Today is the Winter Solstice, the day with the shortest amount of light (in the Northern Hemisphere) this year. From here on out, through June 21, each day with get a little longer.
I only know a handful of people who make a big deal celebrating this holiday. While I met one or two self-proclaimed pagans/wiccans in college, I know of more atheists who make it a point to observe this holiday as a counter-point to Christmas. And with that attitude in mind, I think it is a good time to weigh in on the recent holiday skirmishes in the long running “culture wars.”
I really don’t know how one could have missed it, but in case you weren’t aware, there’s been a huge debacle going on between those employing “holiday specific terms” versus those who use “generic season greetings.” The identical complaint is that the other side is corrupting the language.
“How dare someone use the ‘wrong’ holiday terminology when seeking to celebrate this time where we are to strive for peace on earth and goodwill towards mankind!”
Personally, all the grandstanding makes me want to perforate my skull with an ice pick. Of course, I don’t have an ice pick. I’m not even sure where you could buy one nowadays. And if I went out asking for one, and people found out what I intended to do with it, they wouldn’t sell it to me anyway (or, at the least, they’d put me on a three-day waiting list and I’d probably change my mind by then).
Is it really necessary, in the year 2005, to have a bitter discussion over what to call our decorated trees? Before we get into the modern arguments, let’s look at the origins of this practice. After all, you won’t find any biblical references of Christmas trees mixed among the mangers, shepherds, and angels found in Bethlehem. We need to know how we made the Easter Bunny hop from scripture to modern plastic conifers.
As with many traditions, the practice of decorating greenery in winter cannot be traced to a specific source. Rather there is an intertwining collection of roots, stemming from both Christian and pagan practices. Some earth-minded tribes were known for decorating trees in the middle of winter, to attract spirits and coax warmer weather back into their lands. In some Christian homes, evergreen cuttings were brought in as part of the “festival of Christ” or Christ-mass, representing the symbol of new birth.
There are additional sources of tree traditions, some even dating back to ancient Egyptians, but the general point has been made. Because of the overlap of origins, it’s nearly impossible to tell who influenced who – especially since an idea like decorating trees could have come separately to many people for different reasons. What one can tell is that the additional cross-pollination of cultures spread the practice even farther than it would have reached independently.
In some cases, the pagan practice was adopted by church leaders who were seeking a shared point of understanding with the community and sought to link it to a biblical truth. In other instances, it was borrowed by more secular people who simply liked the decoration. For whatever reason, the trees spread to more homes, eventually crossing borders, oceans, and moving throughout the world.
And now we’re arguing over whether the lighted stand in the corner is a “Christmas tree” or a “holiday tree.” It really makes one want to spike the eggnog; but then I’d have to start drinking eggnog and I don’t need to go there.
It all reminds me of appearance of “Freedom fries” a few years ago. I still like to crack “freedom” for “French” jokes every once in a while.
“Ooh! The mint chocolate ice cream looks good, but I think I’m going to go with the French vanilla.”
“You mean, ‘Freedom’ Vanilla!”
Before I get nasty comments pointing out that French Fries are an American culinary creation (most people think; like the trees, some recipes can be hard to track down from a sociologist’s standpoint) and that I’m a mindless automaton, please hear me out. I don’t say “Freedom toast” out of a strange manifestation of patriotism or to question France’s resolve in the war on terrorism. I do it because I like tweaking people who get bent out of shape by the political incorrectness of the phrase.
These people need to get tweaked, in my opinion, because they need to be taught that things like this aren’t that serious. There are other much more important things to worry about than me asking for more garlic butter for my “Freedom bread.”
Of course, the pendulum swings both ways (when a clock is working correctly, that is), so I also have to take issue with those who are militant in their application of all things Christmas.
There are people who would be extremely offended if I wished them a “Happy Holidays” rather than a “Merry Christmas.” I’ve always been pretty casual with my usage of holidays. I don’t mean it to specifically exclude Christmas from the equation, but also as a catch-all of other holidays. In addition to a Merry Christmas, I’m also wishing you a cheerful Hanukah (because I know some people of other religions who double-dip their holidays and celebrate more than they are required to), a great Boxing Day (for those of you north of the continental U.S. border), a happy New Year’s, good luck with whatever bowl games you watch (best of luck at the Independence Bowl, MU – you need it), and even stretching all the back to St. Valentine’s Day (because face it, some of us need all the help we can get concerning that holiday).
A friend recently introduced me to the practice of spelling the holiday as “CHRISTmas.” This makes me cringe on multiple levels. Let me proceed from least important on up:
One, as an English major and copyeditor, the gross application of CAPS makes my head swim. Two, as a word lover, I see it as a misconstrued attempt to balance out season greetings. I’m sure some mean it to combat the deemphasizing of Jesus’ involvement in the season by deleting his name; like useage of “X-mas.” What this doesn’t take into account that X-mas wasn’t originally a capitalistic plot to cut out Jesus, or save advertising space. It comes from the Greek letter X, which is the symbol for “Chi” that is the start to the Greek word for Christ, Χριστός. Third, as a Christian, I see it as a misspent use of time and energy.
When one is competing for hearts and minds, the battle won’t be won with semantics.
Yes, words can be powerful. In some arenas, those who shape the way words are used can influence the outcomes. In the abortion debate, think of how the two sides try to position themselves in the most favorable light and cast their opponents as the most negative. Of course, in that example, as in the holiday conflict, the competing sets of definitions are entrenched; mere rephrasing will no longer change any other minds. When it comes to that point, you must shift the debate to another more active level.
I am less concerned about the word choice and more interested in what people do with their energy. Stop fighting over words! Speak your peace and act on your passions.
Funnel that drive into something more important. Donate time and money to those less fortunate. Turn over that spare change to the bell ringer outside the store. Hold a door open for a stranger. Take the time to make a new friend. Check up on an old acquaintance. Remind those close to you how much you love them (with hugs, baked goods, or whatever method you prefer to get the point across).
One is free to stress one greeting over another, but then act on that sentiment. By doing this, you do more good for your cause and can better teach others what you mean by having a good holiday spirit.
And remember, it’s supposed to last all year long.
Merry Christmas.
