In local times there has been a dispute on how to celebrate Christmas, and more specifically, why we celebrate it.  It has been said that we should bring the holiday back to its ‘true’ Christian values. But what does that mean?

For many Christians across the world, Christmas is celebrated to symbolize and remember the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God. Many Christians do this through the act of participating in Advent.

This is the waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus usually beginning on Nov. 30th. Morning church and morning mass services are held worldwide–creating the term Christmass aka Christmas for short, the Christmas tree–which according to Pope John Paul “exalts the value of life, …a sign of undying life”, and it reminds Christians of the “tree of life” of Genesis 2:9, “an image of Christ”, and many more traditions.

Throughout all the different ways Christians celebrate Christmas, a common theme for them all is the idea of remembering and celebrating Jesus Christ.

A time Christians believe God shows His great love for us by sending his only son to save us from our sins, according to the CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network) . Overall a universal ideal of love, hope, and forgiveness can be seen. As the National Review Online says, “The most important thing about Christmas is that it invites us (Christians) to reflect on the most important things in our life — our faith, our family, and our freedom.”.

The most Christian way of celebrating Christmas can be simplified by accepting, recognizing, and understanding that many cultures celebrate this wonderful holiday season in many unique and different ways. There is no ‘true’ way to celebrate Christmas, only your way.

As Jesus once said “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,” Matthew 22:38. Christmas is a time to celebrate one another for our beautiful differences and come together as a whole.