Christmas, the biggest ‘white lie’

By Herbert Vego

SINCE September when Jose Mari Chan resurfaced to sing his original Christmas songs, we Filipinos have been counting down the days leading to December 25 – the supposed birthday of Jesus Christ. Even non-Christians celebrate Christmas, as did the composer named Irving Berlin. He was an American Jew who wrote the song “White Christmas” in 1941, which was first sung for phonograph recording by Bing Crosby in 1942.

Do you know that there was a time when the Protestant Christians denounced it for being a “duplicate” of a pagan celebration?

There is now no doubt among Bible Scholars that Jesus could not have been born on a winter day, December 25, in 4 B.C.  For on the day of his birth, the shepherds in Bethlehem were out in the fields grazing sheep – an impossible scene in snowy winter. Born in a manger, the naked child Jesus would have frozen to death.

Even the year is erroneous. How could he have been born in 4 B.C. or four years before his own birth?

The historical error is familiar to historians who trace it to calendar maker Dionysius Exiguus, who reckoned in the 6th century that Christ was born 754 years after the founding of Rome. It later turned out he was four years off in dating the year of Christ’s birth.

The celebration of the first December 25 Christmas – according to Roman Catholic Church history – occurred in Rome in 320 A.D.  That date had always been celebrated by pagans, ironically, as the Saturnalia or birthday of Saturn, the god of agriculture or the “Unconquered Sun.”

No, it was no coincidence. That first “mass of Christ” was aimed at converting the believers of Saturn into Christianity without discarding their cherished 12 days of feast, merry-making and gift-giving. The church fathers at that time had no choice but tolerate the inebriation and free sex that new converts had been accustomed to. The transition from the “Unconquered Sun” to “Unconquered Son” was thus accomplished.

With the Protestant Reformation in Europe in the 16th century, the followers of Martin Luther (a German) and John Calvin (a Swiss) questioned the propriety of celebrating Christmas because of its inaccurate date and its pagan origin.

However, in spite of anti-Christmas pamphlets, sermons, speeches and even incarcerations of celebrators, the Puritan opposition eventually vanished.

 

Most Christians may not have given it a thought, but there is no verse in the Bible retelling whether Jesus Christ ever celebrated his birthday.

Isip-isip…Were Gospel writers Matthew, Mark, Luke and John not invited?

This calls for further research.

-oOo-

MORE PATIENCE, PLEASE

AS published on its FB page, MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) has the following Christmas message to its valued customers:

“In this most wonderful time of the year, may we celebrate light that brings hope to our lives and love that shines within our hearts.

“From all of us at MORE Power, we wish you and your loved ones a happy and safe holiday season.”

Well said, knowing that this also the time for us electricity consumers to be more patient with the distribution utilities that do nor even deserve the blame for the rising prices of prime commodities.  It all boils down to inflation.

On the other hand, power consumers deserve understanding.  We know that they are willing to pay but simply need explanation as to why their wish could not be the utility’s command.

Here is a portion of a “love letter” from Cristabel Gamilong which recently landed on MORE Power’s FB page:

“Tani tagaan man kita nga manga konsomedor sang paskua sang MORE Power kag wala lang utdanay anay para ka bakal man ang manga tawo sang ila noche buena.”

MORE Power answers:

“Cristabel, nahangpan namon ang inyo ginabatyag. Apang kon indi ang MORE makapanukot, wala man kita sang inugbayad sa aton mga power generators.”

As this corner has repeatedly explained, the distribution utilities like MORE and ILECO, are not the end receivers of the payments received.  They get only a small percentage.  Much of the amount collected goes to the cost of fuel (mostly coal) and the power plants.

To reiterate, the price of coal in the world market has jumped from US $60 to $400 per metric ton.  Ti, maano ta da?

We can’t rely on “charity” from Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) which extracts coal from Semirara Island, Caluya, Antique.  Not even Sen. Loren Legarda, Cong. AA Legarda and Gov. Rhodora Cadiao could ask them a favor.  That partly explains why the Antique Electric Cooperative (ANTECO) is now “famous” for charging the highest rates in the entire Region 6.

We can only hope that with the passing of the winter month of December, coal prices would slide down.  The last time we talked to Sir Niel Parcon of MORE Power, it could go down in February 2023.

Based on projection by the Newcastle Coal – an Australian coal exporter – coal could slide down to around $350/MT in the world market in February 2023. Sad to say, this is still way higher than the $60 quoted before the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Basi pa lang magnubo man presyo sang bugas to P20 pe kilo as promised by… sino-siya?