To end the confusion-is this a good prayer to end the confusion?

Lord, your birth is recorded in the Bible for our edification. We love to tell your story of your nativity. We dont know why it seems fixed on december 25 that we do this, but let us search scripture about that.

Also Lord, santa claus who was originally one of your saints, saint nicholas, can you help us understand more about his love and generosity to poor fatherless children. Thank you Jesus.

Before you tie yourself up in knots about this ask yourself a question.

Did Jesus tell or command us to celebrate his birthday? It is a man made holiday not a biblical one. I am not saying that you should or should not celebrate it. I celebrate it. I am just saying keep it in context.

All great points y'all!

I personally celebrate Christmas three ways:

1. Focus on Christ's birth - even though I teach lessons on this topic throughout the year, it's always good to set aside a day to focus solely on that point, Jesus could have come to earth as a fully grown man, but he chose to humble Himself and come into this world the same way we all did. He experienced everything we experience, from birth to death.

2. Focus on my family - Similar to Thanksgiving, the togetherness and love of family.

3. Have fun with friends/Co-workers/students - Church/school/work Christmas programs, parties, gift-giving, etc. Christmas is a time of joy, happiness, and fun, it doesn't have to be solemn, defensive, or war-like. This so-called, ridiculous "war on Christmas" that some Christians claim is happening is sapping the love, joy, and fun out of the holiday and turning Christians into more of a laughing-stock than we already are in the eyes of the world.

There has never been any confusion for me about Christmas. I celebrate the three things I listed above, others celebrate/focus on different things. Some choose to include Santa in the festivities (yes, even some Christians - because it's fun, there is no worship of Santa - and yes, the real men the now-fictional Santa was based on will kneel before Jesus), and some don't. Some choose to decorate/have a tree, some don't. Ever since I was a child, I was told the truth about Santa, and the truth of what the spirit of Christmas is all about. Love of others, rather than self. In my opinion, we Christians need to get back to the basics and start showing others the love of God instead of forcing/shaming others to conform to their idea of Christmas.

I personally think that everyone should be able to choose to celebrate or not celebrate Christmas however they wish, and not worry about being shamed or forced to say "Merry Christmas", or whatever other shenanigans some Christians like to force on other Christians (and non-Christians).

end rant.