We have already been blinded by the Christmas lights and baffled by the too-big lawn decorations all before Thanksgiving or even Halloween. Contrary to the new popular belief, Christmas is not all about a dying pine tree, booze-filled eggnog, sparkly lights, or pointless gifts you’ll never use. It’s actually all about Jesus Christ. Whether you believe it or not, the true meaning of the holiday is written in the Bible. There is no mention of shopping deals or family antics there, which is strange because that is what American holidays are all about.

As the melting pot of the world, America tends to recreate holidays from a religious celebration to a booze-filled night most regret. Christmas still has a Godly luster for now, while other holidays have dropped the religious aspect altogether.

St. Patrick’s Day, the day filled with too much beer, food and green clothes, is another holiday meant for Christianity. It is truly about “spiritual renewal and offering prayers for missionaries worldwide” (www.st-patricks-day.com). That is a far cry from the way Americans spend it, competing to see who gets alcohol poisoning the fastest and praying to something that they won’t get a hangover.

So the next time you’re pulling someone’s hair because they grabbed the gift you wanted and the next time you’re so drunk you don’t know what you’re getting a tattoo of, just remember that these holidays are actually about religious figures and not about the best deals or a drunk fest.

Elena Mir

Barryville, NY