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Posted By Carrie Thore on December 19, 2011

Nativity

One of my professors wished me a happy winter solstice and then added, “Or whatever it is that you celebrate.” Personally, I don’t mind someone wishing me a Merry Christmas. I’m not a Christian, but I’m also not a worshipper of the Norse Pantheon, yet I still label the days of the week by them… Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (Thor’s Day) and Friday. There is also Sunday which is the day to worship the sun and Monday which is the moon’s day of worship. The fanatical Christians are the most touchy and angry people when someone wishes them, “Happy Holidays.” I think such Christians should be offended by the days of the week and choose to call them by some other name if they are so concerned when someone wishes them “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.”

I like Christmas and the celestial myths associated with it. I find it to be a beautiful story written in the heavens. The virgin (Virgo) gives birth to Jesus (sun) who later “dies” for mankind and is then resurrected. The baby is marked by a star and followed by three wise men. The magi are the three stars on Orion’s Belt. The sun is at its lowest point in the sky for 3 days and then the days grow longer again. It is a very old agriculture story much older than 2,000 years. If I believed in a physical deity, then I would worship the sun and see nothing wrong with others who choose to worship it even if they have confused the myth with actual events. The middle of winter is a great time to have a celebration because it helps keep us sane through the long winter months to come.

I found this scene in “Moby Dick” to be an excellent illustration of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. There is no reason to become upset over someone wishing you a Merry Christmas and just play along with the game.

I was a good Christian; born and bred in the bosom of the infallible Presbyterian Church. How then could I unite with this wild idolater in worshipping his piece of wood? But what is worship? thought I. Do you suppose now, Ishmael that the magnanimous God of heaven and earth – pagans and all included – can possibly be jealous of an insignificant bit of black wood? Impossible! But what is worship? – to do the will of God – that is worship. And what is the will of God? – to do to my fellow man what I would have my fellow man to do to me – that is the will of God. Now, Queequeg is my fellow man. And what do I wish that this Queequeg would do to me? Why, unite with me in my particular Presbyterian form of worship. Consequently, I must then unite with him in his; ergo, I must turn idolater. So I kindled the shavings; helped prop up the innocent little idol; offered him burnt biscuit with Queequeg; salaamed before him twice or thrice and kissed his nose.

Categories: Celestial Myths, Christianity, Holidays, Jesus, Moby Dick, Norse Myths
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