It is that time of year again where everyone wants to seem to argue over the meaning of Christmas and whether or not it is appropriate to say ‘Merry Christmas’ or ‘Happy Holidays’ (my personal choice is Happy Winter Solstice or Happy Solstice Season). It also seems to be the time of year where secular atheists such as me explain their problem with Christmas. But I will not be partaking in such discussions, because, really, I do not have a problem with Christmas. While the attitude of certain Christians and their demand we conform to their particular norms makes me bristle, Christmas itself does not get on my nerves. After all, what is Christmas but another holiday to celebrate and commemorate the turning of another year and gather together with family and friends? Be it Chanukah, Kwanza, Yuletide or Christmas, this is the time when we humans come together in the deepest depths of winter to stay warm, physically and mentally, with traditions that date back generations.
The worse I can say about Christmas is that it is a misnomer, and even that seems disingenuous because Christmas is one part of the grander season. While most people I know consider Christ as the “reason for the season,” Christ’s mass no longer hold any meaning for me in itself. My thoughts, indeed, are not occupied by Christ but instead multiple other thoughts. In a cosmic sense, it is a time to harmonize the lunar and solar years. In an ancestral sense, it is a time to wrap yourself in furs around the hearth and enjoy good mead with family and friends (or, alternatively, a comfortable robe and hot chocolate). And it is this gathering together that holds the most appeal. And in that spirit I shall wish you a Happy Winter Solstice. May your celebrations be grand, your drink plentiful, your food filling, and your company full of cheer, regardless of the reason behind your celebrations.
