What is Christmas? Or rather what do I mean by saying Happy Christmas or Merry Christmas to someone. I don't have to explain A Happy New Year even if I know that all have our January 1th as their first day of the new Year. But still my wish that all people will have a Happy New Year with new promises and possibilities, it is still valid.
But Christmas? There are so many different kind of Christmas. One can look at it as a purely religious thing, where all Christians celebrate that Jesus was born. Jesus of Nazareth, our Messiah. That sound simple but it excludes many people.. And still it is not really that simple, there are many different kind Christians and Christianities: Protestant, Catholic, just to name two. And then most of all people that call themselves Christian may attribute different meaning to how to celebrate Christmas and all that.
When I wish a MERRY CHRISTMAS, I am more thinking about the Holiday season, the time off work, time with family/friends where we can be happy together and give gifts to our loved ones and wish Happiness to All that liveth. I am Christian, I believe Christmas should be more about our GIFT of LOVE that God gave us, when he gave us his son, than about Santa Claus and shopping. But still every Merry Christmas / Happy Christmas I say to people is not about how to celebrate Christmas, but about HAPPINESS in Life to all.
For me, as a Christian, a Protestant, member of the Norwegian State Church, but most of all as me, the meaning of Christmas is what without the birth of Jesus there would be no Easter. The message in the New Testament especially when you read about Jesus is about LOVE, HOPE and FORGIVENESS. And I believe that God wants us to be happy. But he does not want us to be happy and not willing to give happiness to others. God want us to be happy not rich. It is nothing wrong with being rich if you are willing to give. But are we? At least in Christmas we can give gifts and maybe learn to give on other days too.
The Best Christmas Music
from Christmas in Vienna 1992 (José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, Diana Ross)
Christmas in Vienna / Diana Ross, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, Vienna Symphony Orchestra by Placido Domingo; Jose Carreras; Diana Ross and Vjekoslav Sutej (DVD - 2007) - Classical
and Christmas in Vienna 1995 (José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, Natalie Cole)
Celebration of Christmas by Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, and Natalie Cole (Audio CD - 1996)
and Christmas in Vienna 1999 (José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti)
4.
The Three Tenors Christmas by Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti (DVD - 2000) - Classical
MERRY CHRISTMAS
and
A HAPPY NEW YEAR
For more reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com
