Please Don’t Hate Christmas

“Millions around the UK experience stress and its damaging effects to our health and wellbeing. For example, according to the Mental Health Foundation in 2020 “74% of us have felt so stressed that we have felt unable to cope”,  November 4th is ‘Stress Awareness Day’¹. One of the causes of stress is debt and with Christmas coming up, many families will feel pressured to give and will incur debt as a result. 

Christmas was never suppose to be stressful, in fact Christians Chose Christmas as a time to celebrate God sending His son into the world to redeem mankind. His intention was and still is to reconcile man back to himself. When the angels and the shepherds celebrated the arrival of Jesus it was with simplicity and joy. When the wise kings subsequently visited Jesus and brought him gifts there was not the commercial fanfare as there is today.² 

God brought unity and love, this occasion for many is nothing but that, Christmas is seen as a time for great expense, family breakdowns and loneliness. In this article I’m just dealing with the financial pressure that many put themselves under to please people they do not like and children. 

So where did the commercialisation of Christmas come in and why do we feel unless we’re beating the Jones’ we’re not having a good time even if it means putting ourselves in debt? Christmas has shifted from being a religious occasion to a domestic one, again in essence what indeed are many celebrating on December 25th?. 

Stephen Nissenbaum in his book ‘A Battle for Christmas’ sheds some insight into the transformation of Christmas. He explains that Santa Claus was a 19th-century American invention and how rich New Yorkers transformed the holiday into “a season for excessive public drinking, the looting of wealthy homes, and loud street singing of bawdy holiday tunes. It also included invented traditions, such as the Christmas tree, to keep raucous youth at home under their parents’ watchful eyes. Meanwhile, the growth of Christmas was spurred economically by the nation’s rising middle class”. ³

 Nissenbaum’s explanation is so far removed from God’s original intention of celebrating the arrival of Jesus. This Christmas gather with your loved ones and hold them close, COVID has shown us more than ever that we could lose people in the twinkling of an eye. It’s not about the presents but about being together with food, encouraging each other and thanking God for His goodness to us. Proverbs 17:1 from the Bible states “Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife” 

Please, this Christmas receive God’s gift of love and peace, if all you have is a dry crust share that together. Don’t allow the pressure of retailers and the expectations of others drive you to a place where you hate Christmas. Even though there’s no proof that Jesus came into the world on December 25th. The fact is he came to bring his gift of love to you and me, so receive this amazing gift with joy and be blessed! 

Until next time, remember you are beautiful and wonderfully made – With love Amanda x                  

 Amanda Alexander is a Pastor, Teacher, TV Media Journalist; Founder of Female Dignity & Amanda Alexander Productions

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¹ Stress Awareness Day (rethink.org)

² Luke 2 NIV – The Birth of Jesus – In those days – Bible Gateway

³ THE BATTLE FOR CHRISTMAS | Kirkus Reviews