[susiek]

I realize that there are many people out there trying to change and obfuscate the American history of Thanksgiving and Christmas, but it seems to me that a good many people aren't buying it. As much as we can't sit back and get complacent, we should also recognize that the overly PC movement is turning a lot of people off and going so far as to finally get negative attention in many quarters. We shouldn't feel defeated, we should be encouraged that the PC bandwagon is showing its true colors and losing steam with many "regular folks."

[rockabyebaby]

IMO the most effective way to get CHRIST back into CHRISTmas is to stop soliciting stores that use phrases like Happy Holidays, or holiday shopping, or holiday music, etc. etc. etc. if people just stopped buying maybe stores would get the hint but unfortunately most Americans don't care enough to take a stand.

[tacticalogic]

So the way to save Christmas is to turn it into Easter?

[Conspiracy Guy]

The fight is underway and just by writing this, you are part of it. Keep up the good work and Merry Christmas.

My kids were raised on the fact that Jesus is real and the reason we celebrate and Santa is a symbol of the spirit of giving. They are planning to raise their children the same way. My kids had all the thrill of anticipating what they would get without having to learn about the lie later.

Without being told to they even talked about Santa to their friends and cousins as if he was real. Even when they were only 3 years old they both told their versions of the Birth of Christ whenever Santa was discussed. In a way I raised missionaries. Both my daughter and son are adult Christian Conservatives now.

[EBH]

This was a few years ago, but I had been invited to one of those regifting Christmas parties. You were to bring a gift that someone had given you, a white elephant gift of little value, and it would be passed on to someone else. You were to wrap it and everything. This particular party was taking place the week before Christmas, although they usually happen in January.

I really felt silly re-gifting, so I went out to the mall to locate an inexpensive decent gift. I happened into the Christian Bookstore just to browse around. I found the perfect re-gift...it came in a simple box with the phrase, "The Reason for the Season." It was considered a Christmas ornament to be hung on the tree. I purchased the item for a nominal $5.00 at the time. Took it home and wrapped in the most lovely paper and a fancy bow.

At the party, everyone gathered in a circle and the gifts get passed around through a type of card-game. So, you may get to pick your gift, but someone with a better card can claim the gift from you and this goes on until all the cards are used. It was funny, watching everyone snatching at the prettiest gift with the fancy bow. Finally when the game was over, you get the open the gift you got stuck with. Everybody wanted to know what was in that pretty wrapped package that everybody wanted.

A humble silence fell across the guests as the pretty package was opened and inside was revealed a single iron nail like what was used to nail Jesus to the cross.

[bray]

Well said. How about the manger scene and replace the star with a lit cross??

Merry Christmas to Our Troops

[Tax-chick]

Good post! Earlier in American history, it was understood that celebration of the birth of Jesus could not be separated from His death, resurrection, and return in glory.

Here are verses from a couple of *Christmas* hymns, from the 1854 "Southern Harmony," (available in a nice facsimile edition on Amazon.com :-).

"Who is this that comes from far,
With his garments dipped in blood?
Strong, triumphant traveler -
Is he man or is he God?

I that reign in righteousness,
Son of God and man I am;
Mighty to redeem your race,
Jesus is your Savior's name."
("Bozrah" melody)

"Come away to the skies, my beloved arise,
And rejoice in the day thou wast born;
On this festival day, come exulting away,
And with singing to Zion return."
("Exultation" melody)

I have two full CD's of traditional Thanksgiving music, too. Remember "Come, ye thankful people, come!" and "We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing!"? Christians need to reclaim religious observances from the shopping morass.

And dang it, I want Veterans' Day back!

[Leo Carpathian]

Saint Nicholas was replaced by Fatso in the red jump suit. Saint who was bringing gifts to poor children was transformed to mascot of shopping in the malls.

Merry Christmas and peace on Earth to all people of good will.

