I'm positive the Christmas tree knows the answer to this question. It knows all the secrets. As I observe it, I think of all the answers she would surely give me at the right time. Masked with ornaments as if eagerly waiting to utter the answers.
How much wealth carry one tree. Someone chose that particular tree to fulfill a handful of wishes that have a year to travel, to the realization of dreams. Those desires do not ask for age. Under the Christmas tree, a three-year-old child has the same special corner as a ninety-three-year-old man. There is no difference, the importance of desire is the same. All that matters is the belief in realization. The Christmas tree is like a pet when everyone wants to have it in their home because of the joy it creates with its presence.
With Catholics, it is brought into the house before Christmas and then it has the main role, while with Orthodox, it is decorated before the New Year. Despite the fact that many do not have it in their homes, they fully enjoy it only while watching it sparkle during the holidays. For most, it is a symbol of joy and a sign of love towards life.
I have to admit that we Orthodox have forgotten a bit about our traditional Santa Claus, "Bozic Bata", how we call it, but we haven't forgotten about Christmas either. We love and respect it, only then, we replace the Christmas tree with the joyful Oak tree.
I am a supporter of tradition and customs because that is the beauty of diversity between cultures, but I am not a supporter of division. I have a habit that when they ask me what I believe in, I say good and bad. Although I come from a family that nurtures the Orthodox tradition, my belief is that we can take something good from every religion, but also bad. The choice is ours. When I think about it a little better, maybe I actually belong more to Zoroastrianism or the dualistic religion that was propagated by Zarathustra, where such a division was made for the first time.
With faith, there is no person who is right, because then it is suppressed by the ego.
If we take as an example only the birth of Jesus Christ, the Bible does not specify the exact date. Christmas and New Year support different dates for different religions because we humans could not agree on a calendar.
Unfortunately, religion often serves abuse and manipulation, rather than good intentions that are the basis of its existence. If we use religion as protection to justify our consciously committed bad deeds, then we are followers of lies and manipulation. Obedience to such manipulations can have serious consequences for the human population. We have often witnessed this because it is easiest to manipulate people when they are divided and separated. Namely, we must not forget that by striving to manipulate others, we always end up deceiving ourselves.
Customs are there to nurture tradition and culture and we bring love to them. The basis of every faith should be love. The noble act arises from love, that is faith.
Therefore, I am of the opinion that our "Bozić Bata" is still there and that no one can replace him because his date of arrival does not coincide with the date of arrival of Santa Claus.
The two of them are just a good tandem in order to complete a common mission. So we are here to welcome them both warmly and say, "thank you" for the joy they give us every year.
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