Thursday, December 25, 2008 C is for the Christmas Creche By Jenara Regis Newman
Time was, in this Christian country, when Christmas focused on the belen (crèche). The Christmas crèche of Jesus born in a manger—with His mother Mary and foster father St. Joseph as the principal figures of the yuletide tableaux—adorned homes during the joyous season. More elaborate crèches would feature angels, shepherds and manger animals, and the Three Kings with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Outside, to proclaim the message of the season, would be the Christmas parol (star-shaped lantern) to signify the star that guided the Three Kings to Bethlehem.
These days, the belen seems to have taken a back seat (if not altogether forgotten), to Christmas trees and twinkling lights, Santa Clauses and reindeer dashing through non-existent tropical snow.
People seem to have forgotten that Christmas is beyond these mundane things, that the central figure of the season should be the Baby Jesus come down to earth as God’s gift: love to all mankind.
Let Christmas be more than merry. Let it be joyous for you and your loved ones, secure in the love that emanates from that Baby in the Manger: Christ, without whom Christmas would not be.
