The REAL Meaning of Christmas - NOT!

[kerravonsen]

This time of year, there's a lot of argument about the "real" meaning of Christmas. And other times of year, there are arguments about other festivals and about the "real" meaning of symbols, such as the rainbow. It tends to boil down to two main arguments:

1. the earliest meaning is the original, it got in first, so that is the only legitimate meaning.
2. the latest meaning is what it evolved into, that's what it means now, how dare you tell me it can't mean what it means.

It is just as legitimate (or illegitimate) for the LBGT crowd to co-opt the rainbow as their symbol, as it was for the Celtic Christians to co-opt the Triquetra Celtic knot as the symbol of the Holy Trinity. You can't have it both ways. Either the earlier meaning is the only legitimate one, or the later meaning is the only legitimate one -- if one uses the oldness/newness of the meaning as the argument for its legitimacy. People who declare that Christmas is "really a Pagan holiday" (and that the Triquetra symbol "really" is about the Threefold Goddess) can't then turn around and try to argue that, somehow, the "oldness" argument doesn't apply to the symbolism of the rainbow as a promise of God to Noah after the Flood, since Noah predates the LGBT movement by, er, thousands of years. But they still want to have it both ways.

Of course, what they really want is to control the discourse in their favour.

So, please, none of these silly arguments about what a symbol or festival "really" means. All you can be really sure of is what it means to YOU.

There is no "real" meaning. There is ALL the meanings. Pick one. Pick several!

I'm not saying that symbols are meaningless or arbitrary. Far from it! That would be like saying that art or poetry are meaningless or arbitrary in their meaning. Nor am I saying that the meanings of symbols shouldn't be discussed. But let us use these discussions to enlighten each other, not quarrel with each other. Peace.

Note:

A shorter version of this post was posted as a thread on twitter... and even though he doesn't follow the one person who retweeted the thread (I checked just now) the thread was picked up by a rabid atheist who wrote a book about how evil Christianity is, and he, and consequently some of his followers, started arguing with me and mocking me about Noah. I was first annoyed, then amused, but now it's getting me down.

I wonder if he has a bot that trawls for terms like "Noah"? Wouldn't surprise me. "Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears." (Proverbs 26:17)

Moral of the story: always check the profile of a hostile tweeter first before replying. That may enable you to back away slowly, instead of getting into a brawl.

Comments

[reynardo]

But the story of Noah is not the original, as it was predated by Ziusudra, Atra-Hasis and Utnapishtim, all of which have a Deity destroying the earth but then letting one family live. So these hold the same issue as the Pagan concepts that predate the Christmas one.

And earlier than that, the Dreaming Rainbow Serpent dates back up to 40,000 years ago, thus that should hold the claim for "ealiest", surely.

[kerravonsen]

And?
The point is that "earliest is the real one" is a stupid argument. Did I fail to convey that clearly?

[reynardo]

You did. What came across was that one cannot claim the recent use of the rainbow if one is also claiming the earlier meaning for Christmas, and that thus one needs to choose either latest or earliest. But you were also saying that the Noah fable was the earliest for the rainbow, which it isn't. I wasn't sure whether you were saying that earlier is true, later is true, or that timing shouldn't matter for symbols of fables and myths.

[kerravonsen]

Ah, I thought I was saying "timing shouldn't matter" when I said "All you can be really sure of is what it means to YOU."

There is no "real" meaning. There is ALL the meanings. Pick one. Pick several!

This is the reason why I always explain my symbolism when I'm making symbolic jewellery; because even within the same culture, a symbol can have multiple meanings, and I want to make clear which meaning I'm using.

[arwitchywoman.livejournal.com]

Don't let haters get you down. You made very valid points. I respect anyone's individual belief - their intellect and ability to choose is not mine to control. For me, I'll keep the religious meaning in my heart. Merry Christmas!

[jaxomsride.livejournal.com]

Those who spend their time arguing such petty things have missed the real meaning of Christmas anyway.

Peace and Joy come to you!

I am Pagan myself but that does not stop me respecting other people's right to choose to put meaning to other things and I always wish them the joy of their celebration too.