Target and Christmas
Over Thanksgiving one of my family members, who will remain nameless, made a big deal about how Target would not be "celebrating Christmas" this year. This means that they won't be wishing their patrons a merry Christmas, or hanging decorations that say "Christmas" on them, or doing otherwise specifically "Christmasy" things at their stores. My family member was appalled by this situation, and more than once used the word "persecution" to describe what Target was doing to the Christians. Needless to say, I did not agree, and this led to a lengthy discussion on the topic.
To me, the less stores celebrating "Christmas" the better. Because Christmas isn't about capitalism and shopping. When centers of consumerism display their trees and banners as if they are showing how into the "Christmas Spirit" they are, it kind of makes me want to vomit. Kind of like the newish mall in Denver, CO that has the words to "God Bless America" engraved all over the mall. The words "God Bless America" are on the ledge right above the sign for "Nordstrom." Yeah, I'm sure that blowing our money on things we don't need to engorge our already stuffed drawers and closets is exactly how God blesses America. I think I'm going to be sick.
In fact, to me, the biggest enemies of "Christmas" are not the people who choose not to celebrate it, but the people who think that Christmas is all about trees, wreaths, home and hearth, presents, buying/consuming as much as possible, apple cider, or even family. That insidious definition of Christmas is what has really destroyed it. It has made Christmas seem tame and fuzzy--and that is not what it is.
Christmas is a celebration of the seriously CRAZY and OUTRAGEOUS fact that God came to earth, took on flesh, and was born as a helpless baby who would grow up to be the Redeemer of all. I mean, that is not tame or fuzzy--it's F-ing amazing. And I puke on all the reindeer, santas, trees, and glittery bows that try to make it less than it is, which is totally and utterly SHOCKING and INCREDIBLE.
To me, the less stores celebrating "Christmas" the better. Because Christmas isn't about capitalism and shopping. When centers of consumerism display their trees and banners as if they are showing how into the "Christmas Spirit" they are, it kind of makes me want to vomit. Kind of like the newish mall in Denver, CO that has the words to "God Bless America" engraved all over the mall. The words "God Bless America" are on the ledge right above the sign for "Nordstrom." Yeah, I'm sure that blowing our money on things we don't need to engorge our already stuffed drawers and closets is exactly how God blesses America. I think I'm going to be sick.
In fact, to me, the biggest enemies of "Christmas" are not the people who choose not to celebrate it, but the people who think that Christmas is all about trees, wreaths, home and hearth, presents, buying/consuming as much as possible, apple cider, or even family. That insidious definition of Christmas is what has really destroyed it. It has made Christmas seem tame and fuzzy--and that is not what it is.
Christmas is a celebration of the seriously CRAZY and OUTRAGEOUS fact that God came to earth, took on flesh, and was born as a helpless baby who would grow up to be the Redeemer of all. I mean, that is not tame or fuzzy--it's F-ing amazing. And I puke on all the reindeer, santas, trees, and glittery bows that try to make it less than it is, which is totally and utterly SHOCKING and INCREDIBLE.
posted by bethany at 7:33 PM
7 Comments:
Not that you feel strongly about this or anything, right?
You have a great point, but did you see a point in what your family member was saying? The United States has been for most of its history a Christian nation and now there is a serious effort to secularize it. The elimination of any mention of God in public has become a religion of its own for many. It seems to me that it's that situation which is the root cause of your family member's discomfort. Target's decision is merely a catalyst that encourages the underlying dismay to surface.
I have to disagree with Sarah with regard to "celebrate one, then celebrate all." There's nothing wrong with a culture having a primary religion while tolerating others. Someone following Zoroastrianism, for example, should understand they are in the minority living amongst a largely Christian population and be prepared to accept that his view is not going be celebrated. Multi-culturism leads to a total lack of culture. By trying to be all-inclusive we become all-exclusive.
If there's any doubt about the US as a Christian nation consider the population: 76% Christian, 13% non-religious, 1% Jewish, and every other religious orientation comprising less than 1%. Why must we be inclusive to these tiny minorities? (see http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html for my stats sources - the Census Bureau recommends this site as a source instead of itself.)
darktortoise, while i think i understand your position (that the majority of the country is Christian, so that should be reflected in the culture), my point is that there is not that we shouldn't celebrate Christmas. Rather, my point is that stores DON'T celebrate Christmas--or if they do, it's not a "Christian" version of the holiday at all, it's just some cultural warm-fuzzy party. If we are a Christian nation then Christmas is about JESUS, not about wreaths and bell-ringers.
Oh, but P.S., I don't think we are a Christian nation. (I don't know if that was clear in my comment--I was just saying that for the sake of argument).
If 76% of the population self-describes as Christian and the country was established by Christians and included Judeo-Christian values as the basis for the Constitution and early laws, and still, it's not a Christian nation, what does it take to be one?
Also, I don't see why cultural warm-fuzzy should be excluded if people like that as part of their celebration. Party hats and cake have nothing to do with being born, but they sure make a birthday party better. If people lose sight of the core reason for the celebration (like throwing a birthday party where the fact that it's the person's birthday is forgotten, to continue the analogy) then that is a problem, but I don't think the presence of additional trappings means the core isn't there or that such trappings are the cause of people losing sight of the real meaning of Christmas. Correlation is not causation.
So, at the risk of mixing metaphors, attacking the superfluous elements people have chosen to add to Christmas (decorations, shopping, gift-giving, etc.) rather misses the point, like attacking symptoms of a flu, not the flu itself. What you seem to be really distressed about is that people are losing the core meaning of Christmas and that you believe that the commercial side of Christmas is a symptom. I don't believe that simply changing the commercial side will do anything about the underlying cause and I'm hesitant to say that the commercial side of Christmas is a problem if the core purpose and observance remains intact.
I hate Target SO much.. except for their exclusive Star Wars toys and cheap electronics.. but besides that.. I hate Target SO much..
Darktortoise:
You wrote: " I'm hesitant to say that the commercial side of Christmas is a problem if the core purpose and observance remains intact."
But that is just the point, and perhaps we disagree on this. But the God I worship, and the Jesus I know from Scripture (who had very strong words to say about money and possessions) is exactly what is "excluded" when Christmas becomes a holiday about presents and decorations. To me, it takes the essence of Christianity, and hence the Christian-ness of the holiday, right out of it.
But perhaps we disagree on who this Jesus is and what he stands for, whose birth we celebrate on the 25th. That could very well be the case.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I appreciate it.
Post a Comment
<< Home