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Christmas In An Increasingly Secular And Globalized World Analysis

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Christmas In An Increasingly Secular And Globalized World Analysis
What is the meaning of Christmas in an increasingly secular and globalized world?

Christmas is traditionally observed as the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. In the bible there are two accounts of this birth, the gospel of Mathew and the gospel of Luke. Our current narrative contains elements of both and draws from outside the synoptic gospels. The historical accuracy is arbitrary. The French anthropologist Leevi Strauss, a student of tribal myths and cultures, asserts that myths are an unconscious reflection of the values that are held by a culture. Therefore the importance lies in a narrative that is accepted and embedded in our understanding of Christmas. Through the narrative meaning is revealed. The two gospels claiming to be …show more content…
Illustrator, Haddon Sundblom defined Santa Claus in his 1931 advertisement. The unanimously recognized image of Santa Claus has become of a rotund, bearded, old man dressed in a red suit, stripped of all religious attire. Saint Nikolas has been repackaged and commoditized to meet the needs of 20th century advertisers; used to sell everything from fizzy drinks to health insurance. The function of Santa Claus in folk tale is as the bearer of gifts. He encourages good behavior in children year round by rewarding them with presents; as stated in the popular Christmas song, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, ‘he knows if you’ve been bad or good so be good for goodness sake’. Not withstanding his commercial activities, it is still a significant shift from the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, ‘our Savior’. The narrative as constructed by Mathew and Luke is disintegrating and being replaced by the imagery of elves in assembly lines and mall Santa’s; a narrative that is controlled by corporations. Nevertheless a message of generosity pervades as it conveniently aligns itself with the mindset of
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