‘Tis The Season
This is the season that several years ago, changed our lives forever. To be more precise, it was hindsight during the aftermath of this season that spurred our changing. In the midst of looking back over that recent ‘celebration’ of Christmas, we were led to go back to square one and determine the exact nature of our priorities and examine why we were doing what we had been doing.
As much as in years past, this kind of statement would make me roll my eyes and sigh with irritation at folks who did the same, our examination led us to completely revamp our celebrations of our Saviour’s birth. We no longer observe Christmas, even though at one time I snickered at my impression of others who did not, assured that they were sanctimoniously “holier than thou”. I was sure folks were making too big a deal of small issues and were highly uptight. Oh brother.
I’ll not go into all the reasons why we no longer observe Christmas, but will instead share a few links that intrigued us in the beginning of our journey back to the beginning. Those that are interested may study further and those that are not can go on without feeling judged. I do not begrudge anyone else celebrating Christmas - it is definitely a personal decision - but I wanted to share because I was glad to have my eyes opened to what I was doing, and how it appeared to Yahweh. There may be someone else who will one day be glad I shared.
Assuming that they do not care enough to ask, it hurts our feelings some that close family members have never asked about our reasons for changing our practices. But should you wonder, we still celebrate the birth of our Saviour, but now it is during the Feast of Tabernacles when the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. We also now celebrate His conception during Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights (the biblical Feast of Dedication), because Yeshua is the Light of the World. We praise Yahweh for Yeshua’s birth, life, death and resurrection all through the year as well.
From our Torah Class studies by Tom Bradford, here is a short message that may help anyone who is wanting to dig a little deeper. It will at least give you some stuff to Google. Blessings!
Posted: December 3rd, 2008 under Being Berean, Let's Think About That..., Walking Humbly With My God, Holidays & Celebrations.
Comments: 6
Comments
Comment from Annette
Time: December 3, 2008, 3:44 pm
Thanks for addressing the Christmas issue.
Although we observe the true meaning in our hearts and home, shedding some light on the original background gives us all something to think about. I appreciated the link “Hanukkah is for Christians.” (A bit more indepth than the Focus on the Family “history” I read earlier today. Let’s just say it was not exactly what I was looking for.) I intend to share it with my children because I feel it is important that we understand why we do what we do and where our traditions originated.
Wow….. I never realized the whole “halo” thing had to do with sun-god worship; so even Christmas wreaths have pagan origins. hmmmm
Comment from Mrs. King
Time: December 3, 2008, 4:04 pm
Julie,
Thank you for sharing those links, but more so for sharing your life. We too have had family that did not understand or that felt that we were judging them somehow by not participating in christmas anymore. One of our children’s aunts asked if it was okay to give them gifts since we had changed “affiliations”. Ohmy! Though it can be difficult at times with unkind things said to and about us, we are learning just to continue to love. 1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” Theirs *and* ours . . . .
Comment from Kate
Time: December 3, 2008, 7:56 pm
That’s exactly how we believe!
I don’t even remember celebrating Christmas…
But I do remember celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles!
Comment from Trixi
Time: December 4, 2008, 9:16 am
We are right in the middle of this change. We did not do a deep study. We just simply started asking what does Christmas mean and its origin. Then we looked at what Jesus says about Birthdays. It is a tough road and we don’t exactly know what to do but we are taking baby steps this year, as our children are older. We are trying to just let them come to the same conclusions we are.
Thank you for sharing these sites. I will be doing some further study over the next year. I hope next year we have a little more drastic change.
Comment from oldpathsfamilyfarm
Time: December 5, 2008, 3:39 pm
Kate~
This has been nagging at me, so I wanted to come back and just mention one thing. 
Don’t assume too much. (((warm smile)))
We may believe the same, but we may not. (I don’t know your family well enough to be able to say yet.) I never mentioned what we *believe*, only what we *do*.
Pingback from Crafting for the Holidays « Living and Learning in Beulah Land
Time: January 21, 2009, 5:40 pm
[…] I have enjoyed reading some really insightful posts about Hanukkah from fellow Torah-obedient believers which I will now share with you. They helped me to better understand the connection, and explore other areas in which I could yet be obedient. Why Hanukkah? (Check out the links she provides at the bottom of the post) Why Hanukkah? Check out the links at the bottom of this page. […]
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