Posted on 12/13/2006 4:57:35 AM PST by CalcuttaIke
How did America, a nominally Christian nation, get to the point that a cheerful "Merry Christmas" is seen as intolerant and our gifts are placed under "holiday trees"?
"The President and Mrs. Reagan extend to you their best wishes for a joyous Christmas and a peaceful New Year." In 1982, that was the message appearing on President Reagan's Christmas card to thousands of GOP faithful. In 1983, the "greeting" changed: "The President and Mrs. Reagan extend to you their warmest wishes for happiness at the holidays and throughout the new year." Thus did the Reagan White House stop sending Christmas cards and start sending "holiday greetings."
This semantic change in the official greeting from the White House, probably unnoticed at the time, was not the beginning of the "War on Christmas." That war arises from the enmity to all things Christian among atheists, civil libertarians, leftists, and public school unions, as well as the political, cultural, and financial elites, who abhor anything restraining mass consumerism and "individual liberty." Simply put, it's God vs. Mammon.
Manifestations of the war against Christmas abound, including the American Civil Liberties Union's legal war against "unconstitutional" manger scenes depicting the Nativity in the public square, and even renaming Christmas trees "holiday trees," again, on the public square.
And this war extends beyond Christmas. In public schools, Easter break is "Spring break." Kwanzaa and the Muslim holy days of Ramadan are studied and recognized. Meanwhile, Jesus' birth, the central event dividing, chronologically, the ancient world from the new, has gone down the memory hole: B.C.E. (Before the Common Era) and C.E. (Common Era) have replaced B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini — The Year of Our Lord).
Most Americans are familiar with the war-on-Christmas stories. They react to them as one would expect: with anger and amazement. They want to "put Christ back in Christmas." They want everyone to remember the "reason for the season."
Recognizing this anger and fretting about profits, Wal-Mart, Target, and other retailers are again using the word "Christmas" in advertising and store displays. Wal-Mart instructed clerks to wish customers "Merry Christmas," as opposed to the drab secularisms, "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays." And some municipalities such as Milwaukee are once again decorating Christmas trees as opposed to "holiday" trees.
Still, the question remains: how is it the warriors against Christmas succeeded so famously, and what role did Christians play in their success?
American Christmas
In 2001, writing in Chronicles magazine, church historian Aaron Wolf detailed the history of Christmas in America and how the modern celebration became what it is.
Wolf reported that the war on Christmas began long before the ACLU filed its first lawsuit. The Puritans were anti-Christmas Christians, he observed, who rejected the "organic incarnational understanding" of Christianity — the Son of God becoming man — and banned celebrating Christmas in Massachusetts until 1681.
As Wolf, libertarian economist Murray Rothbard, and others have observed, Puritanism eventually devolved into Unitarianism, which rejected the Incarnation in fact and gave birth to the "reason for the season" that so many Americans now understand: a time of material giving and good deeds. "By 1842," Wolf wrote, "a new interpretation of the holiday was in place."
Wolf and other historians trace the imposition of the liberal spirit on Christmas to Charles Dickens, the Unitarian author of A Christmas Carol:
I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round — apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that — as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely.... And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!
These words, Wolf reminded readers, come from Fred, the nephew of Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. Everyone familiar with the story should also be familiar with what central Character it lacks: Jesus Christ.
Two more interesting facts about Christmas: Santa Claus is a Unitarian invention spun off the very real, heroic, and virtuous St. Nicholas. A Unitarian penned "Jingle Bells," a delightful tune, Wolf observed, devoid of Christian intent or meaning.
Obviously, nothing is wrong with gift-giving or performing good deeds, either at Christmastime or during the rest of the year. Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick are among the corporal works of mercy. But Jesus, whom Christians believe is the Greatest Gift to mankind, is either window-dressing for Christmas or ignored altogether.
What We Believe
Many Americans, including many Christian Americans, have swallowed the modern meaning whole. Forgetting the Incarnation, they summon Dickensian ghosts to tell them what Christmas is "about": gift giving, secular charity, "peace and good will," family and friends, sitting by the Yule log, kissing under the mistletoe.
Yet these abstractions don't say much about what Christians believe or ought to believe. This isn't to say that Americans don't know, on a tacit, intellectual level, why we celebrate Christmas. But it is to say Christ no longer animates the celebration. Christmas has become a secularized holiday as opposed to a Christian Holy Day.
