It’s a holiday..get over it

This is the time of the year when people’s minds and hearts turn to celebrating holidays of their particular paths.  For the Jews, its Hannukah, Kwanzaa for African-Americans, Christmas for the Christians, and Yule for those of a pagan persuasion.  Some people celebrate combinations of any and all of those just listed..candles, certain foods, gifts.  But in the midst of all this I keep hearing rhetoric(from all sides) about who’s holiday is correct and should be celebrated.  In truth, this time of year would definitely have a pagan bent(if one is going to use the term to mean one not walking an abrahamic faith), celebrated thousands of years before the church added it as a celebration of christ’s birth. In 324A.D., Justinian the emperor of Rome(A.D. 527-565), recognized it as an official holiday, “Dies Natali Invictus”, the birthday of the unconquered sun, the day of winter solstice, end of Saturnalia.  Amazingly enough the church also claimed this date as Christ’s birthday “christ mass” in order to sway the heathen into falling into line and joining the church reform.   Yet still some of the pagan beliefs are still tied with the date, with the evergreen tree, gift giving, family togetherness with food, celebrations.  So why is it that people get so bent out of shape if one is wished “merry christmas” or “happy holidays”, or the fact that politically correct people try to incorporate all faiths in the symbols of the season?  Personally I think its because some get too wrapped up in false teachings.  They don’t do the research about what traditions started where or why, nor are they willing to concede that they might not be correct in their dogma.  One faith feels that the date belongs to just them so I hear religious rhetoric from many..leaves me shaking my head.  Whatever one is wished in the spirit of the holiday could you not just accept it as such without making a federal case over it?  Doers it really have to be an exact sentiment?  I always think of this time of year as a time of peace…the days are shorter, the nights longer so family is gathered in closer. One finds ways to be creative in being tied to the house due to weather, so can concentrate on things that we often let slide when the outdoors calls us.  I love gifting to others, seeing the look on their faces when they open what I have given, knowing that I took time to consider them as a person.  Is this time religious?  No, because I am not a religious person..I am however a spiritual person, and that is something I carry with me 365 days of the year.  See, for me, its not about saying the “correct” saying when I wish someone good cheer during the holiday season…its about that spiritual connection of the season, the warmth that I carry with me for the coming year.  It’s about caring about myself, checking the path I walk, making sure that it feels like it fits well on my shoulders, tweaking it some as I move and grow.  Too often people wrap their cloaks of religious beliefs around them as if it keeps them “safe” from being coerced into believing in another’s faith, but that is ludicrous.  If one believes in a set path, then how is one person’s greeting that may be different than  what you say going to cause you harm?  If you truly walk the walk and its not all religious dogma that spews out of your mouth, rhetoric that you repeat verbatim, then you have nothing to worry about.    Religious beliefs are guaranteed by the constitution..an inalienable right that the forefathers of this country believed in deeply, and I believe they would be deeply saddened that one faith demands that they are the ones that get to dictate  how holidays are celebrated.  It’s about respect..for one and all.  So the next time you are inclined to have a knee jerk reaction to what someone does or does not say to you this holiday season…check yourself and ask yourself why…the real reason..not some crap you hear from someone’s pulpit, not some tale from long ago, based upon someone’s skewed version of history..but the real reason it unsettles you.  When you can do that..shut the fuck up, accept it in the spirit it was given and move the hell on with buying your gifts, baking special goodies, and the thousand of other chores you dream up for yourself.

PEACE OUT