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[quote=Anonymous]Every year we go through the same thing.  Christmas is a syncretic holiday tradition.

[quote]syn·cre·tism  [sing-kri-tiz-uhm, sin-]  Show IPA
noun
1.
the attempted reconciliation or union of different or opposing principles, practices, or parties, as in philosophy or religion.[/quote]

The date for Christmas was chosen to land on the Winter Solstice in the 4th Century.  The reason is that when you want a bunch of pagans to convert to your religion, you throw a competing party at the same time.  Apparently we liked the gift giving tradition from the pagans enough to keep it.

Later as christianity snowballed, it rolled over the Germanic people, where as snowballs do it picked up what was there - the Yule, i.e. that big green tree in our houses, the term "Yuletide".  We do a mashup of Odin and St. Nicholas and we get Santa.  In case anyone doubts, ask yourself why the man wears fur when Jesus was born in Bethlehem and the Pope lives in Rome.  Also read about how Odin flew threw the sky from his frosty home in the North to deliver presents to children on a horse which, until the poem "Night before Christmas" Santa also rode.  If this happened today, Odin would be hauling Santa into copyright court.  If you think this is pure coincidence, try to name the first religion that had a spring holiday with painted eggs and bunny rabbits.  Guess what, it wasn't Christianity.

Christians should not be afraid to recognize the evolution of our religious traditions.  This is how we grew to become one of the biggest religions on the planet.  We compromised and absorbed cultural elements to which people had great historic and emotional attachment.  We should not turn our backs on the process that got us here.  It's all part of the history.  Now enjoy that tree and all the greening around your house, and do your best to get that pile of presents from Odin put away before daddy or mommy steps on a sharp piece of plastic and has to get stitches.[/quote]

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