Dear Parishioners,

As we fully immerse ourselves into the joyful exuberance of Christmas, we do well to recall that Christmas is a season and not a single day. Its meaning and power is so rich, that no one day can possibly exhaust all that this celebration offers us. We might think of Christmas as a multi-faceted jewel. As we rotate this Christmas jewel we discover a different dimension of it and come to realize that there are a variety of ways that it is celebrated. Some of these ways may overlap with each other or flow one from the other. Some may stand alone as a singular way that Christmas is observed.

In her enchanting book, Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year, author Beth Kempton highlights five separate ways that Christmas has been celebrated historically to the present time. She refers to these as “stories” because each is a narrative offering a unique interpretation or perspective of this holiday. The ultimate conclusion she draws is that there is no single way to approach Christmas – there never has been nor does there need to be. The first story is that of FAITH. This is the story that focuses on the birthday of Jesus, the Son of God, who came into the world to bring salvation to the human race. This is what we commonly call the “religious” meaning of Christmas that takes into account what is written about the birth of Jesus in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. It also recalls the historical theories that suggest why December 25th was chosen as the date for Christmas. This faith dimension of Christmas is commemorated in church rituals, hymnody, artwork and domestic customs that have, as their source, the incarnation of the Word of God. While for many people this dimension is the most significant of them all, and without it, no other dimension of Christmas has meaning. This understanding, however, is not agreed upon by all people.

The second story of Christmas is that of MAGIC. Here “magic” is used in a most positive way to refer to all those features that make Christmas mystical, fun and appealing to people, especially children, who delight in imagination. One of the most prominent symbols in this magical dimension is Santa Claus characterized as this mythical gift-giver living in the far off North Pole who on one night of the year travels throughout the world on a sleigh pulled by reindeer dispensing gifts to those who have merited them by virtue of their goodness. While this dimension is sometimes labeled “secular,” it can easily accommodate religious meaning as seen in other popular gift-givers such as St. Nicholas the 4th century bishop from Myra, now modern day Turkey.

The third story of Christmas is that of CONNECTION. Here the Christmas holiday is expressed in connecting (or re-connecting) with family and friends. It is about homecomings, reaching out to others, especially the marginalized and often-times neglected members of society. Connections are enacted through such gestures as greeting cards, home decorations, gift giving and the sharing of food. The beloved A Christmas Carol written by Charles Dickens in 1843 epitomizes this dimension of Christmas as it raises a society’s awareness of its obligation to unite its citizens and foster a world of justice that secures the dignity of all people. Like the Magic dimension of Christmas, the notion of Connection might have religious overtones, but it need not. As we know, there are many people who enjoy reaching out to others during the holiday season but who have no affiliation with any institutional religion. Nonetheless, they are righteous individuals who are highly sensitive to the needs of others.

The fourth story of Christmas is that of ABUNDANCE. This dimension is reflected in sharing one’s good fortune with others in a generous and material way. It celebrates the joy of shopping and the giving of gifts. It creates excitement in both the giving and receiving of presents that symbolize love and appreciation for others. It is this dimension that is highly responsible for taking Christmas into the public sector – into stores and malls, streets and neighborhoods. While the motive for this public expression might have been to encourage shoppers to spend money and benefit the economy, it served to make Christmas a visually beautiful time of year that extended beyond the walls of religious institutions. Without this aspect, Christmas may have remained a celebration that was isolated in churches and that may have eventually gone the way of our Catholic holidays, which as we know, do not enjoy the popularity they once had.

The fifth and final story of Christmas is that of HERITAGE. This entails the recognition of the many influences that are a part of the holidays, influences such as: geography, culture, ethnic backgrounds and religious traditions that pre-date Christianity such as Winter Solstice rituals. Heritage involves family heirlooms, customs that people grew up with or adopted over time. Heritage is a type of glue that secures the identity of a people and that keeps families and cultures united and unique. Examples of Heritage can be seen in specific foods that might be called for on Christmas such as the 7 fish dinners in Italy or the Filipino Simbang Gabi that is a 9 day celebration leading up to December 25th. Some families have the tradition of “Pajama Morning” during which all the members wear pajamas (usually of the same design or color) for the better part of Christmas morning as they gather around their Christmas trees and open gifts. It’s rather fascinating how bedtime attire can be a visual expression of unity.

These five stories are some of the major ways that this multivalent festival of Christmas has impacted individual lives and the lives of diverse cultures and civilizations. Perhaps before or during the approaching Christmas season we might all reflect on each of these stories and discover how they have or have not influenced our own understanding and celebration of Christmas. As people of faith, it is natural for us to see how they are all inter-related emerging from our uncompromising conviction that in the fullness of time God sent his son to us, born of the Virgin Mary, so that humanity might realize the profound depths of God’s love.

May God bless all of us with a faith-filled and magical Christmas that keeps us proud of our heritage, connected to one another and abundantly grateful for all the gifts we have received from his generous hand.

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