The Joy of Christmas
An Interview with Board Member Rev. Carolyn V. Jordan
Beneath the warmth and joy of tinsel sparkling, beautiful carols echoing against high ceilings and Santa Claus greeting children are sacred and timeless themes. Christmas honors the birth of Jesus Christ, the central figure of the Christian faith, whose life of deeply compassionate actions and wise teachings serve as the compass for Christian living. Rev. Carolyn V. Jordan, Interfaith Center board member and pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), reflects on the deeper meaning of Christmas saying, “Christmas is a time when we realize that we have a God who is merciful and loving – a God who if you let Him, can fill up your whole house with joy. For Christians, it’s really about the wonderful gift God has given us through Jesus Christ – the gift of God’s presence with us. God is the gift, and God is also the giver.
While Christmas as a holiday was always a day to honor Jesus Christ, it began as a solemn day of remembrance. Over time, however, Christians adopted the merriment of the Pagan holiday, “Saturnalia,” transforming Christmas from a somber day of honor into a grand celebration. Ever since 350 CE, Christmas has been celebrated on December 25. For Rev. Jordan’s denomination, as well as many other Christian denominations throughout the world, the church year begins anew four weeks before Christmas. These four weeks are referred to as “Advent.” “Each Sunday during Advent,” Jordan explains, “We light a candle in preparation for receiving.” According to Jordan, in Christianity, “One of the images is that ‘Jesus is the light of the world.’” As a result, there is a strong sense of light in Christianity—that “when you come to the light, you see the clear understanding.”
Beyond the candle-lighting and church services during this time of year, Jordan describes her personal experience with the season of Advent and the Christmas holiday, “Through the years, it was always about family: decorating the tree, hanging stockings, sharing gifts.” She adds, “My fondest memory as a little girl in elementary school was being in a church choir. We would go caroling at the local nursing homes at Christmastime.” However, after 30 years of family traditions, and now that her children are grown and her husband is no longer living, she wants to do something new. “I’m starting new traditions,” she states. “At my church, we are going to give gifts, not to each other, but to the church.” Further she’s found some of the cultural material aspects of Christmas can actually add to the joy of the season. “I don’t think we can afford to be so self-righteous and say that we don’t get caught up in some of it,” she says. She acknowledges that through acts like “Secret Santa”, where kids exchange gifts anonymously, there can be a certain sense of excitement and joy. She recounts an experience at a school, where Secret Santa occurred, “There was this buzz, this excitement, this joy of giving people something. We need to hold onto that.”
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