Reason for the Season?
I’m not a big fan of Christmas. I hate the consumerism, I hate the blow up creepy Santa Clause’s in people’s yards. Oh, also, I’m a Christian. That being said,
Nothing chaps my hide more than hearing fellow Christians tell me: “Remember the reason for the season!”
The reason for the season, if they looked a bit closer into history was to help aid in the conversion of pagans who already celebrated December 25th, Yule, Mother’s Night, Winter Solstice (whatever you wish to call it) with carnivals, gifts, food, and lots of hooplala. The theory was to keep the month of partying and give the holiday Christian symbolism so that they would not feel such a loss of fun when they converted.
For instance, mistletoe was a plant collected by Druids to ward off witch craft and protect the carrier, pretty much an all around healer. Now, we use it as an excuse to kiss people in doorways. Either way, it has nothing to do with Christianity and everything to do with “Christmas” or Winter Solstice Celebrations.
Now, with all that being said, I don’t mind that Christians today use it to celebrate the birth of Christ. I think the birth of Christ should be celebrated. But don’t tell me to remember the reason for the season when the season existed long before this particular reason. If you want to celebrate the birth of Christ without the consumerism and drunken partying – don’t overlap it on a holiday that was created thousands of years ago for that exact purpose. Pick a different day and celebrate it with all your reasons in tact and no distractions.
Anakalian Whims 
Interested said,
December 21, 2011 at 7:57 pm
Well said! I read this last year but enjoyed it again. We have to keep reminding them.