I imagine that if I went into a room of eight-year-old Sunday School students on Christmas and asked them, “Why is this day different from all other days?” their first answer would be “PRESENTS!” Then, with a little prodding, they’d all probably be able to explain that Christmas is the day of the birth of Christ, who came into the world to save us.
Kids who are raised in the faith – and while I know there are exceptions, I think this goes for the majority of Protestant American children – they know what Christmas is supposed to be about by rote. But that’s not really what it’s about for them. And why should it be? It may be what they’re told by their churches and their parents, but it’s not what they see in their culture, or, in many cases, in the behavior of their families.
They see an American Christmas, whose central icons are Santa Claus and the Christmas tree. They sing Silent Night sandwiched between Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Santa Claus Is Coming to Town. They gorge on TV commercials telling them what their friends will be getting for Christmas. Television, radio and movies take for granted that children will wake up Christmas morning to piles of brightly wrapped, beribboned boxes under the tree. Children watch their parents stress about how many people are coming over for Christmas dinner, who they’ve forgotten to buy for, and what the credit card bill is going to look like next month. In church, they see the nativity on one end of the sanctuary and the Christmas tree on the other.
Now, I know that Santa Claus is supposed to have been derived from St. Nicholas, who was truly a worthy man who gave all he had to help the needy and the suffering. And I know many people say that the Christmas tree is a symbol of the evergreen love of Christ, the lights the host of angels, and the star atop it the Star of Bethlehem. Whatever these icons have been or have not been, in America today they have come to symbolize receiving, not giving, and certainly not Christ.
When I think of a Christmas tree, I think of presents. When I see an image of Santa Claus, I think of presents. And they’re not presents for other people. They’re presents for me. I’m not alone in that. Most of you, and most of your kids, and your neighbors’ kids, and your nieces and nephews, would probably have to say the same.
Our kids have learned that the American Christmas is a special season of the year when they are allowed and even encouraged to fixate on things they want but don’t need and to compare their spoils with those of others who may have more or less. It’s that special time of year when the worst imaginable crisis would be not getting that one, expensive, begged-for gift.
The saddest part about this is, I don’t have a good example of a solely Christian Christmas celebration to contrast with this. This American Christmas has become the Christian Christmas as well; though it may be diluted with Scripture and sentiment, the greed remains.
So what are we supposed to do if we don’t want our children to learn the ways of the American Christmas? The opposition is overwhelming. Everyone is in on it, Christians, non-Christians, family, friends, and we ourselves. I have always loved the “traditional” Christmas. In the face of all this, I say to myself, I can’t change anything. I can’t stop other people from buying too much stuff for my daughter. I can’t censor the references to greed that permeate everything we hear and see this time of year. I want my daughter to recognize that Christmas is not about getting stuff. But what can I do? How can I explain to her that presents aren’t at the center of Christmas?
What if we leave the tree out of our own Christmas decorating, and make the nativity the focal point of our home? What if we cut the Santa songs out of our Christmas playlists? What if we give our children a single, inexpensive gift for Christmas and take them shopping for toys to donate to needy families instead? What better way to celebrate? Christ calls us to help those who have less than we do – shouldn’t we show our kids that we value that teaching? Shouldn’t that account for the overwhelming majority of our Christmas spending? After all, it’s His birthday. Shouldn’t the gifts we get just be the party favors?
Why is this day different from all other days? Because unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
