Having a Happy...Secular...Holiday

From the left to the right, The Daily Show to Bill O’Reilly, The White House to your neighborhood school and church, Christmas is under attack. Maybe it all started with cutting God out of the Pledge of Allegiance, but this country that was founded on a Judeo-Christian tradition is moving farther from its roots. But, thankfully, maybe people are starting to realize that this country was also founded on the values of religious freedom.

Of course a heathen is always the person that doesn’t subscribe to exactly the same ideology as you do. So this year, avoid all the dogma and ceremonialism that abounds this time of year and stay out of the debate. Find something to do that doesn’t tie into the same belief system that 77 percent of the country does, and maybe you can just enjoy the season instead of worrying about why.

One truly unbiased and even-handed show to see would be New Tang Dynasty Television’s Holiday Wonders. This is quite a unique alternative. Leave it to the eastern world to come up with the only logical alternative for some neutrality during the holidays.

The show brings the season to life by beautifully blending traditional Chinese music and dance with Western holiday classics. There are over 300 performers and a crazy drum finale. And for all of the Chinese people in this country, it helps with assimilation at the same time.

Or check out Slava’s Snowshow, developed by Slava, the internationally-acclaimed clown. It’s a theater performance that culminates in a full-blown snow storm. It deals with issues like the struggle to maintain your individuality in a totalitarian state. That, and the desire to be enchanted. So it celebrates the spirit of the holidays yet leaves all the religious hoopla out of it. Snow is good, no one truly hates snow…well, at least no one believes you go to hell if you do.

This seasonally-ironic hating by those that subscribe to Christianity isn’t even unique, it stretches all the way back to the fourth century. The Romans celebrated Saturnalia, the beginning of the lengthening of days. Saturn was the god of agriculture, so from Dec. 17th for seven days the Romans would feast, postpone war and business, give gifts and even temporarily free slaves.

The Solstice used to fall on Dec. 25. So for thousands of years, this was the deal for the holidays. But once Christ came on the scene (or rumors of his existence anyway), the debate began. Suddenly the 25th was celebrated because of his birth. The tension has always been there.

So get around the pressure, if you need something nice and neutral to celebrate that won’t piss anybody off, try the Winter Solstice. The modern day equivalent would be just enjoying some well-deserved end-of-year time off and celebrating winter. The days are going to start getting longer, let’s party! But until those nights begin to get shorter, the question remains, what can you do that’s not somehow tied to the hot issue of Christ’s birth (or lack there-of).

Holiday Pops are a good option, though you may get some religious traditional songs in there. Christmas carols, Hanukkah songs, they always seem to pop up. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra only has a little bit of God stuff in there. Same with Disney on Ice. Both are totally viable options.

If the debate has become too much for you, or if you’re just an atheist and happy with that, these alternatives may keep your holiday celebratory without getting too Christian.