By Jessie Gambrell

Co-A&E Editor

As I am sure many of you have wondered, just what exactly does the word “Christmas” mean?

Well it is simple really, all it means is “Christ,” “Mass:” The mass of Jesus Christ, the celebration of his being; or to be precise, the celebration of his birth into this world.

According to gallup.com, over 78 percent of all people in the U.S. are Christian, so it is  no wonder as to how this celebration became to be so big.

Every year around this time, we start to prepare for the holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years; but the actual holiday of Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, despite all that advertisements, media and commercialization make it out to be.

According to commercials and retailers, Christmas is a time of year to share gifts, time with family and merriment.

It is usually filled with yummy cookies, snowmen and above all, Santa and his reindeer.

The notion of spending hoards of money, stress and time trying to race around to find the right presents for our loved ones is getting away from the true meaning of Christmas.

If we take a moment and look into what exactly it is we are celebrating, then it might have more meaning to us and won’t be (as it is for some) a stressful, sometimes lonely time of year. Having that “center,” that purpose in life to know that it isn’t just us in this life that we have to worry about, but to know that we aren’t alone, to know that someone is out there looking out for us.

The celebration of Christ-mass is the birthday celebration of that person who is your salvation, companion, and protector. No matter who you are, where you come from, or what you believe; God will always be there for you. He does not judge you, but loves you! Without the love and sacrifice He has given us, we would have no meaning and no happy ending.

So, the next time you say “Merry Christmas,” just think to yourself how wonderful this world is because of His existence and the tremendous sacrifice He made on the cross for us. The sacrifice He made to open the pearly gates of heaven to us that we may have a fighting chance to prove ourselves in this life to deserve the treasure that awaits us in the next.

Merry Christmas!