"After the Reformation, godly Protestants in Europe were absolutely opposed to Christmas. It was despised by the Puritans and Non-conformists in England. In 1644, when the Puritans controlled the Parliament, it was declared that no observation of Christmas was to be had on December 25th, but, instead, it was to be observed as a normal market-day. It was called "the Profane Man's Ranting Day." At that time, troops would actually break up Christmas celebrations, tear down decorations, and arrest anyone holding a service on that day! Some who celebrated it in Europe were also thrown into prison.
America's settlers ("Protestant America") rightfully considered Christmas a "popish" holiday. In fact, it was only in the early 1800s that several founding members of the New York Historical Society "invented" Christmas. Before then, it was illegal in colonial Massachusetts to even take December 25th off work. Christmas was forbidden as "unseemly to ye spiritual welfare of ye community." (Christmas was banned in Massachusetts in 1659, and this law remained for about twenty years. In Boston, public schools stayed open on December 25th until as late as 1870!) It wasn't until 1836 that any state declared Christmas a holiday (Alabama), and then there were no more state declarations until the Civil War. The so-called Christmas customs and traditions were later concocted more for commercial purposes than for religious."
And today, we have American Christians claiming that the holiday is being attacked because of people saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas"! It seems to me, that if they are truly following Christian ideals, they would be quite tolerant of people saying "Happy Holidays" and even "Happy Solstice".
I heard of the origins of another holiday custom today... the origins of the luminary. This is where you place a cup or so of sand in a brown paper bag, place a candle inside, and then place a few hundred of these lights on the streets and driveways at night. It is quite beautiful! This came from New Mexico, I heard.
"Someday at Christmas, a new world will start... with peace and hope born in every heart, someday at Christmas, men will be free.... maybe not in time for you and me, but someday at Christmas time..."
In this season of celebration of Light, may the Light of God shine in your eyes and your heart!
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