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of the year. Use of the ..yule log,"
part of the "yuletide" season,
hearkens back to the ritual burning
of a carefully chosen log by the
Druids. The word
yule
comes from
the old Anglo-Saxon word
hweol,
meaning wheel, a round wheel
being an appropriate symbol for the
sun .
Hollday Cheer?
You thought the Christmas shop–
ping spree was a 20th century phe–
nomenon?
Listen to how 4th century writer
Libanius described end-of-the-year
g ift-giving and partying in the
ancient non-Chr istian Roman Ero–
pire: "Everywhere may be
seen ... well-laden tables.... The
impulse to spend seizes everyone.
He who through the whole year has
taken pleasure in saving ... be-
comes suddenly extravagant. ... A
stream of presents pours itself out
on all sides" (as quoted in
Christ–
mas in Ritual and Tradition) .
Of all times in the year, it was
indeed the season to be jolly. Then,
as now, in a constant round of
partying, it was common- yes,
expected- to seek the ..spirit" of
the season in whatever intoxicat ing
drink was at hand. Drunkenness
was widespread. Fortunately, how–
ever, the modes of transportation in
those days did not lend themselves
to the high rate of drunken-driver–
induced traffic fatalities that are
part of the Christmas season in
many nations today.
And Santa Claus?
An important part of the pagan har–
vest festivi t ies-beginning in Octo–
ber-November with what has
become Halloween-involved good
and bad spirits. In many lands,
visi tors- usually bringers of good or
evil- made their appearance in the
winter season. Through blending
pagan legends with traditions about
saints, certain figures emerged, with
similar personalities. We recognize
them today in different nations as
Santa C laus, Fatber Christmas, St.
Nicholas, St. Martín, tbe Weih–
nachtsmann, Pere Noel. Wbatever
name is used, all thése winter visitors
fulfill a similar role.
These fictional persons- "Chris–
tianizations" of the pagan German–
ic deities--clearly perpetuate cer-
38
tain folk-ritual themes wherein
varying degrees of rewards and
punishments were dealt out to the
celebrants. Through the centuries
these customs carne to be centered
around chi ldren .
lt is not too hard to see a connec–
tion between Santa using the chim–
ney, the shoes and stockings hung
by the fireplace and the ancient
superstitions about hearth spi rits.
The fireplace served as the natural
entrance and exi t of the gods of fire
and solar gods when they visited
bornes. For thousands of years,
especially among the C hinese, it
was customary to sweep and scour
the house in preparation for the
visit of the hearth spirit. Each year,
dressed in a pointed fiery red cap
and red jacket, this fi re-god trav–
eled from the dis tant heavens to
visit bornes and distribute favors or
punishments. Today he is wel–
comed in the Western world each
Christmas season.
Popular Christmas c ustoms as
we can see, plainly reflect non–
Christian legends and practices.
Since Jesus was not even born in
December to begin with, the logical
question to ask is: What is there
that is
Christian
about Christmas?
Did you know, for example, that
sorne of the very Christmas cus–
toms observed today were once
banned by the Catholic Council of
Rome, the English Parliament and
the Puritans of New England?
More important, what does the
Bible say about Chris tmas? Should
a Christian have anything to do
with such holidays? For the sur–
prising answers write for your free
copy of the booklet
The Plain
Truth about Christmas.
o
MARRIAGES
(Continued f rom page 12)
You and your mate are imper–
fect human beings in an imperfect
world. So when you' re wrong why
not simply say, ..I'm sorry." You'll
soon be hearing it in return!
Many mates realize, after m_uch
s uffer ing, that th ey have had
immature ideas of what real love is,
of what marriage should be. Why
not admit shortcomings? Take up
the challenge of growing in right
love and maturity together.
If
an abusive mate asks for for–
giveness, be willing to give it.
If
we
fail to apply the living law of merey
and forgiveness when it should be
applied, we guarantee that past
mistakes a nd shortcomings wi ll
destroy a marriage. One who shows
no merey or forgiveness will not
have his mis takes and sins forgiven
either (Matt. 18:35 ).
Of course, persistence in physi–
cal abuse must stop if a marital
relationship is to survive. O utside
counseling may be required.
Be Constructive
One of the United States' leading
divorce and family law attorneys
was asked what is the single biggest
reason couples split up. He said,
..No. 1 is the inability to talk hon–
estly with each other, bare their
souls and treat each other as their
best fr iend."
You want your feelings, needs
and opinions to be heard and con–
sidered ? So does your mate!
Many mates develop the babit of
putting down their mate's feelings,
opinions and desires. But how do you
stop this vicious, degrading and dam–
aging cycle? Quietly s it down
together. Make outgoing love your
aim.
" Love is kind," reveals
1
Corin–
thians 13:4, RSV. The J .B. Phillips
translation makes it even clearer:
..Love ...
looks for a way of being
construc tive."
Be constructive.
Work on a positive solution to a
problem instead of des troying or
putting down your mate when a
problem arises.
Talk, listen to your mate. "Love
does not insist on its own way"
(1
Cor. 13:5, RSV) ...Be swift to
bear,
slow to speak,"
commands
scripture (Jas. 1:19). How often do
mates cause enormous ma rita l
problems because they disobey this
command?
The
PLAIN TRUTH