The War On Christmas (Carols)

I am frequently accused of being a Scrooge, a Grinch, choose your insult because I tend to celebrate Christmas in my own fashion instead of just blindly thinking that what everyone else thinks is cool is.

And yes, I do say "Happy Holidays", get over it. The fact is, despite Christian egocentrism, that some people do NOT celebrate Christmas. And, yes, my Christian friends, your Jewish/Athiest/Agnostic/Muslim/Buddhist/Hindu friends really DO mind you wishing them Merry Christmas. The only reason that you think that they don't is because they smile and thank you so as not to hurt your sensitive feelings. It is only your insensitivity that allows you to force Merry Christmas on people that you know damned WELL don't celebrate.

One thing that I don't understand about modern Christmas is why are polar bears and penguins suddenly symbols of Christmas? All right, okay, I BUY if not AGREE WITH polar bears because they are at the north pole, where Santa is, but penguins live on entirely the wrong side of the Earth.

On to "Christmas Carols". I love Christmas music, especially spiritual music. Away In A Manger, Silent Night… these are great songs.

But there are some songs that are NOT Christmas songs that we only hear at Christmas time, passed off as Christmas carols. Frosty The Snowman is NOT a Christmas carol, nor is My Favorite Things from The Sound of Music. Sleigh Ride isn't a Christmas song, nor is Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow. Why not? Because they don't mention Christmas, Santa, the Nativity or Christ. To me, this renders them NOT Christmas songs. Good King Wencaslas is not a Christmas song. It says "Good King Wencaslas looked out on the FEAST OF STEPHEN." Saint Stephen's feast day is December 26th, not Christmas.

And one that's always kind of bugged me is a lyric from "Do You Hear What I Hear?" I can't help but think that this song was originally in another language, and got either mistranslated or intentionally re-translated to make it flow better. That's the line that says "A child, a child, shivers in the cold, let us bring him silver and gold." First off, NONE of the wise men brought silver to Jesus. They brought gold, incense and myrrh. Second off, if a child shivers in the cold, let us bring him a freaking blanket or a puppy or a teddy bear or something that will keep him warm and stop him shivering, right?

Peace.

Rev. Randal