This time of year has what is referred to as the "Christmas Spirit".
That spirit requires it's own set of music that is not played in other parts of the year.
It requires it's own set of decorations that are not up other times of the year.
Why does this "remembrance" require such a complete regearing of the worship we give to God the other 11 months out of the year?
It also brings with it, most people trying to be kinder and more giving. You know, the way we are SUPPOSE to be all year long.
More than that, it is because our SAVIOR was born, our redemption has come.
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If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
It also brings with it, most people trying to be kinder and more giving. You know, the way we are SUPPOSE to be all year long.
More than that, it is because our SAVIOR was born, our redemption has come.
Those are two good statements but they are true (or should be) all year long and yet we must completely change gears this time of year.
We remember his death and yet, while we may choose songs in keeping with the theme, they are songs we sing all year around. No special tree... it doesn't require this annual reconstruction of our worship that Christmas does.
Those are two good statements but they are true (or should be) all year long and yet we must completely change gears this time of year.
We remember his death and yet, while we may choose songs in keeping with the theme, they are songs we sing all year around. No special tree... it doesn't require this annual reconstruction of our worship that Christmas does.
I don't think I can answer the question, except His birth was the Promise fulfilled. The long awaited Messiah for the Jews, and yet He adopted the whole world.
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If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
The decorations are part of a long series of traditions from various parts of the world. For instance, evergreens were brought indoors during the season during the Middle Ages in Europe to lessen the stench associated with too many unwashed bodies and too-long closed windows. (Brides originally carried a bouquet to cover foul scents too.) Some of the older songs were used to teach the Bible story of Christmas at a time when many people couldn't read, too.
Over the years, Christmas has kept it's traditions and songs and become romanticized. So has Easter, but Easter tends to decorate itself with fresh flowers and such, and we tend to use and remember it's tree (the cross) all year. In Europe, where there is no Thanksgiving celebration, Christmas was a day of feasting, warmth and visiting, of thinking of others, and of having a holiday during the long, cold, dark winter.
My guess is that there are more decorations, romanticization, and sentimentalism because Christmas falls in one of the harshest months of the year. It's decorations are brought indoors and crafted, rather than being natural like Easter's, and we've used more and more of them in our celebrations to brighten what used to otherwise be a cold, dreary season. The decorations, stories, songs, gifts and family time have helped to make it a more sentimental and romantic holiday.
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What we make of the Bible will never be as great a thing as what the Bible will - if we let it - make of us.~Rich Mullins
I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.~Galileo Galilei
The decorations are part of a long series of traditions from various parts of the world. For instance, evergreens were brought indoors during the season during the Middle Ages in Europe to lessen the stench associated with too many unwashed bodies and too-long closed windows. (Brides originally carried a bouquet to cover foul scents too.) Some of the older songs were used to teach the Bible story of Christmas at a time when many people couldn't read, too.
Over the years, Christmas has kept it's traditions and songs and become romanticized. So has Easter, but Easter tends to decorate itself with fresh flowers and such, and we tend to use and remember it's tree (the cross) all year. In Europe, where there is no Thanksgiving celebration, Christmas was a day of feasting, warmth and visiting, of thinking of others, and of having a holiday during the long, cold, dark winter.
My guess is that there are more decorations, romanticization, and sentimentalism because Christmas falls in one of the harshest months of the year. It's decorations are brought indoors and crafted, rather than being natural like Easter's, and we've used more and more of them in our celebrations to brighten what used to otherwise be a cold, dreary season. The decorations, stories, songs, gifts and family time have helped to make it a more sentimental and romantic holiday.
That's probably as good an explanation as I've ever read.
The only down side I see to this celebration is that it can exaggerate difficult times. If you can't afford all the trimmings it can be very painful.
That's probably as good an explanation as I've ever read.
The only down side I see to this celebration is that it can exaggerate difficult times. If you can't afford all the trimmings it can be very painful.
Thanks.
The commercialism is hard to avoid. That's true of other holidays too, but it's especially true of Christmas, and that's sad.
Guess that's part of what I like the best about Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" and "The Gift of the Magi". I relate. The Cratchets and the couple in "Magi" seem to have nothing, yet what they have is priceless.
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What we make of the Bible will never be as great a thing as what the Bible will - if we let it - make of us.~Rich Mullins
I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.~Galileo Galilei
The commercialism is hard to avoid. That's true of other holidays too, but it's especially true of Christmas, and that's sad.
Guess that's part of what I like the best about Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" and "The Gift of the Magi". I relate. The Cratchets and the couple in "Magi" seem to have nothing, yet what they have is priceless.
YW.
I love those two stories. I just wish it could be understood what truly is priceless. But, then what would we do on "black friday". LOL
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My guess is that there are more decorations, romanticization, and sentimentalism because Christmas falls in one of the harshest months of the year. It's decorations are brought indoors and crafted, rather than being natural like Easter's, and we've used more and more of them in our celebrations to brighten what used to otherwise be a cold, dreary season. The decorations, stories, songs, gifts and family time have helped to make it a more sentimental and romantic holiday.
It is my understanding that the December 25 date is three days after the solstice which is the shortest day of the year in Europe. The day represented the birth of the sun god and was transferred over to apply to the birth of the Son of God.
I remember hearing somewhere of a missionary, I think it was St. Boniface, who told the druids that their god was like the oak tree which died but the Christian God was like the evergreen which was always alive/green.
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