As ranking curmudgeon of Vox Nova, I want to wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season. Rarely do I utter the phrase “Merry Christmas.” When I have the joy of answering the office phone, I give the standard greeting. I don’t even bother with the “Happy Holidays” dreck. Rest assured, when we actually reach Christmas Eve, I come around to wishing folks a Merry Christmas.
At one time I used to be rather animated about remembering the reason for the season. Today I was even invited to purchase a car magnet expressing, “Keep Christ In Christmas.” That is a noble goal indeed. It is something that is lost with the obsession over Nativity Scene fights in cities – the interests of the perpetually offended have seemed to have waned upon this thankfully – and secular retailers’ wishes to those who’ve given them money. While I can’t confirm this, I wouldn’t be shocked if gentleman’s clubs are now offering their patrons a “Merry Christmas” out of respect for their customers’ religious convictions. For a time that could be considered a mini-Lent and a time of preparation for the time when Christ comes again to judge the living and the dead, we seem oddly obsessed with what the salutation and farewell the perfect stranger gives us.
There are very simple ways to keep Christ in Christmas. For starters, fully participate in the Advent season. Sacramental confession is always beneficial, and Advent and Lent are times in the liturgical year for us to pay particular attention to what we have done and what we have failed to do. Abstinence – yes, you can abstain from that, but the broader definition is being used – is not offered in solidarity like during Lent, but Advent is still a good time for it. One could perhaps make a point of having their time in personal prayer devotion exceed their time shopping during this time of year. (Men should still try to exceed 15 minutes of prayer during Advent.)
I did something that upsets my own mother to this day: I told my children there is no such thing as Santa Claus. I did that when they were about 2 and 3. While I’m not out to remove Santa, I don’t make it a point to include him during our Christmas celebrations. I was more militant in the past on the point. It is truly amazing how much power we have within our own households to keep Christ in Christmas.
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