Old Glory Gunsmith Shoppe: Twelve Days of Christmas: Progressive Scrooges Continue Their Culture War

Contrary to a seemingly popular belief, instituted and maintained by progressive socialists, Christmas was not celebrated before Christianity. Santa Claus is based upon a real historical person: Saint Nicholas.

Hello? What part of Christmas is Christ's name? Wikipedia has an entry dedicated to the Christmas Controversy. A little common sense research can answer most of those questions, referred to as 'controversy'. The rest is either tradition or whatever the church dictates, or rather the myriad of Christian sects dictate. Christmas is an historical event, whether it is viewed as religion or world history; but we all have seen how Progressives love to rewrite history - look what they have done to the educational systems history textbooks. Athiests and Progressives have ventured into an all-out war against Christmas; while they ignore or appease Islamic Jihadists, the true radical religious danger that is global.

The first Christmas was when Jesus of Nazareth/Galilee was born, but was not celebrated until centuries later, created by the Christian Church.

After the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, called The Christ, his disciples turned to apostles and spread his philosophy, founding the first seven Christian churches and passing their leadership to bishops and clerics. Christianity not only became a new religion, but it also began to get organized by the leadership; who provided certain days set aside for feasts, and one of them was the birth of Jesus the Christ.

When Christianity arrived in Celtic Britannia and the Julian Calendar had been adopted, the winter solstice yule celebration was integrated into that holiday season which originated as Christmas Day, when mass was attended to and Christians had a feast. Society likes familiarity and the Christianized Romans knew that since the birth of Christ was declared to be at the winter solstice celebrations, it was best to include remnants of those festivities. Thus, the Christmas tree, Christmas wreath, and even the pagan Yule log became traditions kept over generations. The Church helped, along with the choir and monks, by establishing selected songs/music that became part of that tradition. Devout Christians, like the Pilgrims and Puritans, denounced Christmas because they felt it deterred away from the true meaning of the designated celebrated day.

Saint Nicholas

Before the Victorian era, Christmas, at least in the United States was primarily a religious observance for the Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, Protestants, and Lutherans. The founders of the United States were Judeo-Christian, but saw the problems of theocracy, thus the First Amendment does not allow government to establish any religion. However, it was established that people could practice their religion.

Fast forward to today … the consensus of so-called progressives, who are not a majority of the people, Christianity, Christians have been persecuted for a very old holiday and its customs that originated to celebrate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth – Jesus Christ.

Most of our Christmas celebrations, in terms of decoration and the 'Christmas Spirit' comes from the Victorian revival of Christmas, influenced by Charles Dickens and his story A Christmas Carol. It became a season of generosity as well as a family oriented festival marked by the old tradition of the Twelve Days of Christmas, a carol of the same name.

As the 20^th century began to take form, Christian writers like C.S. Lewis noted how a split between the religious connotation and secular celebration was drifting farther apart. Today, groups and individuals complain about the public display of the manger scene and other displays of why Christmas, Christmas Day, originated. Actually, the original word for Christmas was Latin/Old English – Crissmas – Christmas Mass.

Wikipedia entry:

The Soviet Union, and certain other Communist regimes, banned overtly religious Christmas observances. Most customs traditionally associated with Christmas, such as decorated trees, presents, and Ded Moroz, were later reinstated in Soviet society, but tied to New Year's Day instead; this tradition remains as of the present day.[34]

Ebeneezer Scrooge - "A Christmas Carol"

American political progressives follow the communist idea about Christmas, not respecting others beliefs or religious practice, and atheists have gone so far as to take cases to the US Supreme Court and District Courts in protest of any public religious display. Imagine what the Christmas season would be like without the beautiful outdoor decorations, which today less can be seen of decorations personifying the birth of Christ, like the manger scene, for example. This social controversy has been dubbed, in the 21^st century's beginning, as the War on Christmas.

Some people would rather relate to the Dickens character 'Scrooge' or the Seuss character, 'Grinch' in their Gothic, dark minds than the joyous season that most of us have known.

Spectacular Nativity Scene at Bob Hope's Residence

Among the traditions in the US has been Christmas displays with religious themes presented on government-funded property; which was, in one case, brought before the Supreme Court in 1984 in Lynch v. Donnelly. It is hard to believe that citizens and lawyers would take up valuable court time (and funding) to fulfill an anti-Christmas crusade. What they are saying is because they do not believe in Christmas or like the traditional decorations, no one should be allowed to display such things. This is what progressive socialism is in the United States.

In New York City, in 2002, the public school system banned any display of the Nativity scene (manger display). Sometimes the display of reindeer, snowmen, and elves have been caught up in the arguments. Recently, court cases have been established that are against any Christmas carols being sung in public schools. Included in traditional carols are songs like “Silver Bells” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” - which are secular in its lyrics.

These same problems have occurred in Canada and the United Kingdom – sharing the traditional Christmas celebrations. In Germany, Christmas markets were renamed as Winterfest in 2013. In Norway and Sweden, their Christmas traditions have been dampened by socialist Scrooges as well.

It is so trivial and outrageous that a minority would force the majority as to how seasonal holidays are celebrated, or even named. In the US, the 'Christmas' tree is supposed to be called the 'Holiday' to progressive folks who just love sticking their noses in other people's affair and traditions in the name of the political correct attitude of 'being offended'. Of course, there is no offense of hanging ceramic penis in a public library and calling it 'art' OR using visual sexual advertisements for their products.

