To object indignantly to the commercialization of Christmas and to bemoan the loss of the true meaning of Christmas has become a cliché. So I risk being trite when I choose to discuss "the true meaning of Christmas." I would not have chosen this topic if I did not think that the true meaning of Christmas has become obscured. But it is not the materialism and commercialization of Christmas that I want to oppose here. My objection is to how the "true meaning of Christmas" popularly offered in its place obscures the true meaning of Christmas.

If we read the clues in our culture--Bollywood Christmas stories, casual comments, Christmas cards, even some sermons--it becomes apparent what the "true meaning of Christmas" is supposed to be. Christmas is the celebration of love, generosity, benevolence, kindness, brotherhood, and familial bonding, and the celebration of the joy, peace, and security that those things promote. The true meaning of Christmas--according to this way of thinking--is a kind of Hallmark sentimentality about a world where there is no strife, no anger, no hatred, and no criticism; a world in which there is no warfare in any of its forms.

Is that, in fact, the true meaning of Christmas? No, it is not. The true meaning of Christmas is not only about man loving man--or, if you were confused, human loving human. The true meaning of Christmas is about God loving man. It is about God giving the most amazing and spectacular gift to a certain human being. It is about God giving us the promise of the Kingdom of God and a salvaged heart out of which to desire it.

As I see it, three concepts are meant to capture the true meaning of Christmas as popularly understood: peace, joy, and love. It would be instructive to look at all three of these concepts, but I will look at only one to see if it accurately captures the true meaning of Christmas. Let's look at "peace."

As popularly understood, Christmas means the coming of peace between men. If we could simply imbibe the spirit of Christmas, there would be no more war or strife or hostility between us and other fellow-humans. If we could simply grasp the meaning of Jesus' life, Jesus would eliminate the hatred and cruelty that exists between people.

Ah, "But the angels," you say. The angels sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those men who are the objects of God's choice." They sang of peace between a man and his creator. For those few who have been chosen to receive life in God's kingdom, the birth of Jesus brought about the end of their alienation from God. It brought about reconciliation. This reconciliation to God is the peace of which the angels sang.

Christmas does not make life any easier, nor any smoother. Life is full of hardship, the hardship and sacrifice of the battlefield. Our joy is not the joy of going home when the enemy has been subdued. Our joy is the joy that comes as we are engaged in combat and see our enemy turn and run. Our joy is the joy of the hope of victory,good will triumph over evil. There will be freedom. That is the victory of life , let Lord Jesus be born again.

The Traditional Symbols of Christmas

I used to think always how did these symbols come into the Christian tradition? I think my explanations to these symbols might help many children. These used to be my doubts in my childhood
Christmas Star: On Christmas occasion believers decorate their promises with stars. Star is very much associated with birth of Jesus. Before the birth of Jesus, prophet professed that Jesus will become as a star of Jacob’s tribe (Number 24:17). In Bible we read that three kings come to Bethlehem to meet Jesus, from the East by seeing a special star on sky. The star show them way from East to the place where Jesus was born and rest over the place (Mathew 2: 9-10). So the believers hang the star on their house to commemorate the birth of Jesus.

Carole Singing: Holy Bible gives witness that when Jesus was born at Bethlehem, a group of angels appeared to the shepherds of that region and gave a Good News to them that Jesus was born in a manger at Bethlehem. And they sung a praising song-
“Glory to God in the highest and on earth, Peace among man which whom he is pleased” (Luke 2:13-14)
To continue the same spirit, believers visit house to house and sing same or similar songs to convey the message of birth of Jesus.

Christmas candle: The tradition goes back to the “Great Famine” in Ireland (1845-47), and many poor people walked in the streets begging for food and shelter. The Christmas candle was a sign that the meal and shelter was freely available. The candle was a special symbol and it would tell us that “all are welcome for a night’s free food and rest.” It is usually in Europe’s custom to light the lamp during the Christmas eves to comfort the people who are poor.

Christmas tree: Trees have always been very important in the world’s oldest religions. There are many stories about the Christmas tree also. Very long ago, when children used to be sacrificed to the gods, an English Christmas Winfred was wandering through the forests of north Germany. He came upon a huge oak where a little prince Asulf was tied up. Asulf was to be killed to please God Thor-the Thunder. Winfred rushed up and had the great ‘Blood Oak’ chopped down and saved the child. The priests of Thor would have killed Winfred, but suddenly the strangest thing happened. A little fir tree sprang up before their eyes in place of the oak. Winfred told the amazed people that it was the Tree of Life and represented the Christ child. Later on, a fir tree or cone shaped branch of any tree was decorated with tinsel, candles, presents etc. for Christmas. The Druids in ancient England & Gaul and the Romans in Europe both used evergreen branches to decorate their homes and public buildings to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Over the years, Christians, who incorporated them as part of their Christmas holiday celebration, adopted these traditions.
Trees used specifically to celebrate Christmas are mentioned in the early 1600’s in Germany and surrounding countries. The families would set up these trees in a prominent location of their home and decorate them with colored paper, small toys, food and sometimes candles. Electric tree lights were first used 3 years after Thomas Edison has his first mass public demonstration of electric lights back in 1879. The early Christmas tree lights were handmade and quite expensive. Today, Christmas tree ornaments can be found in nearly every size, color, and shape imaginable, and they are used to decorate the millions of Christmas trees used throughout the world.

