Christmas Traditions part 1

Christmas trees can be found almost anywhere, any size. For many people, the Christmas tree is only a seasonal decoration. To Christians, the evergreen tree represents a celebration of the renewal of life and hope at a time of dying. Its origin as a Christian symbol is actually a tradition derived from Germany in the 18th century, in a historical event. It was when St. Boniface was evangelizing the Germanic tribes, he chopped down their sacred oak, a symbol for their god, to prove the impotence of their god. Following that, St Boniface used the evergreen as a symbol of the eternity of the true God.
Nowadays, Christmas trees may be decorated with lights and ornaments, and along with a Christmas Tree, the interior of a home may be decorated with garlands and evergreen foliage, particularly holly and mistletoe. Although Christmas decorations, such as a tree, are considered secular in many parts of the world, the significance and origin is very much Christian.

Thoughts on Christmas Day

Its the time of the year again, where malls and shops are packed with Christmas goodies and decorations.Discounts and offers aligned the displays, and the streets are flooded with the "Christmas feeling". Are we aware of what Christmas is all about? Perhaps we are too occupied with the Christmas errands such as shopping for gifts, flipping through catalogues for affordable Christmas turkeys or hams, or even adorning the homes to conform to the festive mood. In those hassles we had our hands full, have we forgotten about HM??

We have turned His birthday celebration into wild and merrymaking parties, tainted with drunkedness, ordies and fun. The scent/mood/tone of solemn, reverence and joyful anticipation for the Nativity of Our Lord seems to be forgotten. Parties seem fun, don't they? We drown ourselves down with food and liquor, temporary forgetting our daily tows, casting aside our beliefs, and exchnaging the great story of a Saviour's birth for goosips, cheap talk, laughter or even complaints, as if the day was just another day, except that it is a public holiday.

His deserved appearance in pictures, Nativity scenes or ornaments in our rooms seemed to be replaced by angel dolls, or even pixies, fairies, elves etc. It is as if the focus of the feast is for these creation of God. Can Jesus ever be substituted with an angel? His deserved attention and honour, but yet shopping for presents, and finding a gift for loved ones.

Aren't we insensitive to and forgetful about someone here? His birthday is only once a year but yet it has been to so much taken granted for. Each year passes by with the special Person being treated like a dejected beggar, though its because of that special Person, that we have this day.

Maybe we are too much influenced by the material and the secular world, that we have neglected our Christian roots and tradition. We like to travel along with the flow, dare not resist of go against the flow of the crowd, for fear of rejection and ridicule. We are willing to compromise our religion, our faith, so as not to "offend" others. This even to the extend of wishing each other "happy holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". If we don't stand up for what we believe in, to uphold the original and authentic meaning of Christmas, who will? In the end, only the devil will rejoice. We mustn't be cowards for it is truly a privilege and joy to be a Christian. We must proclaim and abide our faith and tradition, only then can we be a visible light of God's message to the world.

Have a Holy and Blessed Christmas!!