Happy Holidays (Holy Days) ?
Happy Holidays (Holy Days)?
I attended a Christmas/end of year party at the behest of a client. Though I went out to relax, it ended up another noetic episode. It was a very enlightening encounter for me because I came across some Christians who didn’t celebrate Christmas or believe December 25th had anything to do with Jesus Christ. These guys aren't your average Christians; they not only know their bible verses but armed with historical facts too - definitely my forte.
What actually started off the discussion was a lamentation by someone who wondered why one of my interlocutors kept greeting everyone 'Happy Holidays' instead of Merry Christmas.
Well, according to the perpetrator, the supposed birthday of Jesus has lost its core spiritual essence and has been generally commercialized. It explains why in certain parts of the world, it’s not even referred to as Christmas anymore, it’s now Happy Holidays!
Another one of his companions was very blunt, with the moniker 'Mr Blunt', he said, “we claim to celebrate Christmas but get drunk and hope to get laid, give me a damn break! What the hell has prurience, hedonism and exhibitionism got to do with Jesus for crying out loud, absolutely nothing! Mankind is revelling in sin I tell you, we need to repent for the kingdom of God is nigh”, as he rounded off his rant quoting some related bible verses to buttress his point.
One of the chaps amongst us is a hard core socialist, so invariably anti- capitalist. According to him, there are 12 months in a year, so at the end of the year it’s been devised you must unwind and spend what you have been working for all-year. Though he admitted it’s a good time for merriment, family reunion and all, he emphasised Christians shouldn't be fooled into believing it’s a religious obligation. He believes it’s all a ploy to make you spend your money, and that we have all been hoodwinked and caught up in the capitalist web of consumerism.
In essence, the capitalist ethos has eroded the righteous deeds and sacrifice of Christ. Being a sociologist myself, we ended up analysing Max Weber’s, 'The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism'.
Eventually, I asked how long they have held such views and the main guy said he actually grew up celebrating Christmas and told us about his elitist childhood and eventual rebellion. He said it was while he was studying history in university the epiphany occurred, I reiterated 'epiphany' and we all burst out laughing. He said, you are taught many things as a child, but then you grow up, do some research, get enlightened and realise, Jesus wasn't 'white', 'blonde' or 'blue-eyed' as he was often depicted. Bethlehem is even a city in Palestine, meaning Jesus looked more like those from that region than us (meaning English).
Mr 'Blunt' chips in, you come to the realisation some things just don't add up, you just play along a while for political correctness, but, you have to give it to the Romans though, they sure did a good job rebranding Jesus and hijacking Christmas. Then the historian literally gives a lecture on Roman pagans, the solstice, Christmas correlation with Saturnalia and Brumalia especially, which culminated in a celebration on December 25th with waxing of lights and Sol the sun god. Then he mentioned the historic warning by Father Origen against such celebrations, and involvement of Emperor Constantine in sanctioning Christmas by replacing Sol with Christ etc. It was truly theological.
Those who couldn't delve into such uncharted territory politely shied away from our conversation. Some prayed the Holy Spirit guide them, but the funniest was the person who walked past our gathering and shouted “The Devil is a liar!” And someone replies "Er! Apparently, that's why he is called the devil", and laughter reverberates across the venue.
The historian reacts: on a serious note, the “...devil is a liar” paroxysm is an inherent issue I have had with fellow Christians. He asked rhetorically, what if most of mankind have been deceived by the ultimate deceiver a.k.a the devil? After all the greatest trick of the devil is to convince the world of his non-existence. Yes, we are all made aware of his existence but not as expected or portrayed; not the red-being with horns and a long fork, but the silent whisperer in the hearts and minds of men. Then Mr Blunt quips, “You mean the one that makes you abandon logic, the one that convinces you to abase your GOD given senses and its application to accept dogmas.”
This outing was indeed intellectually charged, but it made me reminisce on all my childhood Christmas celebrations. Way before I was radicalized by my first rap album: Public Enemy. As a child, one of the first albums I owned apart from the Jackson 5 and MJ collection was Boney M.
I remember the Boney M Christmas song, Mary's Boy Child: “Long time ago in Bethlehem..... Mary's boy child Jesus Christ was born on Christmas Day”. The tune was catchy and I loved it, I mean who wouldn't as a kid. We looked forward to Christmas parties, to wear our best outfits, eat cakes and goodies, get presents and have crazy fun - bliss!
Now back to reality and the party, my parting shot to the discussants was, I don't see the crime in a commemorative festivity. Beyond the specific birth date and Roman origin polemics, one must not lose focus of the real reason for the season, Jesus Christ.
Emulating the virtues of Jesus is not going around half naked, getting inebriated and having sex all in the name of Christmas, NO!
If Jesus Christ is truly to be emulated, humble thyself, go ye into the world and do righteous deeds, enjoin good, forbid evil, care for the sick, assist the old, cater for the needy, homeless and orphans, preach love and of course love thy neighbour, especially those of other faiths.
Above all, remember in all that you do, God is watching you.
Enjoy the yuletide and God Bless!
