Ah, Christmas. THAT time of the year. When we all talk about it being that time of year, with out worrying too much about what that actually means. Is it that time of year where we go into debt trying to buy each other’s love and appreciation? When we celebrate the birthday of a 2000 year old barn baby? Dragons? It all becomes very complicated in this hectic season.
Merry Christmas!
The problem is, Christmas has always been a slightly paradoxical holiday. We go to stores to buy mass produced consumer goods to show people how special and unique they are to us. This is the entire reason Santa Clause got so popular (it’s true!). Parents used him as a way to trick kids into thinking the crap tinker toys they bought at the local store were hand-made and one of a kind. It was a mere coincidence that little Billy down the street got the exact same toy train.
To tackle it from the religious angle (which really, why would you?) Christmas is supposed to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the magician with the killer beard who can produce SO MANY fish and loaves out of thin air. Unfortunately, there is no reason for anyone to think that He was born on December 25th. There is absolutley no mention of it in the Bible. The Puritans actually made celebrating Christmas illegal for this reason. They saw it as a slight against their savior. Especially when you consider the only reason December 25th was chosen was because it coincided with the winter solstice and was convenient for converting pagans. That’s kind of like having your parents celebrate your birthday on the Fourth of July even though it’s really in November just because they are already throwing a party.
The fireworks don't change that fact that your parents don't love you
So ok, neither way of celebrating makes a whole lot of sense. But we have plenty of other traditions that are just as mind boggling. Like eating turkey to celebrate giving small pox to the natives. Or getting completely shitfaced in honor of a man who converted Ireland to Christianity. Let’s face it, we suck at celebrating historic events and traditions. We are much less concerned with what it is we are actually celebrating and much more gung ho about how awesome it will be for us. Which is why centuries and centuries later, Christmas really has no connection left to what supposedly originated it.
Fine. No big deal right? At least we’re doing SOMETHING. Maybe we don’t know exactly what it is we’re celebrating, but the fact that we’re celebrarting at least keeps it in the public conciouss. That’s better than nothing. It’s just like how Robert De Niro still shows up in movies, even though he stopped actually acting decades ago.
He doesn't care what his motivation is
The problem is, it’s a very superficial way of remembering. And frankly, it’s harmful. Remember last year when someone was freaking stampeded to death on Black Friday? When does that fucking happen? Did those Blu-ray players come with blow-job giving capabilities? Is that why everyone needed to rush in there?
Go to the mall during the holiday season. Not to shop, just to watch. Watch how everyone blows past each other, hurrying to their next purchase. Watch how irritated they get when they wait in line for even a minute. Goddamnit, THEY HAVE SHIT TO DO! Like buy their kid whatever this year’s must have toy is, even though it will end up in the corner of their closet within a week or two.
This is why I enjoy the Christmas I spend with my friends more than the one I spend with my family. The family Christmas revolves around going to relative’s houses and exchanging gifts, then coming home and opening the gifts under the tree. Who knows how much money was actually thrown around getting everyone everything that was on their list. By the time all the presents have been opened, the day is pretty much over.
The Christmas with friends, however, is much more simple. We’ll get everyone A (singular) gift, with it sometimes being something homemade. It’s more about showing how much you know the other person that about spending money. And the gift part takes all of 5 minutes, with the rest of the evening devoted to actually spending time with one another.
Spend time with one another?! Unheard of!
So to say Christmas is dead may be a little off the mark, since it’s always been pretty superficial. And yes, there will be people who find more simple and modest ways to celebrate that are closer to the ideal image everyone has of the season. So it may be more accurate to say that Christmas has been battling lekuimia it’s entire life, and has always been on it’s death bed. Festive.
