Long ago celebrations were hi-jacked and given brand new clothes.
The original meaning suppressed in favour of some infant, baby king.
No more a celebration to renew hope after winter's snowy death throes,
And to anticipate the promised re-birth spring would bring.
But there’s more than one can play at this re-labelling game
and ancient spirits are fighting back and reclaiming their own.
Perverting the upstart deity and all signs of his name.
As Christmas becomes Xmas to show what’s been overthrown.
Yes there is an aged interloper who seems to be elbowing in on Yule.
Support for Druids, Christians and such folk is heading in reverse.
There is yet another God who is proving he’s no fool.
And the names that he goes under are Mammon or Commerce
A contest entry
- Before there was Christmas by Luna Tique Fringe.
300 points, ended January 6, 4 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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I do agree with your last stanza...things are much more about who's giving what to whom...even the neo pagan shops have Christmas sales...As far as the usage of Xmas goes..isn't wasn't the X an early symbol for Christ with the Greeks? Thanks for the entry.
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Thanks for the feedback (and the original idea
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I agree that the X is taken from the Greek but it was changed in doing so (I don't have the type face for the Greek letter but I think it translates to chi) and was used, I believe, when people were scarred of being known as Christians. Now it is a shorthand used mainly by non-christians of many religions not just pagans and atheists.
Anyway thanks again for the comment and for organising a thought provoking contest.
Jim -
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You're quite welcome ..and this conversation about the X in Xmas has inspired me to a little more research on the subject...I have also seen it used as Xtians in the past..pagan websites, boards and such.
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Christmas is a sham - September sees the shops full of 'Xmas cheer', and the companies rub their hands together with a leer and a burgeoning bank balance.
A critical view Jim but true none the less and so many of us fall into line each year to play the silly commercial games when, in reality it would be so much simpler and much more true to stick to the basics of loving our family and friends regardless of the hype. Well done - Von
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Thanks Von.
I've just been looking at my so called Christmas cards. 3 showed the nativity, 6 showed snowmen?, 21 showed food and partying (human and animal) and the rest showed penguins!!
So what are we celebrating?
Jim
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The entire annual charade that has been decorated by Santa, which is an anagram for satan, and some psychotic reindeer, shed off its skin a while ago already. Santa lost his beard and the spoiled brats don't even notice his fangs or his curved, black talons that hands them presents that will explode in their greedy faces. Thank you for creating and sharing and the best of luck in the contest.
AD
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Thanks for reading and writing.
Jim
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superb
normally I hate poems based around Christmas with an extremely strong passion but I really like your poem. It's smart and grown into handy words. I love how you used the idea of the occasion becoming Xmas. Your first line won all attention of me.
Another favourite part of mine: 'elbowing in'
keep it up!
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Thanks for reading and writing. Glad you liked it.
Jim
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