Christmas…what does it mean anyways? If you look at the names of the holiday in different languages, you’ll get various translations. In English, it’s simply the mass for the Christ, celebrating his birth. In Portuguese it’s Natal meaning birth. And in Croatian it’s Bozic, literally meaning Little God. But in all, it’s a day when we celebrate the birth of a young God, as it was done on Yule, the winter solstice, before the Christ was born. The birth of the light, the Sun. New hope.
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195*
It was a cold winter, lots of snow. We managed to get a tree on Christmas, although it’s not permitted to sell them before the New Year’s. It’s little but it brings this nice scent in our home, which mixes with the scent of the cinnamon in the cake and orange on the table. The rich neighbour found a puppy on the street and brought it home for his kids, but they got tired of it in a few days. I got him out of the cold, and mom said I could keep him if I’m to clean after him. A new member of our big family and for Christmas. Could there be a better gift?
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197*
Look mommy, it’s snowing again! We are going to have a white Christmas this year again. The tree looks perfect, all the shiny decorations are on, and those golden lights that look like little suns. The Little God is going to find us easily to give his blessings, that’s for sure. I just don’t get it how He could be in all the places at the same time. My mom says that little angels are helping him. I wish I could see Him, but my mom says that then He’d not bring presents anymore. But I know that my mom and dad buy me presents, and I want to see Him anyways. The doorbell rang and I ran to see Him, but my folks laughed, because by that time presents were already beneath the tree. They didn’t know that I did see Him then, but as He is invisible for those who don’t have a heart of the child, so are His presents, those that can’t be bought – love, peace, freedom…
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199*
Independence! Now we can practice religion without being shunned. But, wait…where’s the Divine child? Everybody’s in the church now and it’s suffocating me. C’mon guys, you said that the religion is opium for the masses, and now you’re here.
War! What do they want from us? The little country we have?! It’s all destroyed, how do we move on? Have faith! What faith? You said that if we pray nothing bad could happen. Be good and only good returns.
The war is over, and we are slowly recovering. Some faster than others. Where’s the God now? From what I see, it’s probably in those presents and loads of food people are buying, running over others to get better parts in the last moment. Or in the gunshots and firecrackers to make the celebration “merrier”?! Or?
Little God, where are you hiding? There are still children in our hearts that love you. There are those of us who know you as you are, whether they call you Christ, Sun or whatever name. Please, this little girl is crying to receive your gifts and she’ll give you all she has in return, all her love…
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2005
It’s been many years since I stopped trying to blend into other people’s belief systems and groups. I still believe in the Divine, or better to say I don’t believe anymore, now I know. There’s only one force in the Universe, but there are as many paths as there are souls that travel them. It’s not punishing us, nor giving us rewards. We are free to do what we will, and our deeds reflect on the Universe, being submitted through the universal laws.
Now I know that the Little God is born again each year, to bring us new hope, new light. The Sun is born again on winter solstice, days become longer and light prevails once again.
Now I know that He is always in my heart, a heart of a child, as is His Mother.
So I hope this December we celebrate all our holidays together. Blessed by the light of the newborn Sun and the happiness of His Mother. Love and peace to all of you souls, wherever on your path you may be.