Christmas and Unitarian Universalists 

Christmas and Unitarian Universalists 

When I first discovered Unitarian Universalism, I was at first taken aback that we celebrated holidays like Christmas and Easter.  How could this be?  Historically, Unitarians believed in one God at most, and Universalists didn’t believe in hell.  So what’s the point of celebrating births and resurrections of a so-called savior? 

 Today, some UUs celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus, even while questioning his divinity.  I include myself in this category.  But many others have given new meaning to the reason for the season.  And yes, there are those among us who do not celebrate Christmas at all.  This only makes sense: there will never will be only one way to celebrate a UU Christmas. 

This means we get to be creative!  Some of us celebrate the season to develop a culture of generosity in our own homes, and live out of abundance rather than scarcity.  Others embrace Santa, with gifts and trimmed trees, which brings delight to both the young and the young at heart.  Some of you have told me that you and your extended family gather at Christmas in a special place every year.  Others use this season to relax, play, and rest up for the coming new year.  Some UUs celebrate Hanukkah or Kwanza, in addition to or instead of, Christmas.  The possibilities seem endless. 

My own family comes together in our home and this is often the only time we are all together.  We celebrate new birth, fresh perspectives, and future success.  We view the baby in a manger and remember that we too were born to love the hell out of this world and serve “the least of these.“   We might serve meals at a soup kitchen or burp bottles of bleach at the local food depository.  In other words, we put hands and feet on our cerebral Principles and Purposes.  We also do this, remembering, a little child shall lead us. 

This Christmas, however you intend to celebrate (or not), please make room in your heart for a little child that hopes to burst forth in wonder and amazement, and later shape the world we only dream about.  From my family to yours, happy holidays, friends, and may yours be a merry and bright! 

 The joy continues, 

Rev. Greg