Santa Claus: Santa Claus has been called by several different names throughtout the years. The original tradition and legend of Santa Claus may have been based on the early Dutch legend of Sinter Klaas, originating in the 1600’s. Santa Claus really started to get famous when American author Washington Irving published stories about Santa Claus, referring to him as Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas arrived on Christmas Eve bringing presents for children. Santa Claus changed and became more famous when writer Clement Clarke Moore wrote a poem in 1823 about a Christmas Eve visit from Saint Nicholas, better known as “The Night Before Christmas.”
Christmas is day of self-giving. It reminds us to transcend the boundaries of caste and colour and embrace the other as your brother or sister. When we serve the other with- out the desire of fruit, we are celebrating Christmas. When we give food to the hunger, comfort the afflicted, freedom to the captive, the Christmas will become meaningful.

Fr. Anand Muttungal
Spokesperson Catholic Church
M.P & C.G

The Bishop's Christmas Message
The man who owned the manger
From Bishop Kevin Manning.
Published in the December 2004 issue of Catholic Outlook.

AS I PONDER the events of Christmas, I wonder about the man who owned the stable in which Christ was born.

There is no evidence that he had contracted with the innkeeper to cater for the overflow from the inn; or that he had taken guests previously; or that he even knew the Holy Family was in residence.

However, the scenario is one that repeats itself in our day and age, and we might well ask how we might have acted had we owned the manger - would it contain the Son of God or the proverbial "dog"?

Many of you are veterans of the school nativity play: the maker of an angel's "emergency" wing or producer of tea-towel headgear for a forgetful shepherd.

You would have little trouble naming the cast of those gathered around the manger: the Holy Family, the shepherds, the kings and the angels singing in the heavens. Let us think about these groups in our Christmas of 2004.

Families
At Christmas, families are challenged to make room for everyone in their celebrations, despite differences, disagreements and hurt. It isn't always an easy time of year, especially for those suffering bereavement, separation or estrangement from the family.

We must take the first step: make that telephone call, write that note, or knock at the door of our neighbour. Make room around the manger for all in the family.

The baby in the manger
The birth of Christ focuses our minds on new life and those in the springtime of their lives. In our society, too many children are not born, and what a disaster if Christ had never been born.

We must work to eliminate all those factors that contribute to a situation where human life is destroyed. We must actively help to make room for these children and not simply point the finger of blame.

Let us make a place for every young person in education, the work force, the Church and participation in public life. It is the responsibility of every adult to nurture and support the young to become fully alive in Christ.

The shepherds
Socially, shepherds were on the fringes of society in the Palestine of Jesus. But they are not fringe dwellers at the birthplace of Jesus. They occupy centre stage.

Their presence challenges us to examine our attitudes to those who find themselves "on the outer" for whatever reason.

Around the manger, and in the heart of the adult Christ, compassion comes before economic rationalism.

The angels
"On earth peace to men of good will," sang the angels. We hear many words about peace, but not too many about the good will which necessarily precedes it.

Good will is not so much about actions as it is about a disposition, a disposing of ourselves towards dialogue, receiving and giving, and, most importantly, forgiving.

Failure to forgive means denying the possibility of change, of imprisoning another person in time.

I deeply admire those who can truly forgive. Their act of forgiveness brings out all that is noble and good in the human person. Forgiveness is liberating: it frees the one who forgives even more than the one who is forgiven.

May the Child of Bethlehem touch the hearts of men and women of good will in the Holy Land to bring about reconciliation, justice and peace.

The wise men, or three kings
With the arrival of the three figures from the East, we move from contemplating the tiny body of Jesus in the manger to the Church, the Body of Christ, and to relationships within the Church.

There is space within the Church for all of us, and there is no warrant for pushing out those with whom we disagree, much less for cultivating a culture of complaint that targets individuals or groups simply because they do not think they same way as we do.

Let us see the image of Christ reflected in each other rather than trying to remake each other in our own image.

May each of us grasp every opportunity to ensure that this Christmas, domestically, nationally and globally, "the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, the cow and the bear shall feed together" (Is 11: 6, 7). I wish you a joyful and peaceful Christmas.