Episode 360: Christmas Pop Culture Ambivalence, Part Two

In the second half our Christmas special for this year, pastors Erica, Sarah, and Steve look at how much of even "traditional" Christmas lore and celebration has been imported from wider culture over time and different places.  From the date of December 25 itself, to the evergreen wreaths and trees, to our connection of Christmas with snow, it turns out that a lot of what many people "expect" from Christmas has roots in the Roman Empire or pre-Christian religions of northern Europe. And while it can be helpful to acknoweldge how much of our Christmas tradition doesn't really have anything to do with Jesus, we don't have to cut out everything from our celebration that doesn't have a Bible verse attached to it.  But how do we navigate all that, letting traditions from other places be included in our celebrations, without mandating that any Christmas celebration without a pine tree covered in ornaments can't be "authentic"?  And how might all of this conversation help us realize that there's never been "one right way" to celebrate Christmas?  Join us for this conversation here on Crazy Faith Talk!