LETTERS: CHRISTIANITY ADOPTED MANY CUSTOMS

To the editor:

Recently someone said in Speak Out that our Christmas customs are pagan. Granted, some of these customs were originally practiced by pagans. However, Christians through the years have attached a Christian meaning to these beautiful customs.

The great reformer, Martin Luther, put a Christian meaning to the decorated evergreen, telling us that its conical shape and evergreen color remind us of the eternal blessings which the Christ child brings. The lights on the tree remind us of the many Old Testament prophesies concerning his advent.

So far as other customs are concerned, the wreath is a reminder of the endless love of God in Christ. The giving and receiving of gifts remind us of God's gift of the Christ child and of the gifts of gold, incense and myrrh which the wise men from the East brought.

If one would want to be so critical of our customs, what would a person say about other practices? For example, the names of the days of the week in our calendar: Sunday, our Christian day of public worship, was named after the Roman sun god, Monday after the moon god and Thursday after the god of thunder.

Think it over, you who criticize our Christian customs.

LEONARD A. KUEHNERT

Altenburg