10th Newsletter - 06/12/22

This week we are delighted to present the article written by Espé, a member of our team.

Halloween.…Christmas…. Candlemas….

Barely out of the Halloween party, we are back in the period of Advent, Christmas. (1)

Witch decorations, skeletons and cobwebs were quickly replaced by Christmas trees, garlands and lights of all kinds...

But what is Christmas? What do we celebrate on December 25? (2)

In the ancient world, Saturnalia was celebrated from December 17 to 25 in honor of the god Saturn. These pagan festivals were linked to the winter solstice. They ended on December 25 with meals and gifts.

The first Christians did not celebrate Christmas, because the main teaching was centered on the Resurrection of Jesus.

In the 4th century, during the time of Emperor Constantine, and before his conversion, Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire. Tensions between pagans and Christians were increasingly frequent. In an effort to appease the emperor decreed December 25 as the date to celebrate the birth of Jesus and thus reduce tensions; although we know that Jesus was not born on this exact date.

But today, more than 2000 years later, what about?

Will there still be nativity scenes at Christmas in 10 years?

Will we still talk about the Christmas party or the winter party?

In Belgium, the expression Christmas holidays has been replaced by that of winter holidays in order to include other religious minorities in society.

A few years ago in France, in the name of secularism, the authorities banned nurseries in a number of public places (town halls, etc.)

All signs related to our Christian cultural tradition are gradually erased. Even today, in Strasbourg, one of the largest Christmas markets in Europe, the ecological municipality wishes to restrict the sale of crucifixes.

We are witnessing an attempt at a methodical deconstruction of our origins and of our Judeo-Christian identity.

If we asked the youth today would they be able to give us the true meaning of the nativity?

So: Santa Claus or birth of Jesus?

Father Christmas, "magician" dad who brings gifts, depending on the good behavior of the child: if he was kind, obedient, studious etc...

Or the birth of Jesus, God who became Man and who came to offer himself. To offer his love, his justice, his forgiveness, eternal life for free.

What meaning do you give to Christmas?

1. Le terme Noël est issu du latin natalis qui signifie apparition, manifestation de Jésus Christ dans notre monde.

Ce terme est entré en usage au 13 siècle.

2. Certaines communautés chrétiennes célèbrent la nativité le 6, le 7 voire le 19 janvier.