“We will stick with old St Nick,
Santa is baulderdash!”
So ends the carol, Little town of Bellingen
St Nicholas was third century European bishop, who decided that his vast inheritance should be spent meeting the needs of the poor. He therefore redistributed his wealth quietly amongst those less fortunate than himself. In this he was connecting with the tradition of the early church described in Acts 4, where those with land and possessions sold everything, for the apostles to distribute amongst the poor.
This short-lived mode of Christian community was itself an echo of Jesus’ teachings about wealth, and his challenge to the rich to sell their possessions and give to the poor if they wanted to follow him (Matt 19, Mark 10, Luke 18). Luke 14:33, addressed to the “large crowds,” is a corker, “So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.”
So gift giving in December was originally a celebration of St Nicholas’ successful response to Jesus’ challenge to the rich. On December 6th, St Nicholas Day, other rich people gave, if not all their inheritance, at least something to the poor.
This socialistic blip faded when the reformers edged out the saints, and their saints days, throwing their weight behind December 25th as a celebration of Jesus’ birth.
That should have been fine, since Jesus was the original inspiration for St Nicholas’ gifts to the poor anyway.
Yet somehow his “birthday” has become a day for increasing poverty amongst those who cannot withstand the constant barrage of “show your love with cash” advertising, even though they don’t actually have much cash, and have to use borrowed credit.
Whilst the relatively rich amongst us do still tend to give to charity, proportionately more money is spent on close relatives, who tend to either reciprocate, or stand to inherit our wealth one day anyway.
Christmas has been replaced by Santa Claus day, or Capitalistmas. Rev. Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir remind us that Santa Day is a reversal of St Nicholas Day. Now the poor give up their health and right to a decent wage so that the rich can give each other cheaper presents. They tell the story of Sarah Liu Xianzhi, who was detained for her Christian faith and sent to a “re-education” labour camp for six years, where she manufactured earphones and Christmas lights.
All of which is enough to sap my energy as I sit here trying to finish this article, as waves of mild shame and guilt wash over me. I haven’t bought Christmas lights for years, since I decided that all those stars up there are better, but we still use our old ones. And we are amongst those adding to the increased spending on electronics this December (though not technically for Christmas day).
Our family isn't rich enough to easily pay more for the most ethical option of everything we buy. We aren’t poor enough to feel justified in ignoring those ethical and sustainable shopping options. We’re not the richest 1% nor the poorest 70%. I suppose that puts us in the “one step forwards two step backwards 29%.”
The 29% of the population with enough resources to feel like we should try to build a better world, but not enough to make it easy. The 29% which is required to pull the pendulum further back from Capitalistmas to Christmas...
So how about this Christmas, we all stay in the black?
Like the sun weathered skin of that Nazareth chap
Who went on about money and the dangers of wealth
For those trying to nurture their spiritual health
Give gifts of love, they won’t send you broke
Lots of big hugs (come on, even you blokes!)
To those who want one, offer a kiss
Celebrate Christ-, not capitalist-mis
(from: Cash or Pash)Lots of big hugs (come on, even you blokes!)
To those who want one, offer a kiss
Celebrate Christ-, not capitalist-mis
How did you go this year: what percentage of your day was Christmas, which percent Capitalistmas? Make your confession (or crow about your success) below...
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