My Friend, December 25 and The Evergreen Tree

I have a lot of facts about the alleged birthday of Jesus and the oh so famous Evergreen tree.
I also have an overwhelming concern for one of our fellowship ladies who just found out she may not be one of us cancer survivors who is just too danged mean and stubborn to die. The breast cancer has spread to her lungs and she must start chemo again for an indefinite period. Considering her situation almost paralyzes me with fatigue. But this is not about me. This is about her and Christmas traditions and evergreen trees and Jesus.
How can I incorporate these diverse issues into one story? Let me try and we will see where it leads us.
In the first 300 years of the Christian Church birth dates were not given or celebrated. The Death Day was much more important as that was the day one entered into the heavenly kingdom.
Jesus' birth date was not historically recorded, but we know exactly when he entered Jerusalem as the ruling Messiah. We also know his death date to the hour. Have we confused what is important to God with our traditions? Will our death date be the day He has our birthday party ready with cake, friends, party hats,blowers,presents? Maybe ponies?
There have been a wide variety of hypotheses on Christ's birth date ranging from November through May. The Eastern and Armenian Church picked January 6. The Western Church favored by Constantine went with December 25. So as with St. Nicholas,A.K.A. Santa Claus, it seems the interpretation and legends of these traditions are arbitrary. I choose, hmmm, don't hate me, no traditional western Christmas. Can you see me dodging your rosy cheeked boos and bah humbugs?
I, being a really lazy human bean, hate the whole decorating frenzy one must enter upon to be a non grinchy,all American or western Christian. It is a massive redecorating blitz that leaves me with a dark cloud of dread hanging over my head. Beginning mid November, I can barely enjoy my young turkey filled Thanksgiving Day for dreading Christmas decorating season. My visions are not of sugar plums, but of undecorating the house in January surrounded by masses of dusty boxes covered in 17 year old packing tape hanging in ragged strips.
The green tree is the central figure around which all things jolly and seasonal revolve in our traditions.
I find it ironic that Moslems have banned our Christmas celebrations in their Kingdom since these traditions evolved from their own cousins ,the Egyptians and Iranians. The birthday of Mithras was celebrated on December 25 by Roman soldiers who learned this worship in Iran. The Egyptians used green date palm branches in their houses to symbolize something or the other that has to do with green stuff. The Druids in the British Isles also used green plants or trees for winter solstice rituals and to keep witches away from their homes. The Roman celebration of Saturnalia on December 25 is the closest to our traditions. Saturnalia was the god of agriculture, and again with the green stuff,plants,trees. They also used lights,gifts, coins, and pastries for happiness. Pecan and pumpkin pie make me happy!!!! Drinking and drunkenness were highly involved in the celebration of Saturnalia.
The German pagans from where we derive the actual evergreen, coniferous tree worshipped special trees and sacrificed men to them every few years.
Evidently there was a man called St. Boniface who got really mad at the pagans for what was going on around these trees,and cut down one of the 'big boys',Thor's Oak. Then when a new fir sprang up, he declared it a sign from Jesus that," He is God." What? Was the New and Old Testament not enough of a 'sign'? Then there is something about Martin Luther and a pretty little tree he kidnapped from its happy home in a beautiful snow covered forest.
There were lights involved of course.
The tree thing as we would recognize it came from Germany. The Royals in Austria,Germany, and then Britain instituted the custom in their palaces. Then the peasants followed suit,and the custom drifted through Hessian and German immigrants to America.
In all of this we do manage to cram Jesus in with a church program,a nativity scene,Salvation Army bell ringers,family reunions with lots of goodwill and good food.
And so where does my sick friend whose life is hanging in the balance fit into this satirical and informative story on the origins of our Christmas traditions?
She fits in because every decoration, every lit tree, Saint Nicholas, heart felt gift, fruit cake or pecan pie she enjoys in her home or a friend's is a living,loving demonstration of God's sweet and tender care for her. It is a pitiful little gift from our breaking hearts to hers. It is an odour of sweet smelling savor to her from the hands and kitchens of friends and family members that prepare her a holiday to treasure. Hopefully she will see and taste a little heaven on earth. Love can do that even in dark places.
And of course there is Light involved,the True Light.
I like the little poem" What can I give Him poor as I am? What can I give Him to do my part? What can I give Him? .................Give Him my heart."
In spite of the questionable origins of our traditions ,we can transform them to give our sister Christ's heart and ours.

Sandy Claws is coming to your house [Muuhaha]

I am sorry,but there is an oh so sensible reason why little children are afraid of Santa Claus. Plop me down on a strange old man's lap who has long white hair and a long white beard and believe you me I would throw down and have the closest viable weapon at his throat. Who has a long white beard and long white hair in the 21st century? Some White Supremacist fresh off the mountain looking to buy supplies for the suspicious black sack over his shoulder? It is just weird to expect us to accept as socially normal that a person small or large should sit on some strange old man's lap. Who the heck invented this celebration of Jesus' birth? Why do we perpetuate it,other than it is fun to see the babies cry. It is a bit reminiscent of the Baal worshipers placing their children in the red hot arms of the idol as an offering to their god.
Do I come across as jaded? Grinchy?
Oh yeah, I know the history of Saint Nicholas of Potara,Turkey. He was good, gave to the poor, became a bishop who was imprisoned by Diocletian in the 3rd century,was at the council of Nicaea. Yada yada yada. He died December 6 and we celebrate his Sainthood by giving stuff. Hello? Knock knock. You in there Jesus? Not so much so it steps on Saint Nicholas' trip? Then the New York Dutch tarted Saint Nicholas or Sinte Klaas up even more,and so Voila! We have the present day Sandy Claws. Hey, I can tart him up too. Its up for grabs the way I see it.