Something I just realized about Christmas specials

[Xerus]

I sort of created a, make Santa better, story in my latest Rebusquest cartoon. Where he gets turned into a cookie and the characters have to find him an antidote before midnight.

I remember there was this WordGirl holiday episode where they didn't mention Santa or Christmas at all. They celebrated a cheese themed holiday instead.

In Dinosaurs, their version of Christmas is called, "Refrigerator Day", where they celebrate the invention of the refrigerator so they can store food anytime they want.

And in an episode of The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, they had a Christmas like holiday called, Low Tide, where people hang their boots over the docks and Poseidon leaves them gifts, but the naughty people get sacked by Mermen.

And Chowder had a holiday called Knish-mas, where a creature called Knish Kringle gives people gifts if you give him a Shmingerbread house.

And of course, Ren and Stimpy, celebrate Yaks-mas, where they leave a bowl of shaving cream for the yak who visits you that night so he can shave and leave you the shaving scum as a gift.

 

[snichols1973]

In A Charlie Brown Christmas, it seems like everyone is so caught up in the materialism of Christmas: Snoopy's house-decorating contest, and finding the right Christmas tree ("Get the biggest aluminum tree you can find, Charlie Brown, maybe painted pink"); Sally's Christmas wish list ("I have a long list of presents that I want.... Please note the size and color of each item, and send as many as possible. If it seems too complicated, make it easy on yourself, just send money; how about tens and twenties?")

Even the cast is so caught up in the backstage party action, that it takes the simple
child-like faith of Linus to remind us that Christmas isn't so much about the right decorations or ideal presents, but rather the Reason for the Season, when the very first Christmas gift was given to us in a lowly stable in Bethlehem....

 

[snichols1973]

So he paused, and the Grinch put a hand to his ear; and he did hear a sound rising over the snow; it started in low, then it started to grow.....
Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small, was singing, without any presents at all.....
How could it be so? It came without ribbons, it came without tags, it came without packages, boxes, or bags.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before:
Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store; maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more....

 

[Drtooth]

Here's another question. Would anyone care about the holiday if it were to revert back to its original religious meaning and everything that makes Christmas fun were stripped away for religious reflection and meditation? It would be little more than a religious duty that I'm guessing only the most devout would bother with.

We have to face it, but the commercialism is what makes people look forward to Christmas. We wouldn't have the Christmas specials that complain about how commercial Christmas is with out commercialism. It's like one of those shows that tells you not to watch TV when you're watching TV.

 

[CensoredAlso]

We have to face it, but the commercialism is what makes people look forward to Christmas.

The only thing we have to face is the concept of balance, lol. You can have the spiritual meaning and still have a good time with the celebratory aspects. I don't think God wants people to be miserable and brooding during his birthday. It's just a question of keeping your priorities straight.

 

[Drtooth]

Oh definitely. Half of everything we associate with Christmas were absorbed from Solstice celebrations and everything else was just built up from that. That's the fun stuff. The spiritual stuff (which frankly doesn't even have anything to do with family so much as commemorating the birth of the savior of the Christian religion) is what's important, but it latches on to the vehicle of fun. And we all know, you learn about important stuff through fun and not monotony. I remember more about science through Bill Nye and Beakman than High School.

Funny thing is, Chanukah's entire celebration is closer to their religion with everything being symbolic of that battle/miracle. The food is fried in oil, oil signifying the day's worth that lasted 8... the dreidle was trying to smuggle religion in where it wasn't allowed through the guise of gambling. Christians just have a nativity set and maybe some religious ornaments and music. But on the flip side, ever see a Chanukah section in a store? It barely takes up an endcap in aisles and aisles of Christmas merchandise.

 

[D'Snowth]

Well, again, irreligious people get their panties tied in a wad over any thing religious... heck, there's been controversy over in Santa Monica over a public navitiy scene being displayed that a group of atheists demand be taken down because it "infringes" on their rights (yet, they don't seem to think that they're actions infringe on the others rights for freedom of expression).

 

[Drtooth]

Well, again, irreligious people get their panties tied in a wad over any thing religious... heck, there's been controversy over in Santa Monica over a public navitiy scene being displayed that a group of atheists demand be taken down because it "infringes" on their rights (yet, they don't seem to think that they're actions infringe on the others rights for freedom of expression).

Atheists don't have quite the power everyone says they do. They pull down a couple Nativity scenes in a couple states. There's something I don't get at all. More people would be offended by it being gone, why do they always take them down? SIMPLE! State governments are letting this happen because it's perfect fuel for those phoney wars on religion that right wing talking heads made up to cover the fact that religious institutions are gaining MORE ground. Just in places where they truly don't belong.

Still, I really don't get why people that don't even live in that town, state, or even that part of the country get so livid about something that they have no control over that's not directly happening to them.

 

[D'Snowth]

Still, I really don't get why people that don't even live in that town, state, or even that part of the country get so livid about something that they have no control over that's not directly happening to them.

I know, I've said before, the ENTIRE STATE OF WISCONSIN, for some reason, has been trying to drive religion out of MY region down here in East Tennessee... WHY are WE being singled out by ALL of Wisconsin? Better yet, WHY are THEY concerned about us all the way down here?

 

[Drtooth]

I swear that the tiny power atheists have is all focused on the wrong area. Why aren't they going after the WBC, and getting them to be redefined as a terrorist group? Why aren't they coming out in droves in support of gay rights?

Oh yeah. They want an easy to defeat target. I still think politicians are taking a fall so those who support them get to scare it into voting for them.