Giftmas

There is a small but sturdy movement afoot trying to turn the holiday name of Christmas over to 'Giftmas'.I have always been one for keeping the'CHRIST'in Christmas.But,I think,by renaming the holiday,'Giftmas',us Christians can go about celebrating Christmas in a much more Christ like manner.This secular 'Giftmas' should be called what it has actually become... the celebration of giving gifts..or 'Giftgiving'.

'Giftgiving' would be a great new name for the holiday...if it were only being celebrated in the United States,but for the many many people whom are getting into the secular holiday of Christmas in places like China ,


and Japan,the term 'Giftgiving' may be con- fusing.'Giftmas',though,is in the right area of appropriations.



That places like Japan and China joyfully celebrate Christmas without Chirst in itself does not bother me nearly as much as people in America that do.Oh,we put up our Christmas Trees,go to parties,watch cheesy Christmas specials on Tv,but the 'Christ' is not in the Christmas for a larger and larger portion of the American public.

An example of this is a few years ago at work they posted near the timeclock the time & date of the 'X- mas' party.I-being the wiseguy that I am-scribbled above the 'X',"Keep the 'Christ' in Christmas",and went about my way thinking nothing of it.A few days later,while clocking out,a friend behind me said,"What's christ?"He said it using the small 'i' sound,like Chris only with a hard 't' at the end.Using my Lord's name,I said,"That's Christ.Like Christ our Lord." 'OOoooH,"he went.

Now,this year,in many Christmas Me-Me's,many of you are saying that you don't go to church,don't even put religion into your celebrating at all.To me,Christmas without Christ is meaningless.The presents,the parties,the giftgiving...mean nothing.I just don't see the reason for it.

But...apparently,many of you do.So,perhaps I am wrong on this.Let's call a spade a spade,"Merry Giftmas to you".