Happy Two-Thousand-somethingish Birthday Jesus, you don't look a day over 35!!!
Is it really?
Technically No. Theologans and historians do not know the exact date of the birth of Jesus. It was agreed somewhere around the 4th Century that December 25 was chosen to signify the Birth of Jesus. So for over 16+ centuries the majority of humanity has recognized December 25 as "Jesus' Birthday." It's been said that the adaptation of December 25 as Jesus' birth was a result of merging the significance with a Pagan Winter Solstice Yule Holiday.
Social paradigms come and go in regards to the reaction to this season. Christmas at certain points became outlawed in England and in the beginning of the U.S. It's ironic considering there's a perception out there currently that a "War on Christmas" exists. Unfortunately the so-called "War on Christmas" hype intensified in response to the Inauguration of President Obama and the unfounded, unproven racially driven ties of him to Islam.
Which leads me to my next point.
People need to lighten the fuck up when expressing greetings to each other. So what if someone greets you with a "Happy Holidays" rather than a "Merry Christmas." So what if someone greets you with a "Merry Christmas" rather than a "Happy Holidays?" The bottom line is someone is putting forth an effort to wish you well. Can you focus on that and not whether or not they greeted you "correctly?" Hell, Jews had to put up with "Merry Christmas" and not be greeted with "Happy Chaunukah." Some members of the Black Community celebrate Kwaanza. If someone wishes someone else a "Happy Holidays," it doesn't necessarily means that they "HATE JESUS," it means they want to wish you well during this time of the year and they're attempting to be sensitive to your personal needs. If you hate "Happy Holidays" so much, then I'll greet you with a "Happy Festivus!" Fuck it, I'll just greet you with a "Mele Kalikimaka," OK? Or would you prefer a "Fuck You and Fuck this Season" greeting, like I used to express five years ago?
So then what is Christmas about? Or December 25?
So December 25 was chosen to signify the Birthday of Jesus. Some theologians are OK with that, some aren't. Also for those of you who think that everyone who labels themselves as "Christians" are all on the same page in regards to December 25, think again. Some of those who call themselves "Christian" distance themselves altogether from the December 25 date because from a historical sense, Christmas was linked to other Winter Pagan Holidays.
So yes,(going back) Winter Solstice (Northern Hemisphere) occurs approximately on the 21 of December. That's the event there the Earth surface is furthest away from the Sun. In other words, the period where the planet receives the least amount of light. At one point, Caesar declared DECEMBER 25 as Winter Solstice during his reign. If you Wiki "Winter Solstice," almost every culture has some form of celebration or seasonal significance to that period. Always along the line of the theme of "light over dark, rebirth, end/beginning of a new cycle." (BTW, in the Southern Hemisphere Winter Solstice is June; so is there Christmas on June 25 in the Southern Hemisphere?)
Since the majority of the cultures observes some form of "birth or rebirth" theme during this time of the year, would it be more appropriate just to greet others with a "Happy Birthday?"
Hear me out here...
Since I've been studying Practical/New Thought Christianity and Spirituality, the premise or theological foundation isn't so much that Jesus died and was resurrected on the Cross, but more so that Jesus taught and set an example of tapping into an inner Divinity that exists IN EVERYONE. (Yes, even those who don't call themselves "Christian") Divinity in almost every major faith is referred to as "light" and/or light symbolizes Divinity.
Notice an ongoing theme here?
It should be no surprise that even though Jesus birthday didn't technically fall on December 25, since He's viewed by many in a Divine manner, wouldn't who He is, what He signifies, and how He entered into the world "fit" into this recurring, unifying, underlying theme of light overcoming darkness? (Remember, mangers weren't these wooden stables in Jewish society during the Birth of Jesus, they were more like cave-ish hillside openings near the main housing, so that adds more of this "light overcome dark" imagery theme)
Now let's add my take on this.
As I stated, I'm leaning more and more into this concept of Jesus setting en example of tapping into the Inner Divinity as humanity was originally created. In other words, I'd rather be a "disciple" of Jesus than a "Christian." I'd rather believe in the theology that Jesus believed rather than believe in the theology that worships Jesus. Before He ascended, he commanded to "go and make disciples," not "go and create Christianity." So as His disciple, I aspire to allow the inner Divine light within me to shine and inspire others to shine their inner Divine light. To me, that IS the "Good News."
So let me greet others during this time of year with a "Happy Birthday Divine Light Within!" (And when I wish a "Happy Birthday" to that Divine Light Within, that's INCLUDING EVERYONE, PERIOD!!!)
Its much better than "Happy Holidays" or "Happy Festivus," isn't it?
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