Christmas is widely celebrated as a joyful and festive occasion, a time to share gifts, food, and love with family and friends. But behind the glittering lights and cheerful songs, there is a dark and sinister history of this holiday that many people are unaware of. In this article, we will explore some of the evil aspects of Christmas, from its pagan origins to its modern-day exploitation by corporations and governments.
The Pagan Roots of Christmas
Contrary to popular belief, Christmas is not the birthday of Jesus Christ, nor is it a Christian invention. In fact, the date of December 25th was chosen by the Roman Emperor Constantine in the 4th century AD to coincide with the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. This was a strategic move to assimilate the pagan cultures that worshipped various sun gods, such as Mithras, Sol Invictus, and Saturn, into the new state religion of Christianity. By adopting the pagan symbols and rituals of the winter solstice, such as the evergreen tree, the wreath, the mistletoe, and the yule log, Constantine hoped to unify his empire under one faith.
However, this syncretism also meant that the original meaning and purpose of these symbols and rituals were lost or distorted. For example, the evergreen tree was a symbol of eternal life and rebirth in many pagan traditions, but it was later associated with the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden and the crucifixion of Jesus. The wreath was a symbol of the cycle of the seasons and the sun, but it was later interpreted as a crown of thorns. The mistletoe was a symbol of fertility and love, but it was later linked to the betrayal kiss of Judas. The yule log was a symbol of the fire that kept the darkness and cold at bay, but it was later seen as a reminder of the hellfire that awaited the sinners.
The Commercialization of Christmas
Another evil aspect of Christmas is the way it has been commercialized and commodified by the capitalist system. Instead of celebrating the spiritual and communal values of the holiday, many people are pressured to buy and consume more and more products and services, often beyond their means. This creates a vicious cycle of debt, stress, and dissatisfaction, as well as environmental and social problems.
The commercialization of Christmas can be traced back to the 19th century, when the Industrial Revolution and the rise of mass media created new markets and new ways of advertising. The image of Santa Claus, for example, was largely popularized by the Coca-Cola company in the 1930s, who used him to sell their soft drinks. The idea of giving gifts to children, which was originally a minor and occasional practice, was also promoted by the toy industry and the department stores, who created the myth of Santa's workshop and his elves. The notion of the Christmas shopping season, which now starts as early as October, was also invented by the retailers, who wanted to boost their sales and profits.
The commercialization of Christmas has also led to the loss of the original spirit and meaning of the holiday. Instead of celebrating the birth of Jesus, who preached love, peace, and justice, many people celebrate the birth of consumerism, which fosters greed, competition, and inequality. Instead of spending quality time with their loved ones, many people spend hours in crowded malls, online shops, and delivery services, looking for the perfect gift that will soon be forgotten or discarded. Instead of sharing their resources with the less fortunate, many people waste their money on unnecessary and harmful products and services, such as plastic decorations, electronic gadgets, and junk food.
Christmas is not the happy and holy holiday that many people think it is. It is a pagan holiday that was hijacked by the Christian church and then corrupted by the capitalist system. It is a holiday that celebrates the worship of the sun, the tree, and the money, instead of the worship of God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is a holiday that promotes the values of materialism, individualism, and selfishness, instead of the values of spirituality, community, and generosity. It is a holiday that brings more harm than good to the people and the planet.
Therefore, we should reconsider our participation in this holiday and its rituals. We should question the origins and meanings of the symbols and practices that we follow blindly. We should resist the pressure and temptation to buy and consume more and more. We should reclaim the true essence and purpose of this holiday, which is to celebrate the love of God and the love of our fellow human beings. We should make Christmas a time to reflect, to give, and to serve, not a time to shop, to receive, and to indulge.