At the Co-op board meeting, November’s first snow Margaret from 24-B says “Chuck, I didn’t know…” She’s eyeing my rooftop through the window with care Sees the lights going up, the wreath I put there
“I’m surprised to see that, quite honestly Do you Wayist people celebrate Christmas? Or is that… African Kwanzaa?”
I set down my coffee, try not to smile Said “Margaret, pull up a chair, this might take a while…”
December 25 was Saturnalia, birthday of the sun A solstice celebration when the cold had just begun The church came along and said “No, it’s Jesus now Y’all must celebrate the Son” — and they showed us how
But the church was in Rome where the winter’s damn cold So us desert people had to sing Jingle Bells in the snow Santa Claus? That’s a Dutch old man with a sleigh And that Tannenbaum you’re decorating? Ancient pagan day
But we like Christmas, yeah we like Christmas It’s a day for thinking about goodwill Family and friends, well wishes and hearty dishes We like Christmas, that time of goodwill
Now Margaret’s looking worried, like I’m gonna sue
“Isn’t that cultural appropriation? What are you supposed to do?”
I said “Lady, it’s a beautiful mess. And that’s the point. Pagans and Christians and commerce, all joined
The Romans stole from pagans, the Dutch added their part Coca-Cola dressed up Santa, Macy’s sold the art It’s layers on layers of humans trying to find A reason to gather in the cold and be kind”
And in the middle of that mess, there’s a teacher I admire Who said “love your neighbor”, said “serve and inspire”
So we like Christmas, yes we like Christmas It’s a day for thinking about goodwill Family and friends, well wishes and hearty dishes We like Christmas, that time of goodwill
“See Margaret. We Wayists celebrate ancient pagan days We honor the solstice when the sun starts to return And we remember Lord Jesus — greatest teacher of The Way Who said the kingdom’s here, right now. If you’d just learn
We don’t care who stole what, or who did it first We care about the gathering, the love the hearty meal You can call it appropriation, if that makes you feel better But I call it, humans trying to heal”
So yeah, I got lights on my penthouse rooftop Next to Lou the pig and my hens Got a nativity scene, and some solstice evergreen Gracie’s making tamales, and her grandmother’s flan And our kids are coming over — well, you know. If they can
They might be worried ‘bout the cultural implications Of celebrating something with such mixed-up foundations But I’m gonna hug ’em anyway, feed ’em real good And remind ’em that gathering together’s understood
‘Cause we like Christmas, Lord we like Christmas It’s a day of thinking, about goodwill Family and friends, well wishes and hearty dishes We like Christmas, that time of goodwill
Yeah, we like celebrating ancient pagan days We like Christmas ‘cause we remember Lord Jesus The greatest teacher of The Way Yeah, we like Christmas (We just like Christmas)
“So Margaret. You coming to our rooftop party? Lou’s gonna wear antlers… The chickens hate it, but they’ll deal… It’s what Jesus would do…”
“Ni pedo, pasa… Merry Christmas, Margaret.”
“Ni pedo, pasa… Merry Christmas, Margaret.”