Stony Brook University Faculty of Sciences and Humanities

[Hankyung Essay] The True Meaning of Christmas

Former U.S. President Barack Obama emphasized cultural and religious diversity by greeting people with "Happy Holidays!" instead of "Merry Christmas!" during the Christmas season. Following this, many people in American society began to use "Happy Holidays!" as a more inclusive Christmas greeting. In contrast, Donald Trump who appeared in such an atmosphere, he boldly declared "Merry Christmas!" in public, saying, "It’s Christmas, so of course we should say 'Merry Christmas.'" This became an opportunity for Trump to gain great popularity among American conservatives.

The true meaning of Christmas is service and love. Jesus came to this world not to be served, but to serve. While washing the feet of His disciples, a task traditionally performed by servants, Jesus said, "As I have loved you, so you must love one another."  

On the day of the first snowfall this year, a special music concert, the Sejin Music Concert, was held at the Sejong Center. This concert, inspired by the movie ‘Harmony’, is a performance where inmates from the Ministry of Justice’s correctional facilities promise their change through a choir performance and cheer on their re-socialization process. When the youth under protection, whom I meet and mentor every Wednesday, appeared on stage and received a great round of applause as they sang, tears of deep emotion flowed.

In our society, approximately 55,000 teenagers go through juvenile protection trials each year. Most of these children are not properly cared for at home. Many of them return to their homes, but are easily exposed again to environments that lead them back to crime. However, children who receive protection and care at the Juvenile Rehabilitation Support Centers show a significant decrease in recidivism rates, with the rate dropping by more than half. Therefore, it is essential for our society to show warm interest and love for these centers, to help these children grow into healthy and responsible members of society. 

There was a TV program called ‘Finding Dad’, which depicted the journey of children seeking their fathers who had come to Korea to work. The scenes where the children were reunited with their fathers after years apart in the unfamiliar land of Korea were deeply moving. However, it is estimated that around 20,000 children, known as "Kopino" (children of Korean fathers), have been abandoned by their Korean fathers in the Philippines. Last month, an organization called Messenger International, which supports the education and living expenses of these Kopino children, invited around 10 of them to Korea. The goal was to allow them to experience happiness and create lasting memories in Korea, as well as to inspire them to dream bigger. One student, who received help from Messenger International and went on to study at university, recently passed the Philippine Bar Exam, bringing exciting news.  

If we pay a little more attention, we can see children who need love and support. There are also foreign workers and students who are in Korea as strangers. I hope this Christmas season brings warmth and kindness to orphans and strangers around us. Merry Christmas!