A very long Christmas Wish!

Dear District 2452,

During this time of the year, as we are getting prepared for a new trip around the sun, I genuinely feel like the world is on pause and that time is moving differently. I take this opportunity to reflect on this “most wonderful time of the year” and what Christmas means to me.

Christmas day occurs around winter solstice (shortest day of the year), and long before Christianity, pagans used to engage in ceremonies centered around the gods of light and fire. For them, it was a reminder that brighter days are coming and that winter and cold don't last forever (a link for the curious minds).

Later on, in an effort to replace pagan religions and traditions, the Church chose this day to commemorate the birth of Jesus, the leader of Christianity. However, the celebrations were raucous and carnival-like; and in America, Christmas was canceled in the 17th century as puritans banned any sort of Christmas celebration and Christmas wasn’t declared a federal holiday until 1870. Towards the end of the 19th century Christmas started to shift towards a family centered holiday that celebrates joy and peace. In World War I, upon the request of Pope Benedict XV, military troops ceased fire for a short period of time during the Christmas period… you see the world does stop on Christmas…

Over the years, Christmas traditions and symbols evolved to fit the needs and expectations of an evolving society (another link for the curious minds). And the birth of Jesus slowly shifted into the birth of Santa (yes, I am quoting the Simpsons ) and consumerism became the dominant pattern: big piles of gifts, food more than anyone can eat, new clothes… Christmas is a time of cheer, but a cheer that cannot be imagined without shopping.

Today, what I absolutely love about Christmas, is its universality and how it has crossed religious and cultural boundaries. Everyone can celebrate it within their own traditions, values, and beliefs; and it embodies different meanings to everyone.

For some people, it is a religious holiday centered around Jesus, while for others it’s a tradition and an opportunity for families to be reunited.

Christmas is also a day to celebrate the joy of giving, as people consider it as a chance to look at underprivileged people and support them in any way (have you checked the awesome D2452 Surprise Santa initiative led by the community service committee?).

Christmas could be absolutely meaningless for the ones who reject all aspects of it, but most importantly, it can also be a painful and a stressful period for the ones who are alone, are grieving, are struggling, or simply cannot afford to celebrate.