Why is Christmas more popular and beloved than Easter, even though in Christianity, Easter is the more significant holiday?
Why do otherwise self-respecting agnostics and atheists buy trees and tinsel?
The Christmas story is a beautiful myth, and it’s a myth about humanity. Easter is about the dying and rising god; important, but not as mysterious, and it’s one of those myths that is about the doings of gods, not about humans. It’s probably the same reason that Jews celebrate the Exodus more than we celebrate the giving of the Commandments. The end of the story-cycle is interesting but not all that emotional.
The story of Christmas is very human. In terrible times, in the humblest of places, there is new life, and a sign that there is love, and hope. That’s why there is no “spirit of the Easter season”. That’s why Christmas is celebrated near the longest and darkest time of the year. No matter how dark and cold and ugly the world may seem, look: there is a star, and light in the world; and hope for the good that is in humanity.
To all of you who believe, I wish you a Merry Christmas.
mythago
4 Responses to “The reason for the season”
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I too wonder why people get more excited about Christmas as opposed to Easter and spend half their life savings on Christmas decorations and gifts. Easter, in comparison, is kind of an afterthought. You’re right — from a Christian perspective, Easter is more important because it signifies what Christianity is all about (Jesus rising from the dead, taking on the sin of the world, rebirth, new life). It’s also interesting, like you said, that we associate the coming of the light of the world with the darkest time of the year.
I hope you had a great Christmas, Mythago.
Well, the days have stopped getting shorter and instead get longer. Therefore it’s not the end of the world.
As for why Christmas is a bigger deal, perhaps because births and babies are more happy making than DGOAS.
And, there’s gifts. People like gifts.
Seen on a t-shirt this last weekend: “Axial Tilt is the Reason for the Season”
Nice post, and it ties in with something I recently realized – Christmas is a celebration of childhood, and the magic is that for a short time you can go back to your childhood. That is what for me makes the nativity and little kids’ joy and excitement so poignant. It really is something that has something for any human.
Christmas is more important only among western Christians, and that has more to do with Yule than with Chrsitmas. Among Eastern Christians easter is definitely the big deal.