It’s that time of the year again when we hear a lot of complaints about disappearing Christmas traditions.

This year, the Martin Place Christmas Tree is bedecked with the words “Happy Holidays” rather than “Merry Christmas.” I love it when we try to pretend that the day being celebrated has nothing to do with Christ, but a more generic “holiday.”

David Jones copped criticism because they have abandoned the traditional Christmas window displays, which many people have for generations travelled into the city with children or grandchildren in tow to view each year.

The biggest outcry was reserved for rumours that Fire and Rescue NSW are abandoning the traditional lolly run due to health and safety concerns. Rather than throwing lollies at children while on the move, fire engines will have to stop to hand out the treats. This is out of concern for children running onto roads than any fear of hitting them in the eye with a hard lolly.

It is interesting just how much people value these traditions, even people who never set foot in church to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is like the generational memory of faith in Jesus, attending church services and celebrating real Christmas and Easter festivals continues to anchor people despite our rapidly changing culture.

Christmas is a time of incredibly good news, in a time when there is such a shortage of good news. It’s more than a long weekend, a time to get together with the family, or even a special time for the kids.

Christmas is about a God who cares about people so much that He came down to earth to live with us. The baby in the shed with the animals turned out to be the creator of everything in a human form. The story reaches its climax at Easter when we recall that Jesus Christ died to cover the wrongs of every single person.

If you haven’t been to church for a while, why not start a new tradition this Christmas?