Is it too early to put your Christmas tree up?
Last year, I thought the pre-Thanksgiving Christmas tree was not only sacrilegious, but a nuisance to anything good and holy. However, I've had a Christmas epiphany that is nothing short of a Christmas miracle.
I was picking up my daughter from my mother-in-law's house and I noticed that she was putting up her Christmas tree. This didn't happen yesterday, not a week ago, but over two weeks have passed. She was putting her tree up on November 1st. November 1st! I was like, "What in the holly and ivy?"
My in-laws aren't typical in-laws. (Do you know the
difference between an in-law and an outlaw? An outlaw is wanted.) I love
my in-laws and I never follow that with a "but..." But this time my
mother-in-law had me a little wound up. She had to be stopped before people thought we were "one of those" people.Everyone (except retail stores, Cracker Barrel, and my mother-in-law) understands that Christmas doesn't start until after Thanksgiving. It's common sense. It's in the Bible and somewhere in the Constitution that you have to wait until all the Thanksgiving leftovers are eaten (except for sweet potato casserole--that junk is nasty).
Shortly after my mother-in-law put up her Christmas tree, Facebook started blowing up comments of complaints about stores starting Christmas prematurely. Americans just aren't ready this early; for goodness sake, we haven't even thought about the Pilgrims eating pumpkin pie yet!
That's when I had my Christmas epiphany.
If stores can be excited about Christmas, then why can't Christians?
Your only argument is this (three weeks ago it was mine), "But they are only after money."
Yes!
Christian, Walmart is ready for Christmas because they make a profit, but your excitement level should exceed that because you received a Christ! If you can't get excited about the birth of our sweet baby Jesus, then there is a word for you. I don't like to use the six letter word this time of year, but sometimes it's necessary.
You're a GRINCH! You're a mean one.
It is NOT too early to begin celebrating the birth of Jesus. Who wants to go into the season with a bad attitude? You just need some Christmas cheer and as Buddy the Elf says, "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear." That might even be scriptural. So sing a freaking Christmas carol!
Someone should have told Mary, Elizabeth, and John the Baptist that they began celebrating Christmas way too early. And don't give me all that, "Jesus wasn't really born in December" junk, yes I get that, but that's when we celebrate it. Besides the birth of Christ goes well with hot chocolate and marshmallows.
Do you remember what happen when Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth (both of whom were miraculously pregnant)? John the Baptist leaped in Elizabeth's womb and the three of them celebrated. Elizabeth then was filled with the Holy Spirit and Mary wrote a Christmas carol. (You see, Buddy the Elf's advice is wise.) Mary wasn't even completely married yet and she was pregnant (and this was well before 16 and Pregnant). What did she do to pick up her spirits for Christmas? She sang a Christmas carol. The trio basically put a tree up and baked cookies.
Now are you telling me that they should have waited until a month before Christmas to begin celebrating?
So it's okay to get excited about the birth of Jesus. It's okay to start preparing before Thanksgiving. It's okay if you think the lights are pretty, so you put up your Christmas tree. Don't let a few million Grinches stop you.
Someone tried to stop Mary, Elizabeth, and John's early celebration. Do you remember who it was?
King Herod, the original Grinch. He attempted to murder all the infant boys. Seriously, do you want to be compared with someone with that kind of character? I don't think so. No one wants to be seen with that guy at a Chic-fil-A.
So when can you put up your Christmas tree?
Please post a comment; we would love to see which side wins (the pre-Thanksgiving or post-Thanksgiving). Let's duke it out.
4 comments:
AFTER Thanksgiving!!!! It's unamerican to do otherwise!! It's a unwritten rule. Has to be! That's like being born and raised in the south and hating sweet tea, pinto beans and corn bread... It's just not right!!!! Lol
Joel, I think you minimize some things here. First off, I think you should apologize for comparing people who refuse to get excited about Christmas before Thanksgiving with murderers. I understand you are trying to get people to think outside the box, but there is a line there.
You are wrong to categorize those who don't get excited about the Christmas holiday until after Thanksgiving as "Grinches." You failed to note that Thanksgiving is a time when many believers come together and reflect on the goodness of God and the thankfulness for the gift of salvation in Christ. If someone chooses to focus on that until Thanksgiving, that does not make them a Grinch.
You start your post talking about a Christmas tree. What does a Christmas tree have to do the the birth of Christ? Getting excited as a Christian about Christmas is not about putting up a tree and lights (which my family does). Those things are fine. But don't bash Christians about not putting up their Christmas tree and focusing on Thanksgiving.
Am I endorsing being mad for others getting excited about Christmas? Nope, not at all. I think Christians should be thankful for the birth of the savior all year long. However, I believe it is important to lovingly go against the consumerism of Christmas that many in the church even participate in. I won't put my decorations up until after Thanksgiving, and if you compare me with a murderer and a grinch, you are wrong.
Post Thanksgiving!
Pope...what's more American than progress? I'm trying to start a movement here. Throw me a bone..
Anonymous...wow. I don't believe you got the spirit in which I wrote that blog in at all. People who know me realize that I use a lot of hyperbole (pretty sure that I've never met anyone with the name Anonymous, so we must not know one another...is that Greek?) In the future (which I hope you keep reading because I like people disagreeing with me) please realize that I do not take myself that seriously...and neither should you.
Jill...let Jonathan read it...you'll have a Christmas tree in the living room tonight.
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