Why We Keep Embracing Christmas:

It is meant to heal, not to offend

art by Jacinta Sevilla 2015

I have often stumbled upon posts and pages or memes that express negativity about Christmas stating it is a pagan celebration or some people sharing how they are "offended" by the greeting. That is part of the reason why Christmas has been commercialised and from a "Merry Christmas" to a "Happy Holidays" kind of thing. People celebrate the festivities brought about by Christmas itself but many know not and many forget the root, the cause and the purpose of it.
I would like to take this opportunity to share with you my fellow readers the brightest side of Christmas, how my home recieves christmas and the many reason why Christmas should be embraced and not be buried under misconceptions and hate
I will also share some interesting background of how the Christmas tree became part of tradition, as well as old saint nick or should I say santa Clause!

First of all, Christmas is a celebration of Christ: A religious perspective

Now, I know many are believers and many are non believers, however we all celebrate this season. Let us trace back the root of this worldwide celebration. Morphologically, (this is the breakdown of the elements of a word) Christmas is Christ + mass. Christ meaning Jesus Christ and mass which means a celebration usually used in the catholic church. A word describing a ceremony, service, a celebration of faith and worship.
Many Christians follow Christ for his virtues and love and His act of sacrifice when he died to save man from sins and evil doings. When He died on the cross, our debt was paid and we are able to go to heaven. Heaven, where all things are beautiful, good and eternally happy. We all are meant to be there and we all deserve to be there.

Basically why we celebrate Christ is because of joy! The saviour has come.
If you were stuck in an island marooned, wouldn't you celebrate upon the sight of a ship coming toward you?

And once you are saved and brought home, recovered, relaxed, safe and sound, wouldn't you mark the day you were saved, look back at it and thank the captain of the crew who came to rescue you?

This is the same with Christmas. We rejoice because we are saved.
Jesus taught us the values of love, self sacrifice, obedience and humility, oh yes, don't forget forgiving others as well. This season, these are emphasized. Of course we do not have to wait all year and at the end of the year just to do that.
We are reminded this season, because we always tend to forget. I honestly think that
no matter who you are, what you believe, these are values that we need to incorporate in our daily deeds.
For this reason I think we should not be so quick to judge and let go of words like pagan or I am offended

I painted this piece Christmas 2015, the Holy Family! They loved each other very much and they treated each other with so much kindness, respect and they had faith in God. I think this is something ideal which we all must imitate. It is worth imitating.

Who were they that such kings would bear them gifts? A God-man Said to be king but born on a manger? A king who serves. These are very humble examples.
Angels watch them and the star shining brightly! what a miracle.

I am not writing this to prove the existence of God or to say believe this or that, but the underlying concept of the goodness of which Christ brings and of which Christmas' essence is built on. Goodness, joy and love.

Santa Clause, gifts and the reindeer!

photo taken by @jacinta.sevilla

The Christmas superstar next to Jesus is Saint Nicholas, also known as santa Clause!
We see him as an old white bearded man with a red suit on a sleigh with reindeer! On Christmas eve, he gives gifts after sliding down a not so narrow chimney I hope and leaves presents under the Christmas tree. He eats cookies and drinks the milk that little children leave for him. In the morning children run to see the gifts and excited to see what is inside!

For many years or decades this has been the tradition. But who is santa clause?
Who is he?
Here’s a short over view of Saint Nick

Saint Nicholas of Myra was a 4th-century Greek Christian bishop of Myra (now Demre) in Lycia, a province of the Byzantine Empire, now in Turkey. Nicholas was famous for his generous gifts to the poor, in particular presenting the three impoverished daughters of a pious Christian with dowries so that they would not have to become prostitutes. He was very religious from an early age and devoted his life entirely to Christianity. In continental Europe (more precisely the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, the Czech Republic and Germany) he is usually portrayed as a bearded bishop in canonical robes. source

Over the years saint Nicholas has been portrayed as the great gift giver, along the way, many commercialized him and got creative. Giving him a sleigh and reindeers and Rudolf too!

source
And of course mr. snowman gets in the scene too!

here’s a Christmas card I made, Merry Christmas said the snowman!

this christmas season, let us all be like st. Nick and give more and help more people. Hoping that people will make this a habit all throughout the year!
You see? doesnt christmas teach us many things?

The Christmas Tree

photo by @jacinta.sevilla

The Christmas tree has one very interesting story behind it. Today we put a tree as a decoration, we put Christmas lights and shiny glittering balls, ribbons and icicles.
In the past in winter, people decorated their homes with branches and such to remind themselves of the coming of spring, for some Christians it is the undying life and for others it symbolizes Christ itself.

A Christmas tree is a symbol of a Victorious Faith.

Here is the reason why

”The modern Christmas tree is frequently traced to the symbolism of trees in pre-Christian winter rites, wherein Viking and Saxon worshiped trees. The story of Saint Boniface cutting down Donar's Oak illustrates the pagan practices in 8th century among the Germans.”

“This little tree, a young child of the forest, shall be your holy tree tonight. It is the wood of peace… It is the sign of an endless life, for its leaves are ever green. See how it points upward to heaven. Let this be called the tree of the Christ-child; gather about it, not in the wild wood, but in your own homes; there it will shelter no deeds of blood, but loving gifts and rites of kindness.”

