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Christmas symbols have pagan origins

Re: Christmas tree is only kind decorated this time of year, Dec. 6 letter.

Letter writer James Stout of Dade City recently asked, "What is a holiday tree?" Surely, he insisted, we must mean a Christmas tree.

I am always amazed and amused this time of year - at nominal Christians who steadfastly claim traditional Christmas symbolism as their very own and no one else's. Fact is that, red-nosed reindeer aside, virtually all traditional representations of Christmas are pagan in origin. The decorated tree was a part of Yule (winter solstice) celebrations long before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.

Calling it anything other than a Yule tree is revisionist (or, rather more bluntly, theft). Ditto for the Yule log and Yuletide carols. Christmas colors - red and green, silver and gold - have earlier pagan meanings. Red and gold are the colors of the God, the male aspect of the creator; green and silver are the colors of the goddess, the female aspect of the creator.

The exchanging of gifts is another solstice tradition adopted by the church. The early church chose Dec. 25 as the birth date of Christ to nearly coincide with the winter solstice. The accuracy of that date is made dubious by geography (shepherds in the field with their flocks in winter?). The waxing star of Bethlehem and the divine birth itself may well mirror the rebirth of the God (the sun) at Yule. And neither the Christians nor the Jews invented the concept of virgin birth.

But back to the tree and other Christmas customs. I, as a pagan, do not mind sharing my symbols and traditions with Christians. As I said earlier, I find it rather amusing. I do wish, though, that when Christians publish the sanctity of their holiday trappings they would be so kind as to cite (or at least know) their sources.

Purse snatchers should be ashamed of themselves

Shame on the person who stole my purse on Dec. 6 at Publix on U.S. 19 and Little Road. It contained everything I owned, plus my rent money for this month. Now I and three grandchildren will have to suffer through the holiday season. You stole the small amount of AFDC money we receive, along with the money I borrowed to try to buy the children a little Christmas present. It is hard enough to get along on $863 a month without someone too lazy to work trying to steal it.

I hope you and the girl driving the car who was waiting on you get what you deserve. I hope God gives you a happy Christmas. Because of your act, my three grandchildren will do without.

Your car was seen, and a good Samaritan got your license plate number, so both of you will be caught. I want to thank the Pasco sheriff's deputy who came and talked to me and the EMS squad who took me to the hospital when my heart started to act up because of your selfishness. They tried to make me feel better, but that is hard right now.

"Merry Christmas' debate shouldn't mar the season

Re: Bring back the spirit of Christmas past to area, Dec. 2 Times.

We've seen our politically correct considerations in action, and in the spirit of inoffensive, neutral and bland language, some values still persist even when marketing substitutes our more familiar holiday expressions with the more general sayings, as identified in the column by Andrew Skerritt.

As a child I was never offended by any holiday expressions or sayings, nor did I understand the true meaning of the separation of church and state, which certainly needs an explanation. That is, what's the new interpretation compared with the original meaning? (That's another letter, though.)

Aside from that, the outcome of the Merry Christmas debate this season may happen by commercial boycott, as we've heard during some media interviews on the subject and in some corporate responses regarding "Merry Christmas" vs. "Happy Holidays." We also should know that someone in management, a network, or a "team approach" approved the cost of all the banners and advertisements with all the neutral PC holiday messages across whole organizations and in the media.

Finally, as in Miracle on 34th Street when William Frawley explained to the judge what would happen if he didn't declare the individual in court as Santa Claus, as in the "true" spirit of Christmas, and also the potential outcome of a negative decision (that is, his future in the judiciary with all the merchants and voters whom he'd ultimately upset): That was a strategic personal decision as well as a mature corporate decision. That's how it works behind the scenes as a pragmatic, business approach to the holidays.

Hopefully we'll see an epiphany in the writing and advertising of holiday commercialism without any negative effect on the economy - that is, that boycotting idea. That should challenge the advertisers and businesses to create a real epiphany, to rediscover the empathy we should have toward one another during all our holidays, not as a marketing war with World Wrestling Federation tactics on the floors of the retail stores.

That's our responsibility for the holidays. We should hope and pray for everyone to be better connected, included, recognized and tolerant during the holidays. That spirit also should guide our behavior and conduct between the holidays.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

[Last modified December 9, 2005, 01:19:17]