Christians believe in the day’s religious significance as a celebration of the birth of the Christ Child.
Young children, and more than a few older ones, hold on to their belief that Santa Claus will deposit presents under the tree while they sleep.
Christmas is the climax of a season in which miracles become manifest, sometimes with small gestures that loom large in the lives of those they touch.
A family with gifts on layaway at a discount store – ones they can barely afford – finds that a well-off stranger has paid their bill in full.
Generous donors fill food bank pantries so that individuals who might otherwise go hungry can enjoy a feast of turkey, ham, pies and other traditional treats. They give to toy drives so that all children have gifts to open on Christmas morning. Year after year, they give to the News Neediest Fund, organized by this Christmas is celebrated in many different ways in our multicultural region, some spiritual and some secular. All are well-intentioned and revolve around being considerate of others.
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” says the oft-quoted Golden Rule.
Rabbi Hillel, the famous Jewish elder, said this about the principles of Judaism: “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. That is the whole Torah; the rest is commentary.”
The great composer Irving Berlin was Jewish. He also wrote the most popular Christmas song of all time, “White Christmas.” The jazz singer Mel Tormé, also Jewish, wrote “The Christmas Song,” in which chestnuts roasted on an open fire.
Many of our Christmas traditions in the United States are blended from other cultures. The idea of Santa Claus was brought to New York by the Dutch, who celebrate St. Nicholas Day on Dec. 6.
Martin Luther, the German originator of the Protestant Reformation, is believed to have started the custom of bringing a fir tree into the house as a seasonal observance. Many Germans still observe the practice of decorating their “tanenbaum” only on Christmas Eve, away from their children’s prying eyes.
Christmas traditions evolve with the times.
Whether you cling to traditions or roll with the times, whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Chrismukkah, Kwanzaa, the Roman Saturnalia or the Seinfeldian Festivus, there is a place at the holiday table for everyone.
Merry Christmas from the Dumas Clarion to all our readers.
