Firstly, Merry Christmas to one and all.
Secondly, I would like to examine two stories that we all know and love, and discuss what their purpose is beyond entertainment.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens; and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss.
To explain what these stories want to teach us, perhaps we should look at what Christmas has become: a commercial holiday. After Thanksgiving, there is a mad dash to buy things. And at the end of it, we are all worn out and not very merry.
Perhaps, if there was not so much pressure on buying things, we would not find the holidays to be so stressful. We would not be so tired of Christmas before it arrives.
In A Christmas Carol, Scrooge is guilty of allowing himself to be, well, a Scrooge, and ignoring the true meaning of Christmas. Ignoring the plight of less fortunate people and ignoring his family.
I find the Ghost of Christmas Present to be the most impactful of the three. The ghost uses his own words against him when Scrooge feels bad for people struggling. “Are there no poorhouses?”
Indeed, there are poorhouses and social programs. Indeed, Scrooge’s taxes do pay for them. And still, there are struggling people who government programs cannot or will not help. So perhaps something else is required. Christmas Present shows him the ignorance of his words.
Instead of Scrooge being mad that his taxes are not doing enough, perhaps he himself is not doing enough. Is he not of means? Can he not offer them alms or perhaps even a job, instead of hoping someone else will?
The same occurs when he witnesses the Cratchit’s Christmas dinner. The goose they eat is small. But it is all Bob Cratchit can afford on his wages. The wages that Scrooge is in charge of.
In the 2000 version of the Grinch’s story (the Jim Carrey one), the Grinch berates the people of Whoville for their commercialism. Proclaiming that all their gifts eventually go to him, on Mount Crumpit, in their garbage.
Why do the people of Whoville spend money and rush about to have the perfect gift if most of those gifts end up in the garbage?
The Grinch steals their Christmas. Or at least, he thought he did. But still it came. The people of Whoville gathered to sing even though they had no gifts and no roast beast.
The Grinch realizes that Christmas, “came without ribbons, it came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags.”
In his attempt to stop Christmas, the Grinch brought them a truer Christmas than before.
Take to heart the lessons of these stories, and consider how to apply them in your own life.
Perhaps you can give charity to those in need. Perhaps you can forgive someone who has wronged you. Or ask forgiveness for something you have done wrong. It is up to you.
Do not forget the Truth behind the tradition.
And remember, “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”
Thank you for reading, Merry Christmas, and God bless us, every one.