[PFC]

Perhaps the best way to desecularize Christmas is to walk away from all of the stores. De-commercialize Christmas. Make a holiday of spirit not material goods.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Good topic. Here are my thoughts:

I think change has to come in small, family-sized increments. Personally, here in Wisconsin (with the exception of Madison and Milwaukee) Christmas is still very Christ-oriented, but of course we have our malls all decked out and all that. I work part time in retail, so I play a small part in it as well. I doubt very much that we'll ever stem the tide of commercialism as related to Christmas. And being the good Capitalist I am, I hope not!

But...the Socialists didn't all wake up one morning, en mass and decide, "Hey! Let's ruin Christmas for the Christians!" They've been doing it in a thousand small ways for decades, chip-chip-chipping away at the foundation of the celebration and the Christian religion trough protests, pc-ness, petitions, Letters to the Editor, and suing and taking issues to court.

The only way to beat them is at their own game. Until Christians start handing over the dough, making websites, doing all the "grassroots" things that the socialists have done to undermine Christmas, we'll never get anywhere.

And personally? It may be just where I live, but so far the cops haven't shown up with a warrant for my arrest because I've refused to take down my Creche. Some of this is emotionalism due to the time of year, and articles on this subject in the newspapers and on TV sell advertising dollars...

Maybe we need to start the grassroots efforts in ernest in July when we're all rested after this hectic time of year? LOL!

I'd be much more worried if the latest polls were telling me that suddenly Christians were in the minority. Of course I don't want to be idle and watch the numbers plummet, but if 80-90% of us in the USA celebrate Christmas in a traditional manner, then all is not Doom and Gloom from my perspective. :)

[SampleMan]

One thing that could be done is to undo the abbreviation "Christmas" and start annunciating "Christ's Mass". I'm sure this would not be welcome to the PC crowd.

I predict a few Protestants would hemorrhage over the word "Mass", but I'm not sure what they thing "mas" stands for now.

Good post. Thankfully, I live in the south,where it is still acceptable to wish people a Merry Christmas. I was astonished that we received a Christmas card from Jewish friends of ours this year, that we had spent Passover with.

[Protagoras]

I fashioned a cross out of left over lumber and lined it with strings of white lights. I put it up on the wall of the second floor of my house. Nothing else. It's looks great at night and sends the intended message.

I started this about five years ago.

[hosepipe]

[ In the process, of course, this elevated the pagan "holiday" of Halloween to new heights---and no, I'm not a fuddy-duddy who refuses to "trick or treat," but it was brilliant how this celebration of witchcraft has become more important than the religious observance of the Pilgrims. ]

Seeing Halloween as "pagan" but not Christmas and Easter especially.. is quite selective.. Actually the days of the week even are named after "pagan" "gods".. Thanksgiving is only as "pagan" as you are, or not.. same with the other holidays..

Christ came to make ALL religion obsolete AND DID...
Religion is only needed by psuedo-Gods.. What would a REAL God even need with a religion.?... Yes, even YOURS.. God knows who "it"(no gender)IS.. its the human RACE that don't..

The American Constitution celebrates a generic God, because if God is not generic, then God is the President of a Club.. which defeats the concept of a "real" god completely.. There are many "gods" in the world and in the United States too, but hopefully only one "real one".. Humans putting God in a box like a chimp fishing termites from a HOLE.. Looks, CUTE and interesting but it gets boreing after awhile..

[BellStar]

Merry CHRISTmas, to ALL!
Given all the misery, hunger, and desperation that the guilt-ridden news media empties in our laps each Christmas, it would seem that it is by the grace of Almighty God alone that we survive until New Year's Eve. It might seem that way for good reason: It is that way!
More here:
http://www.jarbobayoutimes.com/

[Mogollon]

The ACLU needs to be destroyed. First thing is to contact your congress-critters and tell them to support legislation that will deny the ACLU (et.al.) our taxes to support their anti-christian lawsuits. Next thing is to donate to ACLJ, ADF, and/or other organisations that are counter-suing the ACLU.