Our Post-Reformation Christmas

Our kids are off school now and working on the celebrations for our Christmas day – our second Christmas in Scotland.

Christmas was squashed by the Reformers in Scotland about 400 years ago because it was too Catholic (read this) and its taken a long time for it to recover. As recently as the 1960’s, workers in Scotland were given Christmas day off to celebrate with their families. And there are still reformers who are reminding us of the possible pagan connection to Christmas.

I guess we are having a Post-Reformation Christmas. Not out of rebellion against John Knox or the Reformed folk. We need to exegete our culture just like they did, and figure out ways to make celebration of Christ more public. And Christmas for us is a way to celebrate that.

Anyway . .  a merry start to the CHRISTmas weekend to you all.

Andrew

Andrew Jones launched his first internet space in 1997 and has been teaching on related issues for the past 20 years. He travels all the time but lives between Wellington, San Francisco and a hobbit home in Prague.

4 Comments

  • Thanks for the Hogmanay link

    As a Presbyterian, I’m personally glad to see that Scotland is such a fun place to be, John Knox not withstanding. Thanks for the smile. Maybe it can be exported to the US.

  • Rodney Olsen says:

    It’s Christmas Eve and I’m spending a little time dropping in on the blogs I regularly read. I wish you a very merry Christmas and I look forward to reading your blog in 2006.

  • Matt Stone says:

    I have found it helpful to start by exegeting Santa and our culture’s love affair with him. How many Christians are aware that the original Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus) was a Christian famous for his generosity? He gave gifts anonymously at night so that the glory would be given to God! Instead of buying in without thought or dismissing without thought, consider how the facination with Santa can be a missional opportunity to explain what Christian giving and grace is all about.

  • hamo says:

    A very merry Christmas from the land of Oz! May you enjoy the season old friend.

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