Who should Christmas be all about?

[Villages PL]

A new Rasmussen telephone survey of 1,000 Americans found that a majority said Christmas should be more about Jesus than Santa Claus.

60% said the holiday season should be about Jesus.

20% said it should be more about the man who comes down the chimney.

20% were unsure.

Does this suggest we need a separate date for Santa Claus? Jesus on Dec. 25th. and Santa on Jan. 10th.?

[graciegirl]

A new Rasmussen telephone survey of 1,000 Americans found that a majority said Christmas should be more about Jesus than Santa Claus.

60% said the holiday season should be about Jesus.

20% said it should be more about the man who comes down the chimney.

20% were unsure.

Does this suggest we need a separate date for Santa Claus? Jesus on Dec. 25th. and Santa on Jan. 10th.?

Christmas is not a should Christmas is an "is". Whatever YOU want to spend the day doing, according to YOUR beliefs and traditions is what Christmas should be. Christmas is whatever people make it to be, in their heart, in their mind, in their home, in their family, in their church. in their community. Some people celebrate it entirely differently than others. No one has the right to tell anyone how they should celebrate this holiday. Holy-day, food celebration, candy feast, gift giving, charity giving, enjoyment or sadly for some, depression and isolation.

I have found that whatever effort I have made to make Christmas special and wonderful and magical and fun and holy...has come back to me and caused me happiness. I love Christmas. I love Santa. I love the feasting and the joy and the sacredness of Christ's birthday and His party. Some do not. It is just another day. Some choose not to celebrate it the way I do or to celebrate it at all. Some spend the day doing good works. It is whatever a person wants to make the day.

[Villages PL]

Soooooooo, I guess we're all on the same page.

[gomoho]

and Gracie - I love what you posted. Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas

[jblum315]

I think it should be about joy for children, especially for disadvantaged children

[coralway]

The same Thanksgiving meant - a long (5 day) weekend.

[Challenger]

A new Rasmussen telephone survey of 1,000 Americans found that a majority said Christmas should be more about Jesus than Santa Claus.

60% said the holiday season should be about Jesus.

20% said it should be more about the man who comes down the chimney.

20% were unsure.

Does this suggest we need a separate date for Santa Claus? Jesus on Dec. 25th. and Santa on Jan. 10th.?

No:ohdear:

[gomoho]

The same Thanksgiving meant - a long (5 day) weekend.

BAH HUMBUG:ohdear::ohdear::ohdear:

[Topspinmo]

Commercialized Xmas is for business. Santa Claus Xmas is for kids. For many of the less fortunate Xmas time hard times both mentally and financially. Xmas can also be depressing for the well off wanting more like I didn't make the billionaire list this year or my 10000 square foot house too small.

[Buffalo Jim]

Gracie : Very well said and thanks for saying it .

[billethkid]

I don't particularly like the wording of what Christmas "should" be.
Similar to Gracie I beleive Christmas is and has been what and however it means to each of us.

Christmas has it's varying traditions depending on roots, where one lives and their religious faith. And those, in our family, continue through our children and grandchildren and great grand children. None of us have to stop and think about what it "should" be.

As far as any conflict about where does Santa Claus fit....well there just is not a conflict at all....never has been.

As a result there is no need to invent a new holiday to suit who ever needs what ever.

It works just fine the way it has been and is......Merry Christmas and can't wait to see what Santa brings me....no problems here!

[onslowe]

Consistent with my religious beliefs, for me Christmas 'is' (not should be) about the Incarnation - God becoming man to free us. The holy day from which all others follow.

Gracie's thoughts for all of us are magnificent. Merry Christmas!

[redwitch]

What I try to do is give as much as I can to others. I never pass a Salvation Army bucket without dropping something in it. I make sure my grandson drops off a gift for Toys for Tots. And so on. It is up to each individual to make sure that this is the season of giving. If you can't give something monetary, give of yourself. Find the time to visit someone housebound. Help a cancer patient get ready for Christmas. Give a caretaker a break and stay with their loved one for an afternoon.

We can bemoan that Christmas has become too commercial or we can do what we can to help make it a season of joy for ourselves and for those who need.

[Barefoot]

What I try to do is give as much as I can to others. I never pass a Salvation Army bucket without dropping something in it. I make sure my grandson drops off a gift for Toys for Tots. And so on. It is up to each individual to make sure that this is the season of giving. If you can't give something monetary, give of yourself. Find the time to visit someone housebound. Help a cancer patient get ready for Christmas. Give a caretaker a break and stay with their loved one for an afternoon.

We can bemoan that Christmas has become too commercial or we can do what we can to help make it a season of joy for ourselves and for those who need.

Well said!
This post describes the true meaning of Christmas.

[CFrance]

Everything most of you said, plus sugar cookies.:ho:

[gap2415]

For me, the time leading up to Christmas is such a blessing with the music, the thoughts of giving however small or large, the friendliness of people!
Whatever you think of Christ who initiated all this.....we can all join in this Spirit in which Love plays no small part. I wish everyone a Christmas, merry and bright.

[Bay Kid]

Christ....

[TheVillageChicken]

I realize the introductory statement is not the theme of this thread, but in 2012, the same poll by the same polling company had 76% voting for Jesus, 14% for the Jolly One, and 10% unable to decide.

Last year, 67% went for Jesus, 17% for Santa, and incredibly, 17% unable to decide....yep, that is 101%.

It looks like Jesus is losing numbers every year, some to Santa, but mostly to the wishy washy crowd.

I assume that in "undecided," they must be including the ones who said they didn't give a hoot and the ones who told them to pi$$ off.

Can't help it, folks...I'm an overly analytical engineer, and I've already put a reminder in my calendar to check next year's results.

BTW, I would have voted to outlaw Santa, and made it illegal to give a child a mass manufactured product as a gift.

[rubicon]

the village chicken addressed my main points. I recognize that Christmas is personal but the fact remains that there are people in leadership roles that are infringing on individual rights so that the net effect is that the theme of Christmas for Christians is being driven out . Look at the Christmas cards you receive and so on.

Ask yourself is there a politician today that would dare speak of God and Christianity as did our founders, Lincoln when establishing Thanksgiving and so many other great leaders of the past.

Merry Christmas and may God protect your family and you bestowing joy, fellowship and love and his grace.

[graciegirl]

the village chicken addressed my main points.

Merry Christmas and may God protect your family and you bestowing joy, fellowship and love and his grace.


Et cum spirit tuo. Merry Christmas kind man.

[tedquick]

As others have said, Christmas can mean something different to each individual. My brother is a Jehovah’s Witness. To him it is just another day off work, period. No more, no less. It’s just another day that he doesn’t have to go to work. To me, it is a special time of year. It is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ. This will be my 17th year spending Christmas Day with my kids and grandkids in another state. To others it is simply a day to exchange gifts and enjoy “the fat man”. Well, my family enjoys the “fat man” as well as The Man, but then that’s us and the way we choose to honor the Man and the day. I have Jewish friends and Muslim friends. I have friends who are agnostic and friends who are atheists. Each celebrates Christmas Day in his or her own way and as long as we still have the freedom to choose in America that is the way it should be.

And VP, I love the thread!

Merry Christmas to all!