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Rediscovering Christmas: From Sacred Songs to Secular Joys

I have grown weary of George Michael's "Last Christmas” over the years. This hit song, released in December 1984, was one of the few tracks that radio stations in Lebanon consistently played during the holiday season. Then, in the mid-90s, the German band Mr. President, known for their sound similar to Ace of Base, released a Christmas version of their hit song "Coco Jamboo," which slightly broadened the repertoire of Christmas music on the radio.

During my first few years after moving to the U.S., I often tuned into Lite FM and Holly SXM to enjoy the seasonal tunes. I also made it a personal tradition to listen to Canadian singer/songwriter Loreena McKennitt's albums, “Elemental” and “To Drive The Cold Winter Away,”  at least once during the season—a tradition that dates back to my seminary days.

However, as I delved deeper into my theological training, I no longer enjoyed commercial Christmas music. I began to critically observe how we have diminished the mystery of the incarnation of Christ, transforming it into secular celebrations marked by gift-giving, corporate parties, and festivals. I questioned how Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and even Rudolph relate to Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, where no reindeer existed. Furthermore, I wondered how the pain of a romantic gesture unreciprocated in Wham's "Last Christmas" connects to the observance of Christ’s birth—absolutely nothing!

I no longer wished to listen to commercial Christmas songs, and I felt irritated while shopping in malls as holiday music played to encourage continuous consumerism. I would also nod in agreement with those who proudly displayed "Keep Christ in Christmas" bumper stickers.

I once heard a well-spoken Catholic priest jokingly say in one of his sermons that “priests in purgatory have to endure listening to every sermon they have ever preached to experience the agony they caused to people over the years.” Fortunately, as an Armenian Apostolic priest, I am exempt from this form of torture. However, I still listen to my past sermons—not just to torture myself but also to reflect on where I was mentally and spiritually when I delivered them and to see how I have grown (if at all) since then. 

In one of my Christmas sermons, I reflected on the nativity scene of Christ. The manger we set up by the Christmas tree includes baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, accompanied by some domesticated animals like cows, sheep, and perhaps one donkey. It also features the shepherds from nearby and the wise men from the East. The shepherds represent the simple, uneducated, and unassuming among us, while the wise men symbolize the powerful, wealthy, educated, and influential.  You have a place in the nativity scene regardless of which group you identify with. As I heard these words replayed from an old sermon, I realized that embracing the gift of nativity is more than just a theological concept to understand intellectually. God can work within us through music and art, and the incarnation of Christ brings renewal to all creation, including those whose hearts are broken due to unreciprocated romantic gestures and the reindeer who struggles to find his role in the world in ways unique to God and His eternal grace—means that go beyond my comprehension.

I attended my son Hovsep’s high school Christmas concert last night. The concert featured performances by the school orchestra, in which my son plays the violin, as well as the chorus and the band. Each group performed a mix of Christmas carols and popular holiday songs. To my surprise, the last piece the orchestra played was Wham’s "Last Christmas." After the orchestra finished, the chorus walked through the auditorium's aisles and sang "Jubilate Deo." Ironically, this beautiful Gregorian chant was followed by “Christmas Is All Around,” a song featured in the hit movie "Love Actually." 

The sweet blend of modern and traditional, sacred and secular music stirred powerful emotions within me. I fondly remembered watching Dolores O'Riordan, the late singer of the Irish band The Cranberries, perform a nativity concert in the Vatican in 2001. Her blend of hit songs and Christmas carols, along with her lullaby-style singing, brought light to my heart during a time when I was going through a dark period in my life.

I reflected on my thoughts and emotions and recognized that I had come back to that sermon: There is a place for everyone in that manger because God chose to be with us in our everyday struggles and joys. When we pray "Thy Kingdom Come," it is because we want God to continue being our Emmanuel as we embrace both our joys and challenges in our daily lives.

Upon returning home, we watched Love Actually and enjoyed family time, laughing and cuddling! Later at night, I also listened to George Michael’s Last Christmas, and to my surprise, it sounded less cheesy than I ever remembered! 

Prayerfully,

Fr. Nareg Terterian

P.S. I invite our parishioners to attend "Simply Christmas," our annual Christmas concert in the sanctuary this Sunday, and embrace the spirit of the Nativity through a beautiful selection of secular and traditional holiday specials.