True Meaning Regardless Of Your Religious Beliefs, Christmas Means Caring About Others

What is the real meaning of Christmas? Is it the bright lights, the food, Santa Claus? Is it the way families get together to celebrate and be merry? Is it the goodwill displayed by all men great and small? Is it the cold weather people brave to buy the perfect gift for their friend or loved one? Is it the celebration of the birth of Christ? Or maybe, is it something more?

Many people like myself have a hard time figuring out Christmas. So many people get caught up in the preparation for the holiday season that they don’t really know why we celebrate. Many do not care, either.

Christmas means many things to many people. In this age of the politically correct ‘90s, not always do people celebrate the birth of Christ. Not that they don’t celebrate the day, just in a different way. To some, it’s not “correct” to force a religious holiday on those who are not Christian or do not believe in the Christian doctrine.

However, many people still remember to put the CHRIST in Christmas. They believe that without that miracle so many years ago, there would be nothing to celebrate. Yet, is that the real reason we celebrate Dec. 25?

Have you ever noticed during the Christmas season that people are much more brighter than usual? Many go out of their way to make someone happy. They donate to charities such as Toys For Tots and give to food banks so those who do not have enough on this day will still have something to enjoy.

Still, many more go further to make sure everyone has something to celebrate on the holiday by donating their time working in soup kitchens, homeless shelters or by playing Santa Claus to a group of children. To those people, the holiday season is about giving to those in need.

I once met a Buddhist family who made a Christmas celebration of giving. They put up the tree, decorated it, and even put a few small packages underneath it.

But they went further, making sure they shared their happiness with others in their neighborhood. Even though it was not a religious holiday for them, they felt Christmas was a time to spread joy to all they knew.

Maybe a few of us could take some lessons from people like these. The spirit of Christmas, whether you call it Santa Claus or otherwise, is what this season is all about.

It is not what you give, but the thought that counts. After all, isn’t it just as satisfying, or even more so, to see the joy in one’s eye when they open your gift to them as it is when you open yours?

The family unit is extremely important to the holidays. Many people feel empty when they cannot be in a setting of family and friends.

Whether you celebrate the holidays around the tree, menorah or something else, family is a vital part of the holiday spirit.

Christmas should not be about what you get, but about what you give. It should be about spending time with the ones you love and showing them you care. It should be about taking time to think of others instead of yourself.

The idea, however, should not stop there. Just think what a place this world would be if everyone acted like they do during the holiday season.

If people just remembered to give to their fellow man during the whole year, many problems would be eliminated.

Giving, caring and spending time with the ones you love. That, to me, is the real meaning of Christmas.