I might seem an odd comparison, but to me Christmas is just like the British Royal Family.
Why? Well, because I love them both...but neither actually fit into my personal ideology or belief system.
What do I mean? Well, in my heart I love Christmas, but my head says it's ridiculous. In my heart I love the Royal Family, but my head says they're ridiculous.
Following me yet?
I love the pomp and pagentry of the Royal Family. I particularly loved Princess Diana and have quite a large collection of books about her and the Royal Family in general. I love their weddings. I love their castles and palaces. I loved seeing Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and Sandringham Estate when I was in the UK.
But I hate that they have such immense wealth when so many have nothing (even though I do believe they do a lot of good with some of their wealth). I hate the protocol with which they're treated when I believe everyone should be treated equally. I believe they are completely obsolete in today's world, but I would hate to see them go.
I love Christmas decorations, dressing the Christmas tree, Christmas Carols, Carols by Candlelight, wrapping Christmas presents, giving Christmas presents, the Christmas Spirit...
But I hate the commercialism. I hate the fact that it is a Christian festival that has got totally out of control (and so has Easter). I hate that everyone uses it as an excuse to go on a wild spending spree regardless of whether they're Christians or not. I am a Catholic, but in name only. In fact I call myself a closet Catholic, because I grew up with it but no longer practice the faith...at this point anyway. So I feel like a fraud. Christmas is supposed to be a celebration of the birth of Christ, that's all. Not this crazy silly season that it has somehow evolved into. And if I think about it (which I do because I over-think everything) it makes me more than a little mad.
I don't know. Maybe I should just stop over-thinking things and just enjoy things for what they are.
What do you think??
I am a practicing Catholic (by that I mean I go to Mass occasionally and my children go to a Catholic School) and when I do sit back and think about it the whole Christmas thing is incredibly commercial and why should non-Christians celebrate it anyway if they don't believe it. But I dont ever think too deeply into it, I guess things just are the way they are. I have a friend who is a huge royalist and I have often rubbed shoulders with the royals just because I am with her. I dont feel either way towards them but did find it particulary exciting to unexpectantly spend my hen's night with Zara Phillips. So I guess I just try to enjoy things even if it does seems ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas - I love that we share Jesus with people who don't know him yet, even thought they may not care, it's lovely that people can sing about God, and about Jesus. I love Christmas.
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