Well, as we do each year, we are putting up our Christmas village. Leslie has long had a set of ceramic North Pole buildings, and setting it up on a special table with fake snow quickly became a tradition in our family. Most years I tease that “this year we shouldn’t put it up.” But no, it’s a firm part of our observance of Christmas.

The fact is Christmas, as we celebrate it, is about tradition. Stockings hung by the fire, and the Christmas tree, and the roast turkey with stuffing, and presents. Much of that – things that we think are central to it – comes out of England in the last century. Think about it: even Santa Claus has a red nose because it is cold outside. But have you ever thought about how they celebrate Christmas in Australia, where Christmas comes in the summer? Or some other warm climate?

Traditions are good and wonderful and help our celebration, but it is also important to separate how we celebrate Christmas – the cultural stuff – from remembering the birth of Jesus Christ. It is that message that we need to hang onto as tightly as we hang on to our traditions. The message of Emmanuel, “God with us.” The message of peace, and giving and sharing. Those things, after all, are the true traditions of Christmas.

The other night I saw on television “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” After the mean Grinch had stolen all of the stuff – trees and presents and the rest – he was amazed to hear the Whos down in Whoville get up on Christmas morning and still sing and celebrate. He simply couldn’t understand it. “‘How could it be so? It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!’ Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! ‘Maybe Christmas,’ he thought, ‘doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!’”

It means a lot more. It means God and hope, love and peace. And joy. Deep and everlasting Joy.
Merry Christmas.

Ed