Differentiating Between a Holiday and Holy Day
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A Dec. 23 letter refers to “Christmas red and green decorations,” as if the mere presence of red and green decorations is somehow symbolic of the Christian celebration of Christmas.
Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our personal savior, Jesus Christ. Santa Claus, the colors red and green and decorated trees are not the reason for the season. I have been to shopping malls and some government office areas where a Santa Claus is next to a menorah and a Christmas tree -- but no nativity scene or mention of the birth of Christ.
Yes, we should give recognition to the various holidays at any given time of the year, but maybe we need to stop depending on others for that representation. Honor the season in your own way as an individual and/or collectively with your brethren. Donate to the needy, serve a meal at your local shelter, give a coat to someone who is cold or a toy to a child who has none. Then, wish those people a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or ...? Only then is the true spirit of this season represented. It has nothing to do with a banner on a pole.
Vince Bancroft
Moorpark
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