The mythical ethos of Santa Claus is an important part of the Dutch Christmas, transported to the New World in the 18th century by Dutch immigrants to the New York area and popularized by 19th century writers and poets in New York. For example, the familiar “Night Before Christmas” poem (written by C.C. Moore, a professor of Biblical Literature, in New York in 1823) scripts the main features of the holiday by describing the visual appearance, actions, and character of Santa Claus, as well as the appropriate reaction to him. I like Santa Claus. He is an important part of the celebration of Christmas in my family tradition (English, Swedish, Scots), and I won’t allow him to be denigrated in our house.
Perhaps you like to do things differently in your home. There is no one, right way to celebrate Christmas, and we can waste a lot of spiritual and emotional energy worrying about how others keep or don’t keep it. If we wanted to be exacting and snobbish, we LDS wouldn’t do anything at all at this time of year, but save our Christmas spirit for April
The origin of the custom of gift giving at Christmas may be scripturally based in the visits of gift bearers to the recently born Christ child, particularly, the shepherds and the Wise Men from the east, as described in Matthew and Luke. They brought the gifts as a sign of respect and adoration. The gifts the Savior would have us bring to him today are a contrite spirit, broken heart, and willingness to serve.
There are many references in both ancient and modern scripture to various kinds of gifts and to the appropriate giving of them. Some gifts are problematic, as described in Moroni 7: 6-10, 30, or Matthew 12: 35-36. We exchange gifts with everyone with whom we come in contact. Evil people almost instantly give themselves away by the kind of language they want to share with us. I admire what the father of a former ward member said: “I got away from those people because I didn’t like the way they talked.” What is it that makes a gift “evil?” It might be a gift which is grudgingly given, or a gift which is inherently evil or improper in some way, such as knowledge of how to make money withoutworking, dirty stories, or malicious gossip.
In contrast, what are some of the good gifts we can give or receive from others, gifts of empowerment? The work we perform to earn money is a gift to our family. The work we do around the home to make it a place of comfort and joy is a great gift. The time we spend attending to the needs of family and friends. The smile, and the extended hand of friendship and fellowship, as well as goodwill, benefit of doubt, and trust are all gifts that don’t cost much and that we can give and receive all year around, in the true spirit of Christmas, unilaterally, with no expectation of getting anything in return. To me, your presence in my life is always the best present.
Perhaps you like to do things differently in your home. There is no one, right way to celebrate Christmas, and we can waste a lot of spiritual and emotional energy worrying about how others keep or don’t keep it. If we wanted to be exacting and snobbish, we LDS wouldn’t do anything at all at this time of year, but save our Christmas spirit for April
The origin of the custom of gift giving at Christmas may be scripturally based in the visits of gift bearers to the recently born Christ child, particularly, the shepherds and the Wise Men from the east, as described in Matthew and Luke. They brought the gifts as a sign of respect and adoration. The gifts the Savior would have us bring to him today are a contrite spirit, broken heart, and willingness to serve.
There are many references in both ancient and modern scripture to various kinds of gifts and to the appropriate giving of them. Some gifts are problematic, as described in Moroni 7: 6-10, 30, or Matthew 12: 35-36. We exchange gifts with everyone with whom we come in contact. Evil people almost instantly give themselves away by the kind of language they want to share with us. I admire what the father of a former ward member said: “I got away from those people because I didn’t like the way they talked.” What is it that makes a gift “evil?” It might be a gift which is grudgingly given, or a gift which is inherently evil or improper in some way, such as knowledge of how to make money withoutworking, dirty stories, or malicious gossip.
In contrast, what are some of the good gifts we can give or receive from others, gifts of empowerment? The work we perform to earn money is a gift to our family. The work we do around the home to make it a place of comfort and joy is a great gift. The time we spend attending to the needs of family and friends. The smile, and the extended hand of friendship and fellowship, as well as goodwill, benefit of doubt, and trust are all gifts that don’t cost much and that we can give and receive all year around, in the true spirit of Christmas, unilaterally, with no expectation of getting anything in return. To me, your presence in my life is always the best present.
Make it a happy season.
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