Awed by the destruction of the oak tree and Boniface’s preaching, the Germans were baptized.
read more about it here

There was a sacred tree according to the pagans and st. Boniface went to the tree to cut it down proclaiming his faith as a Christian. He dragged it to his home and decorated it. He turned it into a symbol of Christ instead.

photo by @jacinta.sevilla

isnt it interesting to know this? Next time you lay your eyes on a tree, remember what it represents: A firm faith, and not just beauty and decoration or somewhere to put gifts.

Enter a home with Christmas Cheer

we appreciate the festive decorations all around
This is a season where people are challenged artistically on how to decorate while being thrifty! on the other side of the coin, we get to see beautiful sights.

photo by @jacinta.sevilla
This is our door with a wreath that my mother decorated herself. She buys from surplus and just joins all the decorations together, and I love how she is so creative and artistic in that way even though she doesn’t really draw!

Now that we’ve been over Christmas, Santa Clause and the Christmas tree, let’s look at why we love Christmas!
Apart from the emotional and spiritual goodness brought introduced by the Christmas spirit, it’s the Christmas cheer and the beauty that glows all around!

source
I just got this from the internet as an example, this isn't ours at all, credits to the owner! he he he! I just want you to take a moment to just look at the decorations and light!
Christmas is a special occasion where we get to see a little something different right? an event that changes the monotony of everyday life? like, just a normal day in 2017? well, when December comes, it gets a little extra special visually and to the ears as well.
Caroling and Christmas songs glace your ears with sweetness and happy wishes and praises in songs.

Once my mother puts up the decorations I automatically feel the goodness and security of Christmas.

It actually makes me feel very safe, it is a time I know everybody gives a little more and I am assured that for other people who are less fortunate, I know they will be receiving a lot more as well.

Here in this picture is Jesus, Mary and Joseph surrounded by the vast and numerous heirarchy of angels. This is exactly how it feels, If I may say, this season is filled with angels all around where we celebrate goodness!

photo by @jacinta.sevilla
This small display just looks small but the message is BIG!

Theres is so much beauty inside and out, people make peace, people are able to rest and connect with others.

Christmas Bonds People: A time to reconnect

This is a great opportunity to give to charity and to the less fortunate. If not, maybe give more time and attention to your family and friends. Are there relatives and friends you failed to talk to? failed to express your appreciation and gratitude? well, now is the time.

me and my friends

We all know during Christmas parties or celebrations, get togethers, they are the only chance people get to have more free time and appreciate the company of their family, friends and relatives.

Many times we are too busy! I have to work, clean, cook! I have a business meeting! I am with friends/family I can't talk right now, I did this and that, this and that.

• Christmas vacation
• Christmas bonus
• 13th month pay

These three to be celebrated things in the world of work actually give people a cause to rejoice. Thank Christmas!
This also helps improve the quality of bonding between people, or improves the quality of how they spend time, like getting to buy more food, good food, going on trips, parks, adventures and traveling.

A time to recollect

One most important thing I have realized with Christmas is that it is a peaceful time when you can meditate and realize how blessed you are

photo by @jacinta.sevilla
One sock of gifts, one sock of blessings!

I for one am so blessed because I had the opportunity to improve my art and learn to blog on steemit, but before these blessings came to my life, I was troubled and miserable and depressed. It takes preparation and a good decision to change your life, and if you do, blessings will come! as one greek philosopher said "luck is when preparation meets opportunity" so always be prepared and when your life turns around, be thankful and be joyful!

Never ever forget to be thankful.
Some friends I was able to talk with, I tell them about how sad and hard my life is and after some chit chat, I realize how much difficult their life is compared to mine but they say "they are still blessed" or "I can't complain, some have it worse". That is so true. We all have problems, no one in this world has NO problems (except for babies maybe) but point being, instead of thinking how burdened we are, think of your capabilities and talents which can uplift you and take you away from these problems.

Now that people have a break from work, you own a little time to meditate and see the good, and the bad.
Have I been productive? helpful? kind?

• there are things we forget to do
• there are things we lack
• there are things we could do better but didn't
• there are things we could have done but missed the opportunity
• there are things we failed to do and cannot rewind it
• there are many other things we worry about

What can we do to mend it?
Christmas gives us these reflective thoughts. We speak of family and friends and love, and with that, how could we possibly make ourselves better for whom we love?

and since it is December already, we can wrap our year up, give thanks and start over.

New year is coming!

We embrace Christmas time because it fills our lives with hope, it feeds the hungry soul. It teaches us to be still, meditate and be better. In terms of faith, we are revived and we rejoice for the coming of a saviour.

At the workplace, we get rewards and we get more time for family and friends.
it is a time where everything looks good, to party, the people and surroundings.

It is a time we must forgive, we turn virtues into habits.

We look back and recap, we remember who we are, what we love, what we want to do.

SO WHEN NEW YEAR COMES, WE START ANEW

Merry Christmas and Have a Happy new year!
hopefully, with this post I can spread and shed a bit of light and I might change the way some people think on Christmas.

I love Christmas! Do you?

Cheers!

@jacinta.sevilla

End

Thanks again to #steemitachievers, sir @long888 and @paradisefound for holding this meaningful contest.
soon, january, this contest will be open to all.
Godspeed!