The True Meaning of Christmas

Is there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about? 

Its a question Charlie Brown poses in a “Charlie Brown Christmas”, a 1965 children’s television program. 

It’s promptly answered by Linus Van Pelt by quoting Luke 2:8-14 but today, in an era of political correctness, few shopping malls dare answer that question with nativity scenes.

One of the few in southern New England is the Warwick Mall, in Warwick, R.I. 

It’s ironic that Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus are only a few feet from Santa Claus and a busy mall concourse bringing shoppers from Target to Macy’s and J.C. Penney. 

However, it’s the reason for the season and those opposed to such nativity seasons probably are not aware that it’s not uncommon for shopping malls and even movie theaters to be the home for church services.

The Tanger Outlet Center in Westbrook, CT is home to Marquee Cinemas which on Sunday mornings is a host for Lighthouse Community Church. 

The Lincoln Mall in Lincoln, R.I., is home to Cinema World which on Sunday mornings is a host for NorthPointe Christian Church.

If nativity scenes offend you, I would advise looking away just as some do at the “adult” gifts at Spencer’s Gifts, and the tobacco “accessories” at convenience stores.

While I don’t celebrate Hanukah, I do think it’s a good thing for mall’s to have decorations for different faiths.

The Warwick Mall features a large menorah outside Jordan’s Furniture. 

It’s interesting to note that the Warwick Mall is independently owned by Aaram Garabedian while other regional malls are owned by large corporations and have no nativity scenes or menorahs like Waterford’s Crystal Mall owned by Simon, East Brook Mall owned by Northeast Retail Leasing and Management Company, Manchester’s Buckland Hills Mall owned by General Growth Properties, and Milford’s Connecticut Post Mall owned by Westfield.

The New Springville Mall in Staten Island had allowed nativity scenes and menorahs until 2006 when Simon, the mall’s owner, alleges it received complaints and changed the mall’s policy on religious displays. 

In a quick Google search, I found out that the Danbury Fair Mall was displaying a menorah in 2008 along with Christmas decorations but not a nativity scene. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love the Christmas decorations in many regional malls like the kids’ train, large Christmas trees, Saint Nick (the breathing bearded one and the miniature ones), snowmen, snowflakes, wreaths, and the lights, I just think that malls should do more to respect the true reason for the season in an era of increasingly over commercialization.

When more stores open on Thanksgiving Day and families gather outside stores to wait for them to open with large sales rather than around a dining room table giving thanks for what they have, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that many forget the importance of family and friends.

I’m afraid next we will soon see retailers open Christmas Day so that folks can make last minute purchases, take advantage of sales, or make returns rather than gather around the Christmas tree opening gifts with their families and loved ones.

Our state government should step in and enact blue laws to prohibit stores from being open on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

While some who oppose that say the consumer should have the choice when they want to shop, I say there are 363 other days you can shop and if that is not enough for you, there is online shopping available all the time.

Our regional malls should step up to the plate and put up nativity scenes and menorahs to respect those shoppers who celebrate those holidays rather than be concerned about who it might offend. 

To quote the 1966 special “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”, “Maybe Christmas, he thought…doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps…means a little bit more”

Malls should celebrate the true meaning of Christmas rather than only celebrating how to get as much of the Almighty Dollar as possible.