Ahh, the holidays. The time to bend to consumeristic tendencies, gorge on fattening foods, scream at soccer moms who abscond with the last [insert trendy toy here], and all in the name of the "Christmas Spirit". No? What? That's what all the commercials and tv shows say. So, then, what is this spirit of which you speak? What does it mean in this day and age?
The history of Christmas really dates back to millenia ago, with the celebration of the Winter Solstice by Druids and Pagans alike. Even ancient Egyptians and Greeks took the holiday of "Yule" and molded it into their own traditions of worshipping the sun gods. Yule, traditionally, was to feast, have general merriment, and enjoy customs like a 'yule log' and the decoration of trees. There was also booze...cuz, well, that's how the Pagans roll. Sound familiar? Mmhmm. When Christianity was the new guy on the block of other world religions, they had to do some pretty hefty marketing to sell people on the idea that this rockin' carpenter was born and was the Messiah...an idea no one was buying. So them clever x-ians said "hey, let's make a new holiday, and call it Christmas, after baby Jesus! It will have the same traditions as Yule, but if we just stick this nice baby in the mix, no one will care! We'll make this new holiday just 4 days after Yule, so it'll be like nothing changed!"
And thus, baby Jesus, the three wise guys, and the barn fit nice and fine right next to the mistletoe and wassail.
So...how does a non Christian, non Pagan, or otherwise celebrate the holiday season? What could Christmas mean to me, a self-proclaimed atheist? There's no Christ in my x-mas, nor are their multiple gods and goddesses, and I'm certainly not worshipping the sun while I tip my glass of Jack at the holiday dinnertable. Good question. It's easier to say what Christmas/Yule don't mean to me.
It's not about presents. It's not about Black Friday sales. It's not about the tree or the sparkly lights or putting fresh nutmeg in my 'nog. It's not about dressing my cats up as characters in christmas movies either, just in case you were wondering. And yet, when I think about the Christmas Spirit, it's about the ambiance that those things can create. The sparkly lights and decorations are part of my childhood. The giving of presents meant I could give a smile to someone I loved. The baking of cookies and the crackling of the wood in the fireplace are smells and sounds that remind me of family. I had a happy childhood, and despite my departure into adolescence, I came out on the other side ok...and I still love my family. So the holiday season makes me feel reminiscent of times where we shared generosity with one another, created traditions unique to us.
So, year after year, even as an atheist, I continue having a certain jubilation for Christmas/Yule/Yulemas because it makes me feel close to my loved ones, whether it's Josh spending the evening decorating the tree with me, or sharing homemade cookies with my friends (who don't have anyone else baking them things), or going home to visit family and feeling totally at place - despite the years and my geographically-distant living arrangement. For me, the holidays are like a whole month of me feeling like hugging everyone.
I guess even if I don't think there's a baby Jesus waiting in a cradle next to some sheep and the dudes with the smelly frankincense, those are pretty good reasons to have some Christmas Spirit. eh?
