St. Nicholas Center ::: Real Face

Other than the name of "Christmas", what does it have to do with Jesus? Serious question. At least St. Nicholas is actually relevant?

SSG Jessica Bautista - I cannot answer for other households, but I can answer for mine. We have young Grandchildren... We don't emphasize gifts. We don't even exchange gifts until the last full weekend in January. We discuss the story of the birth of Christ, and its meaning to us personally and for humanity. Then the day is set aside for charitable acts. We distribute food baskets of goods from my farm to families in need, we distribute gloves, boots socks, coats and blankets that we have rescued from yard sales all year. Then we host a community potluck and barn dance. There are usually about 20-25 families present. That is the way Christmas has been celebrated in my family for at least four generations.

But why is Jesus associated with the season? I figure St. Nick is relevant, no matter how they depict him nowadays (I personally like his Coke makeover better), and he's Christian. I don't get how the season is associated with Jesus.

If you don't know the history, when the Roman Catholic Church "Christianized" pagan holidays, they assigned the birth of Jesus to the pagan winter solstice holiday, and the majority of the Christian world celebrates that day in memorial to his birth, making it about Him.

If you did know that, you have a valid question. Based on the story in Luke's Gospel, Jesus was born in the fall of the year, so in my home we place the emphasis on Him between the 25th and 30th of September. However, during the winter solstice, the majority of people are willing to accept the gospel message when they would normally reject it, so during that time I focus on helping others, trying to show Him to them while they are willing to accept that.