Twentieth-century popular music and films, which the cultural and financial elites offered for the "holiday season," cemented the secularization. Many of the singers who popularized such tunes as "White Christmas" (Bing Crosby) and "Let It Snow" (Dean Martin) were Christians. Yet they, along with the troubadours who sang "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Frosty the Snowman" (Gene Autry) and "The Christmas Song" (Nat King Cole), weren't caroling about Christmas. They were warbling about winter.
This celebration of a secular winter respite was a profound change in keeping with the "new meaning" of Christmas. It is why, for instance, in the 1960s' "classic" Rudolf animation for television, Santa Claus laments that Christmas might be "canceled" because a horrible blizzard smothers "Christmastown" on Christmas Eve. Christmas canceled? Only if it's a holiday dependent upon good weather.
Along with Rudolf and Frosty, Americans watch How The Grinch Stole Christmas!, Dr. Suess' Christless contribution to holiday cinematic fare. Again, The Grinch offers viewers the "Christmas-is-canceled" theme when the hideous Grinch steals the gifts and Christmas vittles from Whoville. Surely, when he takes their baubles and "roast beast," he believes, the Whovillians won't celebrate Christmas. But alas, the residents of Whoville know the "true meaning" of Christmas. It is the same "meaning" Scrooge discovered on his nocturnal adventures with the three ghosts.
Another yuletide obligation is watching Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life, starring Jimmy Stewart, who, like the singers mentioned above, was no enemy of Christmas. Yet, despite the film's few Christian moments, what the cultural cognoscenti call a "classic" is "not," as one reviewer pointed out at IMDB.com, "a film about religion." Instead, it is yet another Dickensian allegory. It contemplates "hope, truth and the depth of the human heart." George Bailey, the archetypal, unfulfilled Everyman, finds the "meaning of life" on Christmas Eve, but not through the Incarnate Lord. Instead, an angel shows him what his town would have been like if he hadn't been around. Christians should wonder what life would be like if Christ hadn't been born.
One of the better Christmas television programs is a Charlie Brown Christmas, wherein Linus explains "the meaning of Christmas" by reciting the Nativity narrative from the Gospel According to Luke. Unsurprisingly, television executives were unhappy with the idea. According to USA Today, the executives at CBS complained to Peanuts' creator Charles Schultz, "Look, you can't read from the Bible on network television." On seeing the film, they thought Schultz had "ruined" Charlie Brown. Schultz's amusing denunciation of materialism surfaces when Lucy says she wants "real estate" for Christmas, and Sally, in a letter to Santa Claus, asks for "tens and twenties." Linus offers the corrective Lucan Lesson.
Point is, nothing is wrong with Christians singing "White Christmas" or watching It's a Wonderful Life or Charlie Brown, if they understand what they are singing and watching, and don't substitute this secular entertainment for the Incarnation as the central historical and spiritual truth about Christmas. But how often do Christians sing "Silent Night" versus "White Christmas"? How much time is spent sitting in front of a television set, watching the Grinch, versus the time spent kneeling before a manger scene, contemplating the mystery of the Incarnation?
The honest answer to this question shows that popular culture has transformed the meaning of Christmas. No longer a prayerful contemplation and celebration of the birth of Christ, it has become a solemnization of saccharine, gooey warmth in wintertime: roasting chestnuts, gifts under the tree, and snuggling by the fire.
For Christians, the difference is hardly inconsequential. Christ was born, serious Christians believe, to die in agony on the Cross for the sins of mankind. Of course, everyone claims to know and understand this, but our annual rites and revelries belie the claim of profound understanding. Many Americans, even American Christians, mistakenly believe Christmas is "about" that "kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time," as Dickens put it, "when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely," meaning the secular "peace and goodwill" that percolated from Dickens' literary brain pan.
Christmas isn't "about" any of these things. It is "about" One Thing, that sacred day 2,000 years ago when a Babe was born in Bethlehem, not to offer Capra's wonderful life on Earth, but to offer Christ's Eternal Life in Heaven. On Christmas Day, Christians must ask which life they are contemplating.
Mine usually come from the National Cathedral, and they have lovely Christmas messages.
https://commerce.cathedral.org/exec/ms/index.html
Thanks for the link. There were some interesting Nativity sets as well. The one I really liked was waaaaay above my price range but some Freepers could pick it up.
They do have beautiful things. They also have sales after the holidays - at the Cathedral Shop, at least, I'm not sure about the catalog. I like the 16" angels with the musical instruments, myself. :)
So did ASDA in the UK before Guy Fawkes or Halloween I think they came out at the beginning of September
Hi joesbucks,
Well, I was really hoping for a peaceful Christmas this year, but since I'm one of the folks fighting the "War on Christmas", looks like I'll have to take you on, too. (In the nicest sense, of course).
