Whispering Wyrd

I want to begin by saying something clearly and respectfully… one doesn’t have to be Christian to enjoy Christmas. I realize that may already be obvious to many people, but I’ve had thoughtful questions from Christian friends about what Christmas means to me personally, as a Buddhist who also sees the world through an animist lens.

For me, Christmas isn’t about rejecting anyone’s beliefs. It’s simply about how I relate to this time of year.

The word Christmas is, of course, a Christian name for the holiday as it exists today. But the season itself, the midwinter celebration, the honoring of light returning during the darkest part of the year, has much older roots. Long before it was called Christmas, many cultures marked this time of year as sacred.

Among Germanic and Norse peoples, it was celebrated as a midwinter festival. Evergreens symbolized life continuing through winter, and the solstice marked the slow return of longer days, a true “return of the light.” When Christianity spread through those regions, December 25th became associated with the birth of Jesus, in part by aligning existing celebrations with new meaning.

None of this diminishes what Christmas means to Christians today. Traditions evolve. Meanings layer upon meanings. And this season has remained special across centuries because it speaks to something deeply human.

What Christmas Means to Me

For me personally, Christmas is special for very simple reasons.

I love the lights. I love the decorations. I love the way the world seems to soften just a little during this time of year. But most of all, I love being with family, especially those I don’t get to see often because of geographical distance.

When I was a child, like most children, I loved Christmas for the gifts. Now I love it for something much deeper, love itself. Time together. Shared meals. Stories told and retold. Laughter that fills the room.

Christmas has a way of bringing people together, sometimes even people who don’t usually spend time together. In our family, it’s a time to share food, presence, and attention. And that matters more to me now than any wrapped package ever could.

As Thich Nhat Hanh once said, “The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence.” Our time, our attention, and our full presence are worth far more than anything money can buy.

A Wish for This Season

However you celebrate, or even if you don’t celebrate at all, I hope this season brings you moments of warmth, connection, and peace.

Enjoy your family this Christmas.
 Be present with one another.
 And may the returning light, in whatever way you understand it, find its way gently into your life.

~Buck