The Spirit of Christmas

Almost everyone I know has some special feelings surrounding the Christmas season that don’t exist at other times of the year.  Those feelings are often described as “the spirit of Christmas” or “Christmas spirit”.  It might be that for some the phrase brings to mind Scrooge’s visits from mythical spirits in Dickens’ well worn story “A Christmas Carol”, but generally when people refer to the “spirit of Christmas” they mean something altogether different from that.  I’ve been thinking about just what it means. 

Even though for most Canadians the focus of Christmas has become trees and lights and gifts, certainly more so than Christ, it seems to me there is still a special feeling about the season that goes beyond those trappings.  Underlying all the commercialism and festivities is a feeling of warmth and goodwill that finds its way into almost every aspect of our lives.  It’s a feeling that can’t be explained by Santa and music and bustling malls. 

It may be short lived, just a few days perhaps, but Christmas brings displays of kindness and friendliness and cheerfulness that may not be expressed the same way at any other time of year.  Generosity abounds, as people who might not be prone to charitable giving at any other time of the year find a way to support toy drives, food banks, and other worthy causes.  People who may not always make time for family go to extraordinary lengths and travel great distances to be with family and good friends during the holidays.  Businesses shut down.  Commerce goes quiet.  Even battle fields traditionally go silent for a brief time, though the participants may not know the Prince of Peace or fully appreciate the true meaning behind the celebrations. 

This transformation that comes over much of the world every December 25^th is what people call the “spirit of Christmas”.  For those who don’t really believe in the Christ of Christmas, I’m not sure how they explain this annual change of feelings and attitudes.  I suppose they would attribute the warm feelings to fond memories of family traditions around the season, but that explanation doesn’t seem adequate to me.  Could it be more than that?  What is it about Christmas that makes hard hearts soften and bad attitudes mellow?

I believe in the “spirit of Christmas”, for lack of a better term, and I believe it does have a spiritual basis.  It’s not the lessons from the ghostly spirits of Dickens’ imagination, or even warm fuzzy feelings that are a byproduct of feel-good traditions.  It’s something more – something of profound spiritual significance that began with the proclamation of an angel 2000 years ago.  Remember the message of the angel who appeared to the shepherds on the night of Jesus birth.  “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”  As the night sky was suddenly filled with a great host of angels they further proclaimed “on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests”. 

When Jesus left behind the glories of heaven and came to be born in a Bethlehem stable it was the most important happening of all time.  This was a monumental event, and although it created a stir among a relatively few people on our world at the time, all of heaven was totally captivated and rejoicing with the birth of Jesus.  The gift of God’s own son to the world was such an amazing act, such a magnificent event that even the world’s calendar pivots around that time.  Augustus and Herod, great leaders by human standards, were manipulated by God like pawns on a chessboard so that every circumstance of Jesus’ birth would be according to His perfect plan.  The stars in the sky changed from their normal patterns to obey God’s will.  Heavenly beings appeared in all their glory to make the greatest announcement of all eternity. Nothing could or would ever be the same.

One of the greatest testimonies to the power and grace of God is that 2000 years later the proclamation of the angels still holds true.  In spite of a world that has largely turned its back on God and His amazing gift, even for those who do not acknowledge the deity of Christ and the true meaning of Christmas, the reality of Christmas still has the power to encourage goodwill and soften hearts.  Each year, at the time we have set aside to remember the birth of Jesus, there is an unexplainable sense joy and peace.  Just as the angels promised.  I believe that when God gave the gift of His Son, He also left a few other little gifts under the tree, as it were.  The angels told us about them ; gifts of joy for all the people, and peace for mankind.  I’m convinced that is the “spirit of Christmas” unbelievers often experience but are at a loss to explain.

Of course Christmas can be a time of sadness for some - those who are alone, or those who are reminded of joyful Christmas times past that can never be repeated.  But even for those whose feelings of sadness or loss are magnified by the festivities of Christmas, Jesus can still be the source of joy.  He’s still the Prince of Peace who said “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

If you observe again this Christmas season that attitudes are just a bit brighter and the hearts of people are a bit softer, give thanks.  The gifts of joy and peace God gave on that night so long ago are still being felt even in the midst of spiritual darkness.  And if the joy and peace of Christmas don’t well up in your heart as perhaps they once did, I encourage you to look anew to Jesus, the ultimate gift of love who brings peace and joy to the hearts of those who seek him.


May you sense the presence and reality of Jesus in your life in a very special way this Christmas season.