Christmas: sacred or secular?

I was in the midst of writing about how ridiculous I feel about there being 12 days of Christmas (in reference to the famous Christmas carol) but I decided to digress for fear of blasphemy. So, instead, I will write about the irrelevance of Santa Claus, reindeer, snow, and Christmas trees to the sacred view of Christmas. Many a time, we hear non-believers preaching about the true spirit of Christmas but what do they know about Christmas? We hear them saying that the true spirit of Christmas is giving, sharing and doing good. And then, with Christmas, comes gifts and presents. It's true. Retailers revel at the thought of Christmas as it brings in an abundance of revenue. Spirits are high. Consumer spending is high. It's good for the economy!

Putting the economics of Christmas aside for now, what has the idealised perception of a white Christmas with snow falling outside, the family huddled around the fireplace and children waiting for presents from Santa got to do with Christmas anyway? On prima facie, this is relevant to the folks living up in the northern hemisphere where Christmas coincides with winter. After all, pine trees are abundant, snow is plentiful in December and there are even reindeer that pull sleighs! But what about those living in the tropics and down south where Christmas comes at a time when the sun shines bright and hot? I watched Carols in the Domain in Australia about a week ago and found it hilarious to see Santa in his full red and white costume on stage. I bet he must have been sweating it out as if in a sauna under all those heavy clothing, beard and boots! And what about the spray-on snow? The only snow you'll find in summer is at the Snowy Mountains! So, you see? We have been sold the commercialised secular view of a Christmas which needs Santa Claus, reindeer and snow to be a complete Christmas. But what about the sacred view of Christmas?

Christmas as celebrated by Christians all over the world is to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ which happened many centuries ago in the town of Bethlehem in Jerusalem. He was born to the virgin Mary in a lowly manger, and His birth was witnessed by several shepherds who were watching their flocks at night. You don't hear of Christmas trees, Santa Claus, reindeer or even snow in the Bible, do you?