10 December 2017
Two-Minute Features | 17 December 2017 | 03 December 2017

The Rise of the Celebration of Christmas, Part 3 (TMF:SE23)

Friday, December 15, 2017
Peace to Live By: The Rise of the Celebration of Christmas, Part 3 (TMF:SE23) - Daniel Litton
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       So, Christmas, still yet, wasn’t in full bloom even by the close of the 1700s. Christmas started to settle into the American culture in a more dominate fashion by the early 1800s. It’s here that we start to see the outcropping of church services on Christmas Day throughout America (Nissenbaum, pp. 45-47). The old Puritan way of ignoring or shunning Christmas was seeming to fall by the wayside. It is also during this time of the early 1800s that we see the beginnings of Santa Claus. Now, in fact, during this time some Christians celebrated St. Nicholas Day (as some even still celebrate it today), and this involved Santa, as we call him today, giving to children (Nissenbaum, pp. 73, 74, 78). This day took place on December 6, however. Nonetheless, by 1821, we read of Christmas being celebrated on December 24th and 25th, but it was meant to be sort of a children’s version of an adults Judgement Day. The point was to emphasize to children the importance of doing right in this life.

Reference
Nissenbaum, Stephen. (1996). The Battle for Christmas. New York: Vintage Books.

The Rise of the Celebration of Christmas, Part 2 (TMF:SE22)

Thursday, December 14, 2017
Peace to Live By: The Rise of the Celebration of Christmas, Part 2 (TMF:SE22) - Daniel Litton
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       Present giving really wasn’t present during Washington’s time, nor was the celebration of Christmas in the form of any special meals or food, yet Christmas had made its way into church hymnals during his time (Nissenbaum, pp. 30, 31, 33). Of important note, though, is that late December during the time of the latter 1700s was one of rest and making special foods anyway, as many were resting from their harvest work that had just taken place a short period of time earlier. So, while some were if fact taking time off of work, it wasn’t for Christmas. And while some special foods were made in regard to the season, like mince pies, these foods would have been made anyway due to the fact of what time of year it was. But, we do, on the other hand, see that Christmas hymns had been added to church hymnals in the Colonies by the 1750s. So, it is clear that at least some churches celebrated Christmas by singing hymns to some extent. One minister, in his diary in 1749, actually expressed that he wished people took greater notice of Christmas—that people would care to celebrate it more (Nissenbaum, p. 37).

Reference
Nissenbaum, Stephen. (1996). The Battle for Christmas. New York: Vintage Books.

The Rise of the Celebration of Christmas, Part 1 (TMF:SE21)

Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Peace to Live By: The Rise of the Celebration of Christmas, Part 1 (TMF:SE21) - Daniel Litton
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       During the time of the latter 1700s was when Christmas started to become popular in American society, which interestingly enough, is during the times of the American Revolution (Nissenbaum, p. 26). Even during this time, however, it is clear that Christmas was not so seriously celebrated as we as Americans celebrate it in this day and age. Most people still worked on Christmas back then, carrying out life as usual with no stopping for celebration. It was more like what we see as Independence Day, where, if it falls on a workday, many people will still work, though some take the day off. I know a lot of people enjoy having Christmas off, and most people do have it off, but even today there are still some of us who have to work, and we work Christmas Day as if it’s any other day. So, be grateful for what you have when you are off on Christmas, when you get to spend time with your family and exchange gifts. Don’t take that for granted but cherish every moment of it.

Reference
Nissenbaum, Stephen. (1996). The Battle for Christmas. New York: Vintage Books.

The History of the Christmas Festive Atmosphere (TMF:SE20)

Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Peace to Live By: The History of the Christmas Festive Atmosphere (TMF:SE20) - Daniel Litton
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       It certainly is true that the festive atmosphere surrounding Christmas—the ornaments of Christmas lights and candles, mistletoes, and even the Christmas tree—these things in and of themselves are rooted in pagan (non-Christian) traditions, or cultural traditions, and really have no connection to the birth of Christ (Nissenbaum, p. 5). Nonetheless, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the partaking or celebrating of Christmas with these kinds of items is wrong. Truly, again, it’s the heart attitude that counts. If we use these items to celebrate Christmas, and do it unto the Lord, we are in the right. I think most people don’t even know why they celebrate Christmas with these things, besides the fact that maybe it is because they were raised to do that, or because that’s what everyone else around them does. But I think a lot of people have these decorations because they want to honor Christ; they really want to celebrate and remember what God has done for us, and for the whole world. And these items bring in the mood and expression of that.

Reference
Nissenbaum, Stephen. (1996). The Battle for Christmas. New York: Vintage Books.

Observing Christmas Day in Honor of the Lord (TMF:SE19)

Monday, December 11, 2017
Peace to Live By: Observing Christmas Day in Honor of the Lord (TMF:SE19) - Daniel Litton
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       Whosoever would want to celebrate Christmas is in the right, so long as one has the right attitude toward it. And, likewise, whosoever doesn’t want to celebrate it either would not be in the wrong. Turn over to Romans chapter 14. Let’s look a passage here. The Apostle Paul states: “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:5-8, ESV). So, then, it’s important for us to remind ourselves of God’s truth behind Christmas when we celebrate it, when we give gifts to others, so that we we can observe Christmas Day in honor of the Lord.