Well the Christmas season is definitely upon us, and as you
can see… once again the media, in their way of not trying to step on anyone’s
toes, is promoting their message of “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry
Christmas.” We all know why they do this. Of course not everyone is celebrating
Christmas at this time. Some are celebrating Hanukkah, and others Kwanzaa. But
really… let’s look at this carefully. If you go to any mall, retail store or
office building this season you will see Christmas
wreaths, Christmas Trees, Christmas Lights, Christmas holly, and Christmas
characters like Santa. Not too many menorahs, stars of David or Kwanzaa candles
being set out? Yet we still don’t wanna say, “Merry Christmas”. Seems a bit odd
to me. Logically if we were going to say “Happy Holidays” and try not to offend
anyone who may not be celebrating Christmas… then I would think that our décor
would reflect that message. Right? But at the same time, if we did put out
menorahs and Kwanzaa candles… our timing would be off. Hanukkah is already over
before Christmas Day… and Kwanzaa… well Christmas kinda steals its thunder the
day before, and it would be pointless to keep the Kwanzaa decorations out one
more day past Christmas for all the 1-5% of the population who actually choose
celebrate Kwanzaa.
Basically the point I’m trying to make is that in all true
logic, Christmas is what everyone is preparing for, taking vacation for, and
decorating for… therefore saying “Merry Christmas” makes a lot more sense than
saying “Happy Holidays”.
Now with that being said, we need to also recognize the true
origins of Christmas and where it all came from. Obviously the most common
understanding of Christmas is that it is a Christian holiday observed by all
Christian and “Christian-like” (i.e. Mormans, Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc… who are
actually not Christians because their doctrines on Jesus are completely
different than that of Catholic and Protestant ones… but that’s another story).
But believe it or not, not even the Protestants can claim Christmas 100%. Let
me show you why by highlighting just a few of the most notable Christmas
practices.
Santa Claus: Let’s
start off with the Jolly ole’ St. Nick himself. Santa, a.k.a St. Nicholas
historically was once the Bishop of Myra (Turkey) back in the 300’s AD. He
had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of
those who left them out for him, and thus became the model for Santa Claus,
whose modern name comes from the Dutch Sinterklaas, itself from a series of elisions
and corruptions of the transliteration of "Saint Nikolaos". However,
St. Nicholas had a difficult time during the 16th century Protestant Reformation,
which took a dim view of saints. Even though both reformers and
counter-reformers tried to stamp out St. Nicholas-related customs, they had
very little long-term success. Today’s “Santa” is more commonly pictured as a
magical old Elf who lives up at the North Pole with Elves and flying reindeer… which of course is all fine and dandy, however
we must remember his true origins are definitely that of a Catholic Saint.
Christmas Tree: You may have heard already from your
know-it-all office coworker that the Christmas tree is actually a pagan
practice that was adopted by Christians. Well, let me clear that up a bit. It
is true that the Roman Pagans did worship trees at one point in time. However
the origin of the Christmas tree comes from the medieval mystery and miracle
plays, and in particular from the Tree of Good and Evil in the earthly
Paradise.
These plays were first performed in the late Middle Ages and
their purpose was to teach religion. As a rule, these religious plays were
enacted for the celebration of an episode or of the saint whom they featured,
and they became popular throughout Europe. A famous play was the performance
put on for Christmas, celebrated on December 25th.
On Christmas Eve, Adam and Eve would be commemorated with
the highly popular episode of the Garden of Eden; they would tower on the stage
together with the Devil, disguised as a serpent, Eve picking an apple and Adam
eating it. Original sin, amended by Jesus born on the 25th, was symbolized on
the night of December 24th. The tree ought to have been an apple tree, but
since an apple tree would have been inappropriate in winter, a fir tree was set
on the stage and some apples put on its branches to symbolize the future coming
of Redemption. And the lights on the tree were used to symbolize the genealogy
of Christ stemming down from Adam.
When Catholics were under persecution in Europe, the
Paradise plays were moved indoors and practice of the Christmas Tree was born.
Christmas Lights:
The practice of hanging Christmas Lights in windows started in Ireland during
the time when Catholics were being persecuted and Mass was forbidden. Catholics
would then place candles in their windows to signify to Priests that their
house was a safe place for them to come and say Christmas Mass in.
12 Days of Christmas:
We’ve all heard the traditional Christmas carol, “The 12 Days of Christmas.”
It’s origin goes directly back to Catholic history. Catholics in England during
the period 1558 to 1829, when Parliament finally emancipated Catholics in
England, were prohibited from ANY practice of their faith by law — private OR
public. It was a crime to BE a Catholic.
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" was written in
England as one of the "catechism songs" to help young Catholics learn
the tenets of their faith - a memory aid, when to be caught with anything in
*writing* indicating adherence to the Catholic faith could not only get you
imprisoned, it could get you hanged.
The songs gifts are hidden meanings to the teachings of the
faith. The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn't refer to an
earthly suitor, it refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the
presents refers to every baptized person. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus
Christ, the Son of God. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a
mother partridge which feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless
nestlings, much in memory of the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate
of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered thee
under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but thou wouldst not have it
so..."
The other symbols mean the following:
Two (2) Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
Three (3) French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the
Theological Virtues
Four (4) Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four
Evangelists
Five (5) Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old
Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall
from grace.
Six (6) Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
Seven (7) Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy
Spirit, the seven sacraments
Eight (8) Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes
Nine (9) Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
Ten (10) Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments
Eleven (11) Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles
Twelve (12) Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of
doctrine in the Apostle's Creed
These are but a few of the most noteworthy practices of
Christmas that have Catholic origins. But let us also remember the true reason
for the season is the Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who started the Roman
Catholic Church in 33 A.D. Not trying to be controversial, just stating the
facts.
Merry Christmas!
God love you all! Pray the Rosary daily!
