"it's that time of year"

I am reminded of a commercial (circa 1990something) that was singing: "Happy Chris-ma-Ha-na-Qwan-za-ka!" which was simply a conglomeration of multicultural celebrations with calendrical and symbolic similarities to Christmas. For the purpose of my rant however, I am considering all of the relevant Christmas-related holidays to fall under the umbrellic term 'Christmas' and combining the three major winter holidays (which grow in span with every passing year) in chronological order into the Super Season I hereby refer to as: 'hallogivemas.'

Picture a large turkey... dressed as Santa Clause, with a jack-o-lantern for a head. He's making his list and checking it twice, throwing bricks made of fruitcake at those who aren't nice. the stockings are hung by the chimney with care, and the turkey's got plenty of pumpkins to spare. oh, the madness! It all starts with autumn.

Changing leaves and the resultant splashes of natural color are drowned beneath a sea of orange and black. Sugar is sold in every form: shaped as skulls, pumpkins, skeletons, ghosts and goblins. Spider webs appear in otherwise meticulously cleaned homes, and deliberately frightening images are plastered on walls, across lawns, and donned in the form of costumery deception. I shall not here delve into the history of the holiday, for that is another essay entirely; already written by a number of more scholarly folk...

But with halloween out of the way as we enter November, now begins the next stage in this consumerist monstrosity. The creepy death/horror/necromancy-themed decorations and the unhealthy deluge of candy gives way to turkeys and cranberries... We can now buy new living room furniture at outrageously prices! Along with fresh new fall fashions. Everything is on sale! But a sale is not really the low prices they advertise, it is merely the suspension of the intentionally elevated prices. Because at the appearance of such good deals, all the obedient shoppers follow the shepherd around the pen.

Instead of allowing each to grow individually, we should combine the three (they are already beginning to overlap) and thereby save us all some money! Celebrate the beginning of fall, the gathering of the harvest, remember the dead, give thanks for the living; but most importantly, remember the birth of the one without whom no holiday would have any meaning or purpose.

If we marginalize Christmas to the same socioeconomic status as these other holidays, we disrespect the very one who gave His life to secure our freedom: Jesus the Christ.

Whatever else we may do this 'holiday season' I would recommend a little less spending and a little more searching. Find your reasons, instead of blindly following habit, or cultural trends. Find out for yourself why you do what you do. And if you don't like what you find, you have the power to change it. Its your life, He gave it to you. What are you going to do with it?

What will you give to those you love? Are you willing to give yourself? Or does a gift card adequately convey the emotion. I for one am glad that God didn't send us clothes or a plasma screen television. God didn't send us a certificate to His favorite restaurant. He gave us His son, to pay the price for our sins. To wash away the eternal consequences of our past, so that every step forward could bring us closer to Him.

Relationship. That is the purpose, that is the goal. That is the "meaning of Christmas." Whether we give gifts to friends and family or refrain from any cultural celebration whatsoever, where are our hearts? Do we really ask ourselves why we do what we do? I'm asking myself... and you have the mixed-fortune of listening to me try to figure it out. I am praying for us all.