The day was not a complete loss, however, because despite not finding any gifts under the snow earlier,… We are supposed to be surrounded with our loved ones and attend Christmas service and gather around tables eating together and sharing holiday memories while listening to Christmas music. It was then, in the mid-nineteenth century, that the phrase “the true meaning of Christmas… The true meaning of Christmas is a phrase that began to appear in the mid-19th century when a shift toward a more secular culture resulted in a national backlash. —————————————————————————————————————————————————— He did it because he cares for you and me, and wants to adopt us into his family–now and forever. This is how it happened. Some of these traditions have been carried from the family’s ancestral home. Here’s a reminder for Christians to remember the reason for the season these holidays. Taking the time to encounter the authentic �true meaning of Christmas� can provide a spiritual oasis amid the commercial yuletide frenzy. See more ideas about true meaning of christmas, meaning of christmas, christmas. Pay it forward. But from the midst of this dark conflict comes the story of the Christmas Truce of 1914. Most people think of gifts, shopping, late night celebrations, huge lighted lanterns, decorating trees and lots of food and alcohol. Jan 18, 2020 - Explore Kathy Anderson's board "True Meaning of Christmas", followed by 447 people on Pinterest. Whatever excuse … “Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the … Indeed, historically Christmas was a time for unedifying revelry, interrupted by some liturgical events before the raucous celebrations could continue. Every contribution, however big or small, makes a difference. If only people could really understand the true meaning of Christmas and not be so infatuated with the gifts, lights, shopping and trying to spend the most money to impress people - all the while getting in debt. Dec 17, 2018 - Explore Donna Buice's board "Finding (the true meaning of) Christmas", followed by 198 people on Pinterest. Copyright © 2020 Spark Networks® USA, LLC All right reserved. Here's How To Avoid A Lonely…, 3 Christian Christmas Symbols & The Meaning Behind Them, The Gift of Love: What Your Partner Needs From You…, 7 Christmas Bible Verses To Reflect On Over The Holidays, The Reason for Christmas: What To Focus On During The…. I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. To help the sisters, St. Nicholas dropped three bags of gold coins down their chimney in the night – enough for dowries and a wedding for each of them. Not a creature was stirring, except those god damn cats, they were fucking shit up. Good as it is to amplify in our society the adage that �Jesus is the reason for the season�, it must be directed primarily at ourselves, reminding us to take time out from the holiday bustle and prepare for the birth of the Redeemer. Sure, Christmas started as a religious tradition, but it has slowly been secularized over the past centuries. It is said that shepherds visited the baby Jesus, and the candy canes are meant as a reminder of the crooks they carried. God sent his only son to be the atonement for all our sins so that we would not be separated from God. But what is the real meaning of Christmas? You might also be interested in: Our First Christmas Together: Celebrating The Holidays In A New Relationship. Christians began to see the secularization of the celebration day of the birth of Christ as the shift toward Santa Claus and gift exchanging replaced the celebration of the advent of Christ and giving to the poor and needy without expectation of receiving anything in return. Finding the true meaning of Christmas is hard for many but the real meaning of Christmas is finding the love and joy that Christ displayed. The human cost, well in the millions, staggers us. It could be said that Christ rarely was in Christmas in the first place. Choose a new favorite dish to cook together, have a night out to see the lights in your neighborhood, or simply take some time with someone you care about and create a Christmas playlist that speaks to the two of you. This progressive shift has been so noticeable since the 1800s that the Christian world began to fight back. Some of these traditions have been carried from the family’s ancestral home. Every year during Advent � and, increasingly, weeks before that � we are likely to hear the call to observe �the true meaning of Christmas�. For example, some Eastern European families eat traditional Christmas wafers decorated with nativity scenes. ... “He will judge between the nations,” meaning our God will be the sovereign ruler over all nations. Much of their time is spent in frantic preparation for Christmas, office parties, the obligatory New Year�s Eve bash, and planning the summer holidays, which coincide with the seasons of Advent and Christmas. Our nostalgic, idealised image of Christmas as a homely family event is relatively modern, having been shaped in the 19th century � perhaps not coincidentally a time when it also became increasingly commercialised and gradually secularised. This generous man helped the poor, including three sisters who had no money for dowries and therefore could not get married. Sunrise in winter, and we were driving in our eight-year-old Chevy Blazer on an isolated forest road. This gave way to the legend of Santa Claus bringing gifts to good children through the chimney. As Christians, we have a true opportunity to contemplate the real meaning of Christmas — being one in love, sharing and sacrifice for others like Jesus Christ two millennia ago. “For decades Christians have campaigned to �Put Christ back into Christmas�, to little avail.”. The Western Front, only a few months into the war, was a deplorable … Indeed, these can be joyous and affirming. Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, He came forth from heaven to live on earth as mortal man and to establish the kingdom of God. But the essence of the season is that God gave us the greatest gift of all time—his own Son, Jesus Christ: From the revelation “ The Meaning of Christmas ” The Meaning of Christmas is the realization of a Greater Mission This is Christmas for you. Works of fiction � in literature, in movies and on television � have done much to entrench this notion of �true meaning of Christmas� as a response to assorted Scrooges, Grinches and other people of ill will who require a conversion. Above all, serve gladly this Christmas, remembering how much Our Savior has blessed us. It makes little difference whether the hymn �Hark, The Herald Angels Sing� provides the soundtrack to our collective Christmas experience, or the secular �Santa Claus Is Coming To Town�. December has come and with it all the joys of Christmas. This study can set the tone for a Christmas of real worship—one like you’ve never known. As a child, Christmas meant presents, which meant it was a great day. Finding the true meaning of Christmas in the most unlikely of places. The wonderful meaning of Christmas is that Jesus came to rescue us from the death sentence caused by our sin, and to give us hope and peace with God. 19 Joyful Christmas Songs: Celebrate The Reason For The Season! God’s love for us, our love for Him, and our love for each other. Many families choose to give back by volunteering and donating items to help the less fortunate. Most other decorations have special meanings as well. As Christians, we can remember that this story is at the heart of the true meaning of Christmas. is different from your e-mail address and doesn't contain the word 'believe', what opportunities your church has for volunteering, the special meanings behind many Christmas symbols, Our First Christmas Together: Celebrating The Holidays In A New Relationship. It’s easy to think that the true meaning of Christmas has been lost among the tinsel and trimmings. One of the most remarkable stories of Christmas comes from one of the darkest moments of modern history. For many families it is not possible to opt out of the secular Christmas celebrations. This is how it happened. Candy canes, a popular Christmas treat, are also a reference to the story of the first Christmas. I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. These are an intrinsic part of the Christmas celebration and the meaning should not be missed! Because the Christmas season is meant to be a time of happiness, many people choose to spend extra time ensuring that everyone has the best holiday season possible. Updated December 2, 2013. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. This year, as the holiday season begins to sweep us away in a whirlwind of shopping and wrapping, take time to remember what the holiday is truly about – the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Why not take time this Christmas to reflect on God’s great gift to you? Jesus was born in order to pay the price for the things we have done wrong: sin. It is a time for family and friends to spend together and to renew their bonds, to celebrate the ending year and to look forward to another year together. Along with this, many families also have important traditions that are connected with the meaning of Christmas. Bright lights, evergreen wreaths and a jolly old Santa are just some of the symbols people associate with the Christmas season. Many people have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. This year I want … We need to keep in mind that the first Christmas, when the Son of God was born in a lowly stable, was calm and quiet as it is today. Dec 25, 2017 - I probably sounded like a spoiled brat in my earlier post, Modern Philosophers, whining about not getting any Christmas presents, but it has been a rough year and I really hoped Santa Claus would bring me something. John MacArthur’s study The Real Meaning of Christmas helps you think of Christmas in a whole new way—in part because it looks at Bible passages you probably don’t associate with Christmas truth. Certainly, these virtues should be exercised all year around, not only when the jingle bells are jingling. Twas the morning of Christmas, and all thru the house. David McGrath: Finding the true meaning of Christmas in the woods. Series (High Quality) Series (Low Quality) Your support means we can keep Catholic news alive so that many others will have free access to the high-quality, trustworthy news they deserve. Please support The Southern Cross For decades Christians have campaigned to �Put Christ back into Christmas�, to little avail. Seeking Christmas: Finding the True Meaning Through Family Traditions (by Renee Robinson) helped me to think about simple, yet meaningful, ways I could create memories for my family during the month of December. World War I ravaged a continent, leaving destruction and debris in its wake. Of course, these qualities correspond with the attributes of good Christian living, but they do not constitute �the true meaning of Christmas� as the followers of Christ would define it. You may decide to use different methods, if you are encouraging your toddlers or parents to participate in learning, than if you would do it for yourself. Thank you. We all love Christmas, but we tend to let the meaning of Christmas… well we tend to let it get lost in the middle of all the chaos. These are often decorated with a prominent red ribbon, which represents Christ. These conversions tend to exclude, however, Jesus, whose birth the feast of Christmas marks. Whether it’s paying for coffee for the person behind you or telling the person you give … As the words "Merry Christmas" slowly lose their meaning each year, I find myself understanding the true meaning more than ever. That's Church. During this Christmas season, I have a new appreciation for the holidays. Finding the true meaning of Christmas. The true meaning of Christmas often gets lost in the rush of the season: the shopping, the parties, the baking, and the wrapping of presents. True Meaning of Christmas Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. Enjoy the holidays, but, like Jesus, make time for the lost and those in need. This is "Finding the True Meaning of Christmas" by Christ United Methodist Church on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. Usually