Whatever happened to Christmas? Jimmy Webb, sung by Frank Sinatra



It’s that time of the year.
When the big guns come out.
When battle lines are drawn.
When sides bunker down.
Get ready.
It’s the war on Christmas.

One aspect of this war that may not be apparent is that it started long ago.

I’m looking at your Mr Herod…

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem under two years old

Ever since that day, this war soldiers on. It’s less bloody today but just as heated. 

But there's more to this war than "Happy Holidays" and "Holiday Trees". And good ol’ blue eyes sang about it in the year before the summer of love…

Whatever happened to Christmas? It's gone and left no traces,
Whatever happened to the faces or the glow,
Whatever happened to Christmas, to Christmas way of living?
Whatever happened to the giving, the magic in the snow?
Remember the sight and the smell and the sound,
And remember hearing the call,
Remember how love was all around, whatever happened to it all?
Whatever happened to Christmas, bells in the streets were ringing,
Whatever happened to the singing, the songs we used to know.
Whatever happened to this Christmas, and when did it disappear from view,

Did you notice what he’s singing about? Sinatra is not mourning how we treat Christmas but how we treat each other. The real war on Christmas is between one another…

Where was I, and whatever happened to you?
Whatever happened to Christmas and you?

[insert sad face]

So don’t draw battle lines.
Don’t bunker down.
Whatever your weapon of choice is – words, a grudge, unforgiveness – put down your weapon.
And don’t be a pig like Herod. Be a peacemaker.

And please don't go to war over "Happy Holidays" and "Holiday Trees". There are slightly bigger battles to be had.

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