With just three weeks to go, seems there's more and more hoo-ha surrounding Christmas. Some say there's a war against it. Whichever way you slice it, Christmas has become a huge controversy nowadays -- even here in beautiful sunny San Diego.
For one thing, who likes to hear "Happy Holidays" when this season has been the celebration of Christmas (Christ's birth) ever since the country was founded?
Take Home Depot for example. You can't find a single Christmas decoration or plaque saying "Merry Christmas." Nope. Only "Happy Holidays" etc. But you can find "Feliz Navidad" which actually is the Spanish for "Celebrate Christmas" (The Nativity). It's like "Joyeux Noel" in French -- only San Diego is more Hispanic than French so that's a bit irrelevant.
But here's some good news: Walmart is openly expressing Merry Christmas this year. That's a huge upgrade from last year when they apparently succumbed to the polically correct madness. Well done Walmart.
But here are some stores that, apparentl, have buckled under the pressure -- or simply don't believe in Christmas -- and have taken the Christ out of Christmas, favoring"holidays": Barnes & Noble, CVS Pharmacy, Dick's Sporting Goods, Office Depot, Radio Shack, Staples, Supervalu & Victoria's Secret.
Some choose to boycot these stores. Others don't care. After all, Jesus probably wasn't born in December anyway, they argue. And the origins behind the Christmas celebration are pagan anyway.
While it's true that Jesus was probably not actually born on December 25th, in the end what does that matter? He was born, the Son of God, the Savior -- and in a unique way with unique surroundings (hey how many people have angels announcing their birth?). He was born some 2, 000 years ago with the express purpose to die for our sin and save us. Oh Holy night...
So why do we celebrate Jesus' birth at this time of year?
Check out this DVD by Chuck Smith and Don Stewart (produced by The Word For Today) to find out more about the traditions behind the celebration of Christmas including the origins of the Christmas tree, the history of Santa Claus, explanation of Yuletide & Mistletoe, and the pagan origins of Christmas.
More important than kowtowing to political correctness absurdity is to bring the message of Christmas and to love. San Diego provides plenty of opportunities to help the military families, feed the homeless and help orphans.
Merry Christmas.
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Janey L. DeMeo, M.A.
Copyright©December 2010
founder-president -- www.orphansfirst.org
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