I personally believe the push to replace "Merry Christmas" with "Happy Holidays" isn't to keep from offending anyone. Sure, the elite will say that, but I believe the REAL purpose is to get the name of Christ out of everything. Getting rid of Christmas would be a real coup for them.
Oh, and not to add fuel to this fire, but I believe the whole thing is demonically inspired. Satan would love nothing more than further dilute the Truth.
Merry Christmas,
Brian
Thanks, I'll buy some traditional Christmas cd's. It is disgustingly hard to find traditional music and songs too.
Extremely well-written.
It reverberated in THIS heart.
How come it's necessary to kneel for contemplation? Why can't contemplating be done while sitting?
While I'm pondering (not contemplating, because I don't want to mess up the knees of my pants), why do ONLY charismatic Christians use "convicted" as a synonym for "convinced"?
Convicting is what happens to perps in court, if we're lucky.
Convincing is what happens to me when you make a great, salient, reasonable argument.
Kewl. I'll accept.
And Merry Christmas to you too. And may you enjoy the blessings of the holiday season!
It showed me personally some wrong attitudes I have had about the Annual Rite --especially in the USA -- of the "Merry Christmas" vs. "Happy Holidays" tug of war. After reading the article, what emerges is that it is really a tense, three dimensional, "trichotomy" after all. Some of those tugging on the pro-Merry Christmas side were/are tugging mostly for the secular meaning of Christmas. When, as a true Christian, the pure, simple essence of Christmas has nothing to do with Christmas trees vs. Holiday Trees, or Christmas carols vs. Holiday carols. It has to do with the essence of the Birth of the Savior, vs. all that secular "other". In a way, then, the battle truly is three way. "Nativity (including Advent)" vs. (Secular) "Merry Christmas" vs. (even more secular and non-grounded) "Happy Holidays". Of the three, I have maybe been more in the second camp than the first. The article brought this realization to my eyes. To summarize, in moral absolute terms but subjectively applied in my own case, the article convicted me of my error, the wrongness, of my past thinking.
Your own mileage may vary.
I think this Christmas is going to be a different Christmas for me this year as a result of that single article.
The Salvation Army is one of our favorite charities!
Read it again, only slower.
When I said Merry Christmas to my local Walmart checker she said, "yeah you too" NOT good enough for me. I promptly returned the $80.00 item and spoke to the manager and he said they can't make them say anything.
so I wrote this letter to the editor hopefully they will print as a guest column:
Where is the Spirit of Christmas? 12/5/06
In doing my regular shopping, I already notice, the stores aren't decorating for Christmas, nor are they wishing you a “Merry Christmas”. The retailers aren't even saying “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings” anymore.
I remember when I was a child that no matter what store you would go into, there were lots of decorations. It was based in greenery, had ornaments or pinecones with red, green & blue lights and even angels. It usually started after Thanksgiving, and all stores competed for you to shop at their place. Every clerk wished you a “Merry Christmas” before you spoke.
The removal of Christ from Christmas started before I was born, They had to get God and religion out of Christmas so they invented a happy, jolly man who “knew what you were thinking and doing” at all times. He knew if you had been good or bad. Then Christmas decorations started having Santa and the reindeer crowd out Christ and the nativity scenes. Christmas just became about the gifts and glossed over what it was all about.
Then the “Merry Christmas” greeting had to go. When I was a child, every single person who worked retail would wish me a Merry Christmas. Tired shoppers would get in the spirit and wish each other a Merry Christmas and we would all take a deep breath and remember why we were rushing around doing all that shopping. We tried to be more polite in the spirit of the season.
But then the stores started having their clerks say “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings”. Because there were several different religions who had Holy Days in December so rather than only mention one, that would include all together. Funny, I never had a Jewish friend hesitate to wish me “Merry Christmas” and I was always glad to wish them “Happy Hanukah”.
Fast-forward 20 years and Santa has to go, because he is that good, kind, all-knowing, all-seeing man who is just a little too much like… Christ? We can't have any morals, or inducement to “be good” to get our presents. Some Santa's have had their regular visitations at schools canceled and the schools have Frosty the Snowman instead. I have heard some schools won't allow red or green napkins at the “Winter Break” party. It isn't Christmas break anymore, even though it always includes December 25th and of course the kids can't sing Christmas songs at the “Winter Concert”.
