Christmas
Symbols of Christmas Guest Columnist Father Michael Bergeron
that in order to compete with the pagan celebration, they would themselves order a festival in celebration of the birth of Christ. Although the actual season of Jesus’ birth is thought to be the spring, the date of Dec. 25 was chosen as the official birthday celebration to compete head on with the rival pagan celebration. Xmas
A lot of people are concerned about Christmas. We are barely finished with Thanksgiving and get up the next morning at 6 a.m. to start shopping. People say it is too commercial and we have taken the religious significance out of the celebration. But is that really right? Or has the religious significance always been there and we simply fail to see it. If we take a closer look at the symbols of Christmas we might be surprised to find Christ everywhere. The Date of Christmas
“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). The idea to celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25 originated in the 4th century. The Catholic Church wanted to eclipse the festivities of a rival pagan religion that threatened Christianity’s existence. On Dec. 25, the Romans celebrated the birthday of their sun god. Although it was not popular, or even proper, to celebrate people’s birthdays in those times, church leaders decided
“Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’” (Matthew 16:16). People often complain that they have taken Christ out of Christmas. But we must remember where Xmas comes from. That abbreviation for Christmas is of Greek origin. The word for Christ in Greek is Xristos. During the 16th century, Europeans began using the first initial of Christ’s name, “X” in place of the word Christ in Christmas as a shorthand form of the word. Although the early Christians understood that “X” stood for Christ’s name, later Christians who did not understand the Greek language mistook “Xmas” as a sign of disrespect. But the Christians were using it in the highest respect, even making an “X” on their graves. We should not be too worried about Xmas. Christ is still there. The Christmas Tree “Then shall all the trees of the forest exalt before the Lord, for he comes to rule the earth” (Psalm 96:12). The tradition of the Christmas tree
was brought to this country by Germanspeaking immigrants. The tree is an “evergreen” and is one of the few trees that does not die (lose its leaves) in winter. For this reason, it is a symbol of everlasting life, the precious gift from Jesus to all believers. Not long ago, our Holy Father gave instructions that a Christmas tree be displayed in St. Peter’s Square during the Holy Season celebrating the birth of Christ, who is our life. The Christmas tree tradition was brought to America by Pennsylvania Germans in the l820s. The Star
“The star which they had observed at its rising went ahead of them until it came to a standstill over the place where the child was” (Matthew 2:2). One of the most popular symbols of Christmas is the star. Many people top their tree with a star or place a star that is brightly lit over their homes. It was the star which led the Magi to
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December 2020 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 43
