hope of the sun’s return. The Celts and Germans held these trees in high
regard and refrained from cutting them down. They often decorated the
trees with religious icons in the wilderness itself and danced or sang around
them as part of their rituals. The Druids tied fruits to the trees and brought
back a branch or two so they could decorate their homes with it. They also
baked cakes in different shapes to offer to their gods. That is where
Christmas derives its traditions of decorating trees, singing carols and
baking cakes.
After Christianity spread through the European continent, puritans were
actually quite opposed to the celebration of Christmas because it had pagan
roots. So much so, that the festival was outlawed and merrymakers were
actually charged a fine for their mirth.
Today, people are divided over the celebration of Christmas because they
have lost sight of the true meaning of the occasion. The festival has been
commercialized excessively and in the process, people have forgotten how
important it is for us to connect with our environment. Thus, they cut down
trees in order to decorate them, clutter the planet with synthetic adornments
and spend thousands of dollars on gifts to exchange. Instead, if people were
to focus on the true meaning of Christmas, they would leave the evergreens
intact, promote the use of organic materials and spend their money in
helping the less fortunate. It is important to realize that pagan traditions
came into being so that people could use them as a source of joy and hope
in order to cope with the darkness and coldness that came along with the
winter season.
In contemporary times, this holiday season is supposed to go beyond each
individual’s religious beliefs and cultural practices so that it can be
celebrated as a completely secular festival. During Christmas, we must all
remember that this season is about unity, not divisiveness and thus push
aside our spiritual differences, curb commercialism and do what is best for
the planet and our fellow humans.
The
Atheist's Guide to Christmas
A collection of smart, funny essays, of course—short
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