by Patti Beckert

Created on: November 25, 2009

Christmas is many things to many people the world around. It is a Christian holiday, and therefore, first and foremost, to Christians, Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Christmas celebrations in countries with that belief system center around a religious theme, whereby peace and good will are wished on all. Special church programs are held during this time and attendance at church on Christmas Eve is very common. In fact, there are many Christians who do not attend church on a regular basis, but will find their way to their local church on this special occasion.

But, many other groups celebrate Christmas in one way or another, even some Jewish families who are not strictly orthodox, bend the rules a bit to join in on the commercial side of Christmas, going so far as to put up a small Christmas tree and give gifts outside of the Hanukkah season.

Which brings us to the commercial side of Christmas; commercially, Christmas is the biggest event of the year when it comes to shopping. From buying gifts and decorations, to preparing special meals, and buying special outfits for church, this is the time of year that some people save all year for. It is a time when all the stops are pulled out and everyone does their best to help each other have a merry Christmas.

Yes, unfortunately, or fortunately for some, such as store owners, Christmas has evolved into quite a spectacle that includes people going into serious debt just to make sure their families have a good Christmas. Somewhere in the shuffle, Christ has taken a back seat to what is really important to some, i.e. the best bargains on the latest gadgets, those must-have video games, or a diamond ring for that special surprise engagement that so many young girls are hoping to receive on this day of all days.

However, with that said, there are still enough people in the world who look upon Christmas as a special time to give. It is a time when thinking about ourselves is overshadowed by the want to help others less fortunate and therefore, Christmas is a time of sharing and caring unlike any other times seen throughout the year. It is a time when local food banks can count on the generosity of their community members to give what they can to help those who just cannot help themselves. When children, who, with the kind, helping hand of strangers, can wake up on Christmas morning and find a toy or two under the tree. If only that magnitude of caring and sharing were practiced throughout the year, ahh...

Christmas is what is in your heart, whether you are religious or simply spiritual or even a non-believer. Christmas is an annual wake-up call for us to be kind to one another, to set aside differences, and to reach out a helping hand to those in need. It is associated with peace and goodwill and of course, magic.

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