Everyone recognizes the Christmas Cross, the crucifix, the sign of the lamb of God. The crucifix is the symbol, of course, of the ultimate sacrifice. It is the symbol of the cross that Jesus Christ of Nazareth was crucified on. The Biblical implications of the Cross itself are deep and the largest of large religions is founded upon it. The Christmas cross of course has come to represent much more than even Christianity itself. The Christmas cross symbolizes everything that is gentle and in the spirit of giving. Christmas itself has become a whole other ball of wax. It is as much about marketing and moving merchandise as it is about the spirit of giving. Of course this is not the fault of the Christmas Cross or religion itself. It is what it is. Is it the great saving of mankind, the salvation of man and deliverance from sin and the evil that plagues the world? Not exactly. Christmas is as much a celebration of Rudolph the Red nose Reindeer, and Dasher, and Dancer, and Donner, and Blitzen, and Frosty the snowman as it is a celebration of the birth of Christ, who was brutally beaten and put to death on the cross, and readily accepted his fate in order to cleanse away the sin of man as it was the duty charged him by God himself. Christmas these days is about getting gifts and time off from school and shopping. There are a series of cartoons and novels that are dedicated to Santa Clause in fact, who is as big a symbol of Christmas itself, the celebration of the birth of the Christ, as the Christmas cross that he was put to death on. Santa Clause is supposed to be a jolly old elf that travels the world every Christmas to deliver presents for good girls and boys, who keeps this master list of bad boys and girls that will get nothing but coal in there stocking. Forget the illogical nature of this idea, and even forget the social implications of teaching children that bribery of good behavior is not only recommended but rewarded. What does this behavior have to do at all with the legend of Christ? Christmas has Christ’s name inside of it for crying out loud. It’s not Saint Nickmas is it? There is nothing wrong with the ideal of a guy that gives just to give, but if Christmas is the Holiday dedicated to celebrating the birth of the Christ, how can this jolly old fat elf that likes to eat cookies and work one day a year be as big a symbol of December 25th as the Christmas cross, and sadly, this is the problem with the Christmas Holiday and this day and age. It’s all about consumerism and getting things, it is somewhat about sacrifice, but think about this for a minute, you can’t even get a free Christmas Cross anymore. A nice Cross to place beneath the old Christmas tree can be quite expensive. The Christmas Cross should first and foremost be the symbol of Christmas since it is at its core a Christian Holiday, celebrating the birth of the Christ on December 25th, who later died for our sins.

Sadly, every year the Christmas Cross is buried further and further beneath corporate symbols such as Christmas Wreaths and Christmas presents, and every year the true nature of Christmas gets lost a little more in the corporate scheme of things dominated by profit and consumerism. Perhaps someday no one will even remember it’s the birthday of the Christ.