Some work places are saying that the decorating for “Winter season” can't include Santa, reindeer, or nativity scenes and finally they decide they will allow snowflakes. Tell me what kind of Christmas spirit is reflected in snowflakes? It doesn't remind me of why I'm going to spend money for my Holiday. Oh, which one was that? That would be Christmas.
I'm joined by 85% of the people in the United States. 85% of the people living here celebrate Christmas. They buy presents for their loved ones and plan to give them on December 25th. That is the day that EVERYONE is opening presents. And what day is that? Yes, Christmas!
Polls say that 95% of shoppers are not offended by being wished a “Merry Christmas” That means that 5 percent of the people in the US are taking Christmas out of Christmas and the rest of the US is allowing them to take our Spirit away. Think about this, are those 5% are so mentally unstable they can't ignore a nice wish made to them, they get so offended that they can't allow the majority in this country to have a happy time once a year? So much for diversity.
Retailers who want me to spend all my dollars in their store before December 25th & won't even say “Christmas” in their advertising and think it is just fine to have their clerks say “have a nice day” instead of committing to wish me a “Merry Christmas” are crazy if they think I will spend hundreds of dollars in their store.
It just isn't going to happen. If retailers can't be bothered to do the decorating beyond snowflakes, encourage the spirit and pass a “Merry Christmas” on to 85% of the people spending money this month, then I, personally, will find somewhere else to spend my money.
We can and must preserve our heritage and traditions. The very 1st words of the 1st amendment of the Bill of Rights says “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;” That takes care of Congress, and the retailers only understand the removal of our money.
I know there are some stores out there who have the Christmas Spirit and I will find them. I encourage you to do the same and hunt for the Christmas Spirit. With encouragement it will grow and the Grinches who are stealing Christmas won't be here next year. We can preserve for our children the heritage of the yesteryears.
As a matter of fact, returning the item for lack of a "Christian response" was about as un-Christian as you can get.
I say Merry Christmas this time of year after every transaction. I've received some of the above responses. In some cases I've gotten none. My Christian sense didn't get my underwear in a thong and cause me to go go marching to the manager or on a letter writing campaign. There are so many more appropriate ways to express our love of Christ.
I have always wondered why at Christmas the "Triple P" people come out.
Triple P? Persistently Peeved People.
Some of the choirs from public schools submitted songs that had either outright religious songs or had tinges of faith in them.
Both of the sponsoring churches in my area are big "War of Christmas" churches. Yet their schools, which are outreach ministries, submitted secular songs. They did the same thing last year.
This shows me that all the talk of the "War on Christmas" is simply that.......talk. It's not a core value of these churches and their outreach.
Example 2. Our local contemporary christian station switched to Christmas music along with the secular stations around Thanksgiving. It's normal programming schedule is a "Fish" type format so popular in other cities. It is locally owned by a group of evangelicals. While listening the other day, songs such as Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, Here Comes Santa Claus among others were rotating through the playlist. They too have been discussing the "War on Christmas" on their morning show.
Third example, although from last year. Salem media is the largest Christian owned radio congolmerate. The "War on Christmas" has been a theme for the past few years. Last year, their Chicago station had a very touching help those less fortunate campaign to solicit contributions from listeners. It was framed as help those less fortunate this holiday season. No mention of Christmas. This year, they are not even doing the campaign.
Those are a few examples of why I am waging a war on those who are claiming their is a war on Christmas.
A local businessman wrote a guest editorial in our local paper a few years back and said he had received over 100 Christmas cards, but only one mentioned in any way why the holiday was being celebrated. I was the one who sent it, and his column made me simultaneously proud and sad.
So why is it that the switch to "Happy Holidays" is so recent and so militant? Can you find me a department store in the Thrities, Sixties or Eighties that threatened employees with disciplinary measures if they said "Merry Christmas?" Heck, I'll make it easy on you, and just ask if you can show me a store in those time periods that had a rule similar to Home Depot: You can say "Merry Christmas," but only if the customer says it first. Got any examples of stores during those time periods even having a rule on this matter?
Pretty much the same thing goes for schools, where one can find holiday concerts that have no Christian content whatsoever but mention Hannukah, Kwanzaa and secular traditions. The exclusion/marginalization of Christmas symbols and songs is recent and militant. That's the problem people have with it. Sure, Jerry Falwell might be asking people to whine about whether a store has a holiday gift guide or a Christmas gift guide, but most of us are reacting to the militant aspect. It's PC BS and there's no reason we should roll over for it.
Have to agree with joebucks here. How is you trying to force this clerk to your point of view any better than the actions of stores that forbid their employees to say "Merry Christmas?"
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