Christmas Is Americana

The Christmas season is upon us.

Christmas trees and lights are everywhere. Department stores are running their "holiday shopping" ads. Atheists are up in arms and calling the ACLU. Don't you just love the season?

I was thinking about the secularization and commercialization of Christmas today. It's getting to the point that nobody seems to like Christmas, at all. At least that's what they say. The atheists complain about the religious aspects of the season, while man Christians decry the secularization of the season.

I wonder why we can't just enjoy Christmas.

Seriously. Can't we just enjoy the season for what it is? Even the commercials and the Christmas lights, and Santa Claus and reindeer. I love it all.

Yes, Christmas Day is a day that my family recognizes the birth of Christ. We read the Christmas story. We go to Christmas Eve communion at our Church. We honor the Gift given to us from heaven.

But I also like the TV Christmas specials. I like the Christmas lights. I like almost all of the "secular" aspects of the season. It's not anti-Christian. It's a part of American culture.

Yes, most of the traditions are borrowed from other cultures. Santa Claus and the gift giving and so on didn't start here in America. But much of the "trappings" of the season are unique to our culture. We've borrowed a little of this and added a little of that and created our own Christmas culture. Some aspects of that culture point to the Christ. Others are simply a part of the "fun". And I like it all.

So, why don't others enjoy it? Frankly, you could go through the entire season, watching the Holiday shopping advertisements, and the Christmas specials and look at the trees and the lights and the tinsel and never be confronted with or reminded of the Christian religion. If that's your choice.

But atheists and leftists and other secular humanists can't let it go at that. They aren't REALLY offended by Christmas trees and Christmas lights. They aren't even offended by the manger scenes and the Bethlehem stars they see at Christmas. They are offended that Christians are enjoying themselves. They can't stand it that people of faith have a time of year in which they publicly celebrate. And they REALLY can't stand it that many non-religious people celebrate with them. And they can't stand America, Americana and American traditions.

That's why they come out from under the rocks every year in December.