Celebrating Christmas?

My reflections on the center of Christmas

Many people celebrate Christmas around the world. Christians and others share the joy and take the chance to have warm cheers. It’s good. I do not argue on this.

So far which I may witness, we may all see the glorious of all happiness during the Christmas. But do we truly understand the meaning of Christmas?

Let’s come back to the word “Christmas”. Having this word in mind, we can clearly distinguish the word “Christ” is in Christmas. When we say “happy Christmas” it has another meaning that we have joy in this Christmas time. Therefore many of us would share the happiness by sharing warm food, normally for winter time, such as stampot (dutch potato soup), nabe (Japanese soup), sup ayam (Indonesian :p), etc.

But do we really know or extent the meaning of Christmas? This is my personal opinion. Today I was reminded that the center of Christmas is Christ. Christ has nothing to do with religion. Therefore the essence of celebrating Christmas for anyone is also valid. No doubt for this.

For some western cultures, where Christians were widespread for many centuries, celebrating Christmas is part of occasions when extended family get together. It is also in Indonesian Christians. They celebrate Christmas. Some go to church together. Some go for vacations. The others prepare food and other activities.

This is year will be the 3^rd Christmas I celebrate abroad. Away from my extended family. Is the Christmas that I have today or the last two years different with others Christmas that I had or that I will have? Coming back to my argument about Christ as the center of Christmas, then it should be the same. Why? Christ is not as our national heroes or our football idols or other charismatic people. Those people can die, can be forgotten. Of course they may have big influences to large society. But it stops there. No eternal influences.

What about Christ? He is alive. He was the one who were born in Israel more than 2000 years ago. He had been alive long long before that. He will alive eternally. We don't see his graveyard. For that reason we celebrate somebody who is different. Let's pay the tribute to Christ alone. It is more than joyfulness, warm foods, new clothes, gifts, etc. It is the time when Christ came to the Earth, or especially it is the time when Christ comes to our heart. Happy Christmas!

Disclaimer:

This article is for author's reflection only. No distribution nor copy of this article is allowed without permission of the author. Nevertheless, comments and discussions are appreciated.