Christmas?

I have been struggling with Christmas...not in the ways that you might think...

From what I have read, Jesus was not born on December 25th.  In fact, it is an impossibility due to the weather in Israel is very cold at this time of year and the shepherds could not have been tending their sheep by night...so, why do we celebrate Christmas on this date? 

Well, I have also read that this (and all the other holidays or holy days) that we celebrate here in America are based on pagan traditions.  Based on the celebrations of other gods...now, I know that we as christian do not believe in idols so the fact that other gods were originally worshiped or celebrated on these days is a moot point.  From what I read it made the conversion to christianity in the roman days "easier", so the newly converted chrisitians could keep all their previous celebrations and "christianize" or maybe sanitize them to be more acceptable to the church or to Christ...

What I am struggling with is that everything we celebrate is based on the traditions that have nothing to do with the actual birth of Christ.  I asked my husband the other day if he would like to celebrate his birthday in July instead of February, he didn't seem too keen on the idea...so, why are we celebrating Jesus' birthday in December then? 

I do not want to do something just because it is "tradition" or because everyone else is doing it that way...
I have been praying about what Jesus really thinks about Christmas.  As one writer mentioned, no where in the Bible is it recommended or commanded that christians have a celebration or feast celebrating the birth of Christ, not that I think that it is wrong to celebrate the birth of Christ, I mean I celebrate the birth of those I love, why should it be any different for my friend Jesus? 

I get so frustrated with how we in America celebrate the birth of our Savior...so much commercialism.  More stuff that we amass while others go hungry- all, literally, in the name of Christ.  I am not judging anyone, for I am in this too, I am guilty too if guilt is to be passed at all. 

I just watched "The Singing Christmas Tree", a DVD that a family member sent- a program that was put on by a large christian church in Orlando.  Two very large trees are lit up and the lights go in sync with the music.  The choir is all positioned through the "branches" of this tree,  it was all about glitz.  It turned me off.  Now I am sure their motive was a good one, but I can't help but think that we have lost sight of who Jesus is...God incarnate, God in the flesh, the almighty, powerful, omnipotent, creator and Lord of all! 

I am interested to know more about how chanukah is celebrated, go back to our jewish roots, but I fear it is the same problem of commercialism in that as well. 

It goes back to "it is what you make it."  Not getting caught up into things without thinking about the whys.  Asking questions.  The only problem is that sometimes it "ruins" you.  My heart is to really think about what and why I believe...

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the Christmas tree, the candlight services, the Christmas songs, the presents, and the feasting and family getting togethers just like the next guy.  That is why these thoughts have been a struggle at all...

The question is, "What is in your heart?"  "Who do you say that I am?"  That is a reminder to each one of us, not just on this "holy" day, but everday of the year...