A brief history of Christmas
- Luke Cameron | December 20, 2015
It is December and the ubiquitous pastimes of the season have begun again in anticipation of Christmas, a day not without controversy in recent times. Perhaps this is partially due to the fact for a day so revered, little is known of its origins for many of its observers.
The ancient roots of Christmas come from two sources: the first being the birth of the one called Jesus Christ (a Greek transliteration of Immanuel HaMashiach) whose actual birth date is disputed, many accounts claim Sukkot, the 15th day of Tishri (September-October) which is a major feast for the Israelites.
The second is the European observance of the solstice and re-emergence of the Sun, known as Yuletime to the Norse and the week of Saturnalia before celebrating Sol's birthday, the unconquerable Deity of the Sun to the Romans. Christmas today is the combination of these distinct festivals into one; decked in the garland of corporatism.
Christmas is intended to be one of the most joyous days upon our calendar, the return of the Life-Giver and the promise of restoration from the cold darkness of wintry death through the Emperor of Light through which there would be no life upon Earth. (scientifically, the Sun and Jesus Christ in the Christian tradition).
One of the most beautiful manifestations of the Life this divine light has created is us, humanity, who contain individually and collectively the ability to endeavour to extremes of the most profound wisdom and once inconceivable displays of grandeur and active sophistry. Alternatively, our capacity for avarice and cannibalization of our fellows to satisfy this insurmountable greed has created abominations upon the fair Earth that on the human scale manifest as the ethical equivalent as a matron rat devouring her young or some vermin rolling in its own feces, satiated with our jagged schizophrenic network of logistics, which enfranchises those born with less material wealth (Santa's elves) to serfdom producing inane consumer goods masquerading as reverence for Christ, (when the reality says it is the idol of consumerism) so the fortunate or “good” (wherein the sole merit is capital) amongst men can indulge in frivolous luxuries.
Truly!; how contorted we have manipulated the sacred teachings and the potency of our unique and profound talents as a species into a supremely pitiful exhibition of buffoonery. Christmas is founded upon the hope that these seemingly ever-present maladies of the human condition will one day be overcome with the advent of a new year, a new harvest and a new generation to lead the way like the infant King borne amongst animals over two thousand years ago.
It is a time intended to remember the spirit of humanity and our common bonds, to show generosity and goodwill to others as the Three Magi made their pilgrimage to offer their gifts to the newborn Messiah, navigated not by worldly means but by the star of Heaven.
The author would hope the example of these men endures as a sterling example outshining the gaudy tinsel of the corporate agenda designed to entice us into lavishing our heart's content upon lifeless things in opposition to the living miracles who are our fellow human beings, many of which dearly seek the warmth of clothes, who hunger for good bread, thirsty and in need of drink and even still, the sick and imprisoned among us call out for charity and amity.
It is not wise to count up our blessings and scorn those without; for as we have done unto the least among us, so it is done unto the greatest and it is most certainly done unto thyself. As we gather with our families, see Christ in your children, for we are all children of the Most High and irrespective of our earthly station, there is only one with the authority to judge the summary of our lives.
Be enriched chiefly by your true friends and dearest blood and be wary of today's Herod seeking to murder the glory of the newborn Christ whose rightful authority casts down all imposters and money changers in the temple. Just as the false servants of God stalked the residential schools justifying their crimes through Christ, so does the imposter of materialism also plot to adulterate the true Christ message and the spirit of the season which is simply thus:
“A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” John 13:34