas for you personally. Try journaling your thoughts and then share your sense of meaning with us.
-Spending time helping with funding for those less fortunate;
-supporting the Food bank, to ensure that all have a store of food; not just in the Holidays;
-Forgiving those that do not have the ability to be positive at this time of year;
-Loving OUr Creator for being with us on the Journey that we are on.
-Being thankful for what we have been given’;
What a lovely compendium, LA. I especially like the one about celebrating abundance. Those of us who indeed have abundance really should respect it by celebrating and enjoying it deeply.
For me personally it still is, at its core, about celebrating a birth – and experiencing the transcendent joy at midnight mass.
But in a way, that’s just the beginning…
Carol – Thank you for your addition. I especially relate to forgiving those who do not have the ability to be positive at this time. This season can be a time of sorrow for many.
Thank you Nancy. Of course the birth represents all the other aspects that I have suggested. And the midnight mass is an important ritual that helps us remember. Perhaps I need to add “observing important rituals”