Psalms 42:4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
The colors of nativity (red and green) are covering our churches, houses and places of work. Icons of our beloved Saint Nicholas adorned in his distinct red, Orthodox Bishop’s vestments are everywhere. The great mystery of Santa Claus and his nighttime journey, perfect in its Orthodox theology, is being told from West Virginia to Alabama. Protestants and Atheists alike, who share little love for the saints and bishops of the Church, are teaching their children; to venerate Saint Nicholas, to go to confession to the bishop and tell him have they been “naughty or nice”, to erect and adorn a Tree at the foot of which is a free gift that comes from the Man at the top of the world. Even the mighty, corporate, giant Walmart closes its doors to observe the Nativity of the God-Man Jesus Christ. Schools are closed for two weeks. More businesses are closed December 25th than any other day in the American year. Christmas is the last holyday of America. A day that draws all people together in a pious expression of joy and happiness.
Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath. Which are a shadow of things to come;
And what really drives and propagates this holyday? The children. The innocents among us. Jesus himself said in Matthew 18:4-5 “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.” or in Luke 18:17 “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.”
Don’t buy into these new founded and new age arguments that “Christmas is pagan”, “Santa Claus is taking away from baby Jesus”, “Coca Cola invented St Nick” or “Jesus wasn’t born on Dec 25th!” All of these statements are completely unfounded and untrue. They are post modern attacks on the spirit of Christmas. The ancient pagans did celebrate festivals around about the same time of year, but the Nativity of Christ eclipsed them all. Santa Claus (St Nicholas)(Sinter Klaas)(Kris Kringle) is a bishop of the Orthodox Church. As every bishop does, he stands in the office of Christ and points all men towards our God and King. He goes by the name Kris Kringle (Christ Child). He’s pointing us to something very specific. If one is looking at a bishop and not seeing Christ through him then either their eyes are darkened or perhaps he’s a bad bishop. Clearly though, St Nick is no bad bishop! Bad bishops don’t become Saints, after all. Another absurd innovation is that, “Saint Nicholas was a real person, but he’s dead now.” Hogwash! If the Saint’s die then what hope have any of us in a hereafter? Saint’s don’t die. Saint’s have eternal life and it is a gift we should all attain at whatever cost. Thank God we still have Saint Nicholas with us battling for the last Holyday of Western Civilization.
This is the last Holyday of our modern culture and that is fitting as it was Jesus Christ who founded Western Civilization. However, as much of a joy as it is to celebrate the Nativity of the God-Man Jesus Christ, we should recognize that this is our last fortress. If we lose this day then very rapidly the last vestiges of Christendom will be scrubbed completely from our post modern society. We live in a Christ Haunted South. The shadows and traces of old Christendom scattered about leave us physical landmarks and waypoints to find our way back home. The Badman is gone about attempting to knock down, whitewash and burn up any of these treasures that could point people back to Christ or to a restoration of old Christendom. Take up the Christmas tree, the icons of Santa Claus and the Nativity Scenes as spiritual weapons in this holy war. Build the walls with peppermint candy canes and lash them tightly with Christmas lights. Let “Merry Christmas” sound from your lips as a battle cry as we rally the last remnants from every holler and town in Appalachia to defend our last Holyday from the godless enemies of all Tradition! Go to the Church, celebrate the Birthday of Christ who came finish the reign of Death, Hell and the Grave, love your enemies and do good to those who persecute you. This is the Christmas message “good will towards men” and this is our calling now and for the rest of the year!
“Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere!”
Orthodox Appalachia 