The latest groups, joining the progressives are the Muslim organizations, who protested during the 2013 holiday season over the concept and display of Santa Claus. Some have decided that since they have immigrated here and become citizens, they can order traditions of the US and certain groups – not celebrating Christmas at all. Turkey has experienced Muslim zealots who have joined that group when Turkey has ignored any Christmas decorations/celebrations since it became a republic under the rule of its first president, Ataturk.

How can one justify a religion that is intolerant while demanding tolerance at the same moment?

The Christmas season has been commercialized extremely, starting in the 1950s. The local Walmart had a Christmas display one week before Halloween, October 31st. I realize, because the practice of gift-giving has surpassed any other meaning of the holiday, with the help of retailers and the changing society, the need to stock early is essential to retailers; but there is more to it than getting presents. The spirit of Christmas, even if not looking at it in the religious aspect, is family and a wish for peace to mist across the surface of this planet, Earth – not just the pleasure of giving gifts and receiving them.

However you and your family celebrate is a personal choice, which falls under what Thomas Jefferson said about 'natural law' – freedom of choice. Most families like traditions and the Christmas season with its decorations, family gathering, and feasting has made it so pleasurable.

It seems, if the progressives have their way, most of that which children look forward to every year will either be unrecognizable or disappear. But you can believe that retailers will not let that happen, at least the commercial part that has overcome the original intent and purpose of the day of family and feasting called Christmas Day.

People can celebrate Christmas to what they believe and what is tradition to them, but there is no denying the fact that historically, it is a day of celebration of the birth of someone called Jesus of Nazareth, aka Christ; who probably was not born in December, but since the real birth date is unknown, the winter solstice is as good as any period for celebration.

Traditions are a good thing, normally. Unfortunately, as time goes by, especially as old of a tradition as Christmas, generations tend to forget the original intent of the celebration. In the case of Christmas, it is a bit more complex. The idea of Santa Claus, which became a commercial symbol evolved from a very old tradition of providing gifts for children. Saint Nicholas was indeed a real person, becoming one of the bishops of the early organized churches of Christianity, born in what is today the Republic of Turkey.

From there, he became known by the Europeans, especially Edwardian and Victorian children, as 'Father Christmas'. Evolving quickly in the 1950s, an economic boon after the sacrifices made during a second world war that followed an economic depression lasting close to a decade, Santa Claus developed into what is known today. Who knows what will evolve next because children today are 'growing up' faster, being pushed into being older, depriving them of the wonderful world of childhood, complete with fantasies, or at least fun symbolism like Santa represents. Indeed, it has become, over generations, as fun for adults to watch the children as they listen to the story of Santa and open presents allegedly coming from his workshop at the North Pole. Parents, of course, must gently nudge their children from the innocence of childhood to the realities of the real world - but must it be rushed so quickly? When one sees 10-year-old girls wearing makeup, we can see what has become of parenting; indeed, the statistics of so many single parents is a testament of a society that is losing that binding strength of family unity. Progressives are to blame for that, acting under what they call liberalism, which is a lie much like most of their political ideology, allowing government to oversee and take over responsibilities that parents have. Indeed, it is part of the Marxist maxim to educate (re-educate) children of a nation so they can grow up loyal to the government, above all else - including family. The Nazi did the same thing with the Hitler's Youth program.
The gist of the problem is that they have no line in the sand nor differentiation as to where their liberalism ends and detrimental ideology and cultural decomposing begins indoctrinating children.

It is okay that families have their own little parts of traditions they have developed within traditions such as Christmas, its part of living in a free society and constitutional republic. It is even okay to be a 'Scrooge', if that is the way one feels about it. It is even okay to not believe in such holidays at all, at least the original meaning behind it. But it is not okay to dictate how other people celebrate their traditions, their religious beliefs, et cetera, as long as it does not step upon the threshold of the rights of others. It is not okay to make the signs of Christmas disappear and its traditions, not because they evolved, but because they do not want any part of it. No one is forcing them to.
In a secular constitutional government, it is okay to display traditional holiday festivities as long as the local majority approves. If so, it is better that such displays be donated, by employees that work there or from local community folks, so as not to have to deal with the local atheist progressives who complain about the displays being paid for by taxpayer funding - which IS a valid point.
Atheists believe in no religion at all, which is their right; but they do not have the right to tell others that they cannot display traditional holiday or religious festivities - especially if sanctioned by the majority of that community. What right does a minority, especially as small as atheists have of telling everyone else what they can or cannot display?

I will continue to say publicly, "Merry Christmas" (and mean it), and will not take offense if someone replies with "Happy Hanukkah". After all, Jesus of Nazareth WAS a Jew and that holiday coincides with Christmas. Besides, such a greeting within the realm of a tradition or religious doctrine is only a well-wishing phrase of words between fellow humans. What is really wrong with that? So, I wish all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a New Year with the hope that society begins to reform itself, turning away from the progressive bigotry of people who are supposed to be against bigotry, and just enjoy the special season of the winter solstice called Christmas - and the warm, family-oriented and unity one can experience on Thanksgiving Day.
One thing cannot change, however, is that Christmas has been chosen the time to celebrate a special infant's birthday, born centuries ago, and whose words and philosophy after becoming an adult, had more affect upon the human world on this planet than any person in history - probably for all time.