A few places in blogville (I like this better than "blogsphere"... it's more homey) have been discussing the Christmas X, and its historical place in X-Mas. I'd known for years that it wasn't meant as a slight, but the background is quite interesting.
I never get too hung up on the semantics of the Season. Not like our state Senate, who passed a resolution making sure we call the state tree a Christmas Tree, dangit. Get the important stuff out of the way first, I always say.
Sure, some folks get riled up (redundant? Can one get riled down?) when others try to slip a shot of Jesus into their eggnog. Hey, if you can't get riled at the holidays, when can you? I mean, really.
You know, not too long ago it was flipped. People were concerned about making sure Jesus was in everything at Christmas. I don't have this as point of fact, I just use the lyrics from the old chestnut (redundant? new chestnut, anyone?) Here Comes Santa Claus:
Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus,
Right down Santa Claus lane
Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer
Pullin' on the reins
Bells are ringin', children singin'
All is merry and bright
Hang your stockings and say your prayers
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight!
A nice fusion of Faith and Fancy, I think. We can only hope the kids are praying for World Peace, and not the Power Rangers Dino Thunder Battlized Arm Extender (which is what I'm shootin' for).
Later in the song, we learn that:
Peace on earth will come to all
It we just follow the light
So let's give thanks to the Lord above
That Santa Claus comes tonight!
We at SPASTIC have no problem with this tune. It's adorable. It is what it is. But can you imagine someone writing it today? Chances are slim it'd hit the Christmas Number One (go, Nizlopi, go!).
As the posts, like the Yule Log, dwindle down to nothing over the coming days, SPASTIC (remember them? I barely do) just wants to wish its 12 faithful readers a Happy Holiday. Which includes Christmas. And Hanukkah. And New Year's. And Kwanzaa. And probably others, but I don't think any of my readers celebrate them. But it's open-ended. Because I want you to be Happy.
And, thanks for coming around.
Now go put out those Communion Wafers and Milk for Santa.
1 comment:
...and then the baby Jesus spoke with the booming voice of the Heavenly Father:
'UNTO YOU SAINT NICHOLAS, I BESTOW A MOST IMPORTANT MISSION:
'THOUGH MY HEAVENLY CHARTER SHOWS THAT I SHALL RULE BY WEIGHTIER MATTERS, YOU SHALL RULE WITH A SYSTEM OF JUDGMENT BASED ON DEEDS, AND DEEDS ALONE.
'IT FALLS TO YOU TO DECIDE WHO IS GOOD AND WHO IS EVIL BASED ON THEIR ACTIONS IN THE FINAL WEEKS OF THE YEAR.
'THOUGH YOUR GOOD WORKS AND PUNISHMENTS SHALL BE EVIDENCE OF YOUR EXISTENCE, LIKE BELIEF IN ME, YOUR VIABILITY AND TANGIBILITY WILL BE DOUBTED.
'TAKE HEART, THOUGH: I SHALL SURROUND YOU WITH BEAST, SERVANTS, AND WIFE TO SUPPORT YOU IN YOUR TIMES OF TRIAL AND DURING THE PERIODS OF PERMANENT COLD IN WHICH YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF
'AND FROM THOSE THAT BELIEVE IN YOU AND YOUR DEEDS, OFFERINGS SHALL COME TO YOU EACH YEAR. THOUGH THEY MAY BE TRIFLING COMPARED TO THE WORKS YOU DISPENSE, KNOW THAT THESE OFFERINGS ARE MADE WITH HEART, AND EXPRESS THE JOY AND FAITH IN WHICH YOUR CONGREGATION CELEBRATES YOUR LIFE.
'I WILL GIVE YOU CONTROL OF TIME, CONTROL OF AGE, AND THE AFOREMENTIONED POWER TO JUDGE THE WORKS OF ALL WHO WALK THIS EARTH - UNTIL THEY COME TO SEE ME...
'FOR COMING HERE THIS FATEFUL NIGHT, I GIVE YOU ALL THESE THINGS.
'...NOW MAKE WAY FOR THOSE THREE GUYS WITH THE SHINY AND SMELLY STUFF.
Post a Comment