the phrase intends to highlight positive seasonal virtues which might be summed up as representing a general generosity of spirit. We go to church, we learn about what Christmas is all about, then come Christmas … 11 Ways To Keep Christ in Christmas These Holidays, Our First Christmas Together: Celebrating the Holidays in a New…, Single During the Holidays? Yet, many people don’t realize the special meanings behind many Christmas symbols and decorations. For the busy family, this inherently requires the simultaneous celebration of two Advents and two Christmases: the noisy secular affair, which involves often excessive spending and consumption; and the more thoughtful religious variant, which involves reflection, prayer and joy at the birth of our Lord � as well as reaching out to those who might not have a happy secular Christmas. The meaningless phrase �season�s greetings� (or, worse, �compliments of the season�) has usurped the more traditional, Christ-centred salutations. Without Jesus, we would all die for our sins. Aside from its religious significance, Christmas is a holiday with great meaning in society. Volunteer in a soup kitchen, donate books and toys for those who might be going without, and see what opportunities your church has for volunteering. It is seen as an opportunity to spend time with family and friends. Of course, these qualities correspond with the attributes of good Christian living, but they do not constitute “the true meaning of Christmas” as the followers of Christ would define it. Along with this, many families also have important traditions that are connected with the meaning of Christmas. The Christmas season is a time to express one’s love to everyone from close friends and family to those who are less fortunate. The poem A Visit from St. Nicholas(1822) helped popularize the tradition of exchangi… The true meaning of Christmas is to cheer people up during a cold and depressing time of year. Many Catholics have capitulated and joined the secular razzmatazz, save for Christmas Mass and perhaps the lighting of Advent candles. To the perceptive Christian, it is evident that in films and on television, in shopping malls and in many homes, the jolly Santa Claus�who himself is based on a Christian saint�has taken the Holy Family�s place. True Meaning of Christmas Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. Shopping malls have indeed become the new cathedrals �where we worship material things and riches�, as the late English Cardinal Basil Hume so strikingly put it. We find the real joy of Christmas when we make the Savior the focus of the season. So the “true meaning of Christmas” is interpreted not as a celebration of the birth of the King of Peace, but as a vague concept that involves a set of agreeable virtues. The origin story of Christmas follows the story of the Virgin Mary, Jesus’ mother, who was called to the town of Bethlehem to participate in a census. The images of a tree filled with glittering lights and beautifully wrapped gifts underneath represent the season and focus for many people, while the true meaning of Christmas fades away. The beginning of His life in such a humble place represented humility and how Jesus had come to Earth not to rule, but to seek and save the lost. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree. Santa Claus coming and leaving all the things I… Is it the gifts under the tree, the lights in the windows, the cards in the mail, turkey dinners with family and friends, snow in the yard, stockings hanging in the living room, and shouts of "Merry Christmas" to those who pass us in the streets? The weeks before Christmas, our Advent season, are a hectic period. Finding the real joy of Christmas comes not in the hurrying and the scurrying to get more done. Christmas has become more than a religious holiday. It does not happen only once a year, but it is a reminder that beyond all of your personal needs and immediate difficulties, you have a greater mission. https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/19K6EebY, Movie Review – Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Order The Southern Cross Magazine for Your Parish. That means lots of food, getting together with family and friends, giving each other gifts, being kind to others, and helping those in need. Three inches of new powder had fallen overnight. True Meaning of Christmas: Celebrating the Savior. In some ways then, the true meaning of Christmas is love. The kids were quiet, gaping out the windows. Christ truly is absent at his own feast, despite the Nativity scenes in some shops. It’s more than commercialism, shopping, wrapping gifts, decorating trees, dinners, programs, and Santa Claus. The True Meaning of Christmas December 18, 2016 ~ kathrynspen In the USA, as well as in some other countries around the world, we have the freedom to celebrate Christmas and other holidays in our homes pretty much as we choose to… Instead, they stayed the night in a stable, where Jesus came into this world. But that doesn’t mean we should overlook the true meaning of Christmas. The call to put Christ back into Christmas is one that should find resonance firstly among Christians. God’s love for us, our love for Him, and our love for each other. We forget the true meaning of Christmas. A major symbol of the season is Santa Claus, also known as St. Nicholas. But when she and her husband arrived, there was no room for them at the local inn. We seek your support not simply to survive, but to grow in our mandate to share the Good News and keep you informed about your Church and Catholic faith. Research the meaning of Christmas yourself or with your family. This Christmas, why not embrace that feeling of love by creating your own traditions within your family? Gifts are exchanged to show appreciation for those we care about. At the same time, however, we must find time to celebrate God�s gift of his Son to us, and the birth of Christ in our lives. In some ways then, the true meaning of Christmas is love. Scan to snap, or if you’re on your phone select the link. 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