I just read ths message from actor, author and TV personality Ben Stein. It sruck a chord within me that  I have to share with you.

Subject: Remarks from CBS Sunday Morning

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning.

Commentary.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish.  And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees.  I don’t feel threatened.  I don’t feel discriminated against. That’s what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn’t bother me a bit when people say, ‘Merry Christmas’ to me.  I don’t think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto.  In fact, I kind of like it.  It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn’t bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu.  If people want a crèche, it’s just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don’t like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don’t think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians.  I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period.  I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country.  I can’t find it in the Constitution and I don’t like it being shoved down my throat.

The weeks leading up to Christmas can be a stressful time. The holidays are trying times for Christians and non-Christians alike. If you think about all the tasks that have to be completed before December 25^th it is no wonder the true meaning and spirit of the holiday gets lost. Some would rather forget Christmas all together. But taking a few moments to reflect might just bring the spirit of Christmas back. Remembering the true reason of the season can help renew a special Christmas feeling.

Why and how did this penultimate holiday get started? History reveals that the early Christians wanted to dedicate a special day of their Savior’s birth and in doing so, separate Jesus from the ancient gods that were worshiped by the majority. Choosing to celebrate Christ’s Mass, meant a specific date would have to be chosen. This Holy Day, where the word “holiday” comes from by the way, was to be the date December 25^th . And while that date is not considered the exact day Christ was born, it was the symbol early Christians needed to promote their faith.

The tradition of gift-giving developed over time and the symbols of the season like Christmas trees, Angel figurines, and Nativity scenes are all expressions of our faith and allow us to explain our faith in Jesus to friends and neighbors. Therein lies the true meaning of Christmas, the ability to express your love, charity and beliefs. It also gives us the chance to tell how faith in Jesus can transform lives.

Christmas is the inspiration for more music than any other holiday. Some of my best memories of Christmas are revived as soon as I hear my first Christmas song. Nothing can create a memory faster than music. Here is a sampling of a few of my favorites, I hope you will add them to your collection this year.

Christmas traditions, like most traditions, are falling by the way side these days. More and more frequently, you hear people say how when they were children, they had several familial Christmas traditions. In this day of split families, short Christmas breaks, friendly distractions, and hectic schedules, it is hard to find the time to pass Christmas traditions to your children. However, passing on Christmas traditions is not difficult to incorporate into your holiday this year.

One of the things most people remember about their fondest Christmas traditions is the food. The holidays have always been a time for good food and warm times spent in the kitchen. This is a great time to spend with your child. Have them help you make Christmas cookies, pies, rolls, salads, and if your brave enough, have them help with the turkey. Not only can you get extra help frosting all those sugar cookies, but also you are passing on a wonderful Christmas tradition while doing something you would have to do anyways.

Though the time for opening Christmas presents varies from family to family, it is a simple Christmas tradition to start for your children. For example, everyone can fondly identify with the little boy from the “Christmas Story,” who eagerly awaits Christmas morning so he can open his presents. Even as an adult, sometime I feel the pull to gently unwrap a corner of a present and sneak a peek. Making your child wait to open presents is a Christmas tradition almost all of us can identify with.

Tracing the root of Christmas carols is complicated as there are several accounts of ancient carols. Depending on the source they might have begun in the church, or in the community. They might have been hymns, or sung to bring together the working class. They may have originally been in Latin, and only translated to English in the 19th century. It seems the history of Christmas carols depends mainly on your religious beliefs.

Most historians agree, Christmas carols were originally hymns sung during Christmas time and Easter. However, these hymns lost popularity under the Protestant reformation. Though Luther wrote several hymns himself, and encourage singing them in church, it was not until later they became popular again. It is common belief that hymns or Christmas carols did not regain popularity until the first appearance of carols in print in Christmas Carols Ancient And Modern by William B. Sandys in 1833. These carols included, God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman, The First Noel, and Hark The Herald Angels Sing. This is one view on the origins of Christmas Carols.

Others believe that Christmas carols developed as wassails. These wassails were originally drinking songs, or were sung when requesting ale, as a kind of payment. Could you imagine a system where a little karaoke could get you a shot? It appears that over time these wassails were transformed into more upbeat Christmas Carols sung while “wassailing” or caroling, as we know it today. Often carolers were rewarded with mince pies, puddings, fruits, breads, or monies, which were donated to charities. These Christmas carol traditions seem to stem from Britain.

Welcome to WeRejoice.net, we want to wish you a Merry Christmas! We are so happy to be joining Collectibles Today this season in offering unique and distinctly different Christmas ornaments and gifts. Here we display the beautiful ornaments from Collectibles Today.