A Second to Schlumpf | National Catholic Reporter

A Second to Schlumpf | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Regardless of Black Friday - Black Thursday should be avoided by all who favor social justice for workers, especially those seasonal workers who can't tell the boss no.  I always shop a bit later and it is only an inheritance that lets us shop at all.  While I agree that all the avarice has nothing to do with the child of Bethlehem, I must always call foul about those who object to Christ being taken out of the annual celebration of the winter solstice, which predates Christianization of most cultures.  As Christians, we may certainly call Jesus our light - however the evidence is that he was not born on December 25th, but rather on April 17th, 6 BCE (the necessary astrology to attract the Magi to a messianic Jewish King).  Of course, putting Jesus birth in Eastertide has too many reincarnation implications, so I can see why they did it, but keep in mind that the celebration of Christmas at this time is about fulfilling very human needs to stand as one against the long nights - often with the kind of revelry that the Christmas Christianizers object to.  There is no reason we can't have both.