-M.B.O
2012©
I attended a Christmas/end of year party at the behest of a client. Though I went out to relax, it ended up another noetic episode. It was a very enlightening encounter for me because I came across some Christians who didn’t celebrate Christmas or believe December 25th had anything to do with Jesus Christ. These guys aren't your average Christians; they not only know their bible verses but armed with historical facts too - definitely my forte.
What actually started off the discussion was a lamentation by someone who wondered why one of my interlocutors kept greeting everyone 'Happy Holidays' instead of Merry Christmas.
Well, according to the perpetrator, the supposed birthday of Jesus has lost its core spiritual essence and has been generally commercialized. It explains why in certain parts of the world, it’s not even referred to as Christmas anymore, it’s now Happy Holidays!
Another one of his companions was very blunt, with the moniker 'Mr Blunt', he said, “we claim to celebrate Christmas but get drunk and hope to get laid, give me a damn break! What the hell has prurience, hedonism and exhibitionism got to do with Jesus for crying out loud, absolutely nothing! Mankind is revelling in sin I tell you, we need to repent for the kingdom of God is nigh”, as he rounded off his rant quoting some related bible verses to buttress his point.
One of the chaps amongst us is a hard core socialist, so invariably anti- capitalist. According to him, there are 12 months in a year, so at the end of the year it’s been devised you must unwind and spend what you have been working for all-year. Though he admitted it’s a good time for merriment, family reunion and all, he emphasised Christians shouldn't be fooled into believing it’s a religious obligation. He believes it’s all a ploy to make you spend your money, and that we have all been hoodwinked and caught up in the capitalist web of consumerism.
In essence, the capitalist ethos has eroded the righteous deeds and sacrifice of Christ. Being a sociologist myself, we ended up analysing Max Weber’s, 'The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism'.
Eventually, I asked how long they have held such views and the main guy said he actually grew up celebrating Christmas and told us about his elitist childhood and eventual rebellion. He said it was while he was studying history in university the epiphany occurred, I reiterated 'epiphany' and we all burst out laughing. He said, you are taught many things as a child, but then you grow up, do some research, get enlightened and realise, Jesus wasn't 'white', 'blonde' or 'blue-eyed' as he was often depicted. Bethlehem is even a city in Palestine, meaning Jesus looked more like those from that region than us (meaning English).
Mr 'Blunt' chips in, you come to the realisation some things just don't add up, you just play along a while for political correctness, but, you have to give it to the Romans though, they sure did a good job rebranding Jesus and hijacking Christmas. Then the historian literally gives a lecture on Roman pagans, the solstice, Christmas correlation with Saturnalia and Brumalia especially, which culminated in a celebration on December 25th with waxing of lights and Sol the sun god. Then he mentioned the historic warning by Father Origen against such celebrations, and involvement of Emperor Constantine in sanctioning Christmas by replacing Sol with Christ etc. It was truly theological.
Those who couldn't delve into such uncharted territory politely shied away from our conversation. Some prayed the Holy Spirit guide them, but the funniest was the person who walked past our gathering and shouted “The Devil is a liar!” And someone replies "Er! Apparently, that's why he is called the devil", and laughter reverberates across the venue.
The historian reacts: on a serious note, the “...devil is a liar” paroxysm is an inherent issue I have had with fellow Christians. He asked rhetorically, what if most of mankind have been deceived by the ultimate deceiver a.k.a the devil? After all the greatest trick of the devil is to convince the world of his non-existence. Yes, we are all made aware of his existence but not as expected or portrayed; not the red-being with horns and a long fork, but the silent whisperer in the hearts and minds of men. Then Mr Blunt quips, “You mean the one that makes you abandon logic, the one that convinces you to abase your GOD given senses and its application to accept dogmas.”
This outing was indeed intellectually charged, but it made me reminisce on all my childhood Christmas celebrations. Way before I was radicalized by my first rap album: Public Enemy. As a child, one of the first albums I owned apart from the Jackson 5 and MJ collection was Boney M.
I remember the Boney M Christmas song, Mary's Boy Child: “Long time ago in Bethlehem..... Mary's boy child Jesus Christ was born on Christmas Day”. The tune was catchy and I loved it, I mean who wouldn't as a kid. We looked forward to Christmas parties, to wear our best outfits, eat cakes and goodies, get presents and have crazy fun - bliss!
Now back to reality and the party, my parting shot to the discussants was, I don't see the crime in a commemorative festivity. Beyond the specific birth date and Roman origin polemics, one must not lose focus of the real reason for the season, Jesus Christ.
Emulating the virtues of Jesus is not going around half naked, getting inebriated and having sex all in the name of Christmas, NO!
If Jesus Christ is truly to be emulated, humble thyself, go ye into the world and do righteous deeds, enjoin good, forbid evil, care for the sick, assist the old, cater for the needy, homeless and orphans, preach love and of course love thy neighbour, especially those of other faiths.
Above all, remember in all that you do, God is watching you.
Enjoy the yuletide and God Bless!
-M.B.O
2012©
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