How much can a concept be adapted to different cultures while still remaining genuine? Christmas is celebrated worldwide in countless different forms by countless different peoples of countless different cultures, not all of whom are Christians or are even remotely religious in relation to any faith.
Some Christians refuse to participate in what are considered commonly to be Christmas traditions (such as decorating a tree), as certain elements of the holiday incorporate traditions of peoples who had been converted to Christianity from pagan religions. Some non-Christians who celebrate the holiday are not aware that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus. Some of both parties just cannot seem to accept something religious being adopted as something secular.
The first instance is mostly understandable. Why enact something if it has no meaning for you? Certainly putting up a tree is not at all necessary to sharing in the joy that comes with celebrating Jesus’ birth unless one believes it to be.
However, decorating a tree is not by default “tree worship” of any sort; in fact, it could be just as plausibly another symbol, possibly meaningless on its own, of faith. Such matters are flexible with the meaning one chooses to apply to it (which is, likewise, why it is not necessary to participate).
Moreover, why shun allowing different cultures to bring ideas from past faiths into Christianity upon conversion? These traditions were not only of religious value for most people, but were much more culturally relevant and were cherished for that reason.
If Christianity is capable of being so universal and so accepting, willing to take in all people from any background, should not these different cultural realities be smiled upon? Is it not a beautiful occasion in which someone brings in something symbolic, so dear to his or her lifestyle, to this newfound faith, hoping to share it with others just as Christianity was shared with him or her?
Is this not a clear sign of Christianity’s potentially inexhaustible outreach to people everywhere of every culture? Clearly, it is an instance of honest acceptance of any individual or people, portraying that, yes, Christianity can be and is universal. How could intentionally celebrating Jesus’ birth with cultural differences be anything but positive? And would not partaking in such differences be a sign of acceptance and respect to other cultures?
If other traditions can respect Christianity, then this respect and even reverence should be mutual in some manner in order for Christianity to be truly universal.
As for non-Christians celebrating Christmas without understanding, at the very least, its historical significance regarding Jesus, this is more a matter of unintended ignorance than that of malice—and why be bothered by something unintentional?
If anything, this is more reason simply to continue spreading Christmas into more secular communities; doing so shares the Christian message and faith and if nothing else informs people of what they are doing. Very few people truly wish to act in utter ignorance.
The importance of Christmas is universal in its meaning—the birth of the savior who brings pure hope and love to humanity from God is absolutely beautiful.
Is not it worth sharing, allowing others to express such hope for life overall even if the individuals do not convert? While I personally am not a Christian, I celebrate Christmas with my family and always cherish this time of year.
The messages associated with Christmas, secular and religious, are warm, compassionate, loving—and the story, the history, is wonderful (and though I am not of the Christian faith, I can more than appreciate its splendor).
If anything is to be worrisome about the secularization of Christmas, it is the “Hallmark holiday” curse. When children receive an overabundance of toys and unnecessarily expensive gifts and this becomes all that there is to the holiday, well—Houston, we have a problem regardless of it being celebrated religiously or secularly. However, that is more of a societal reflection than one matically accompanied by secularity. If nothing else, it should provide grounds for continually seeing that Christmas, a genuine sense of the holiday in its hope and gratitude for God (or the Good, or life, or whatever one’s faith or lack thereof implies), permeates the Christian and non-Christian world alike. Let humanity rejoice, sharing in a wonderful tradition that is capable of extending its hope and compassion to all.