The dictionary defines Christmas as "the annual Christian festival celebrating Christ's birth, held on December 25 in the Western Church." Straightforward and dry, this tells us what Christmas is, but not what it means.

The question comes up every year and is discussed, of course, in churches. But we see it bandied about on talk shows and in newspaper columns like this one. Yet, even as our smug, self-satisfied, highly secular society tries to explain away the Christmas story, it demonstrates an understanding that the story still matters.

It probably is not possible to say anything about Christmas that hasn't already been said but some things need to be repeated so here we go.

Christians naturally focus on the Incarnation, the moment when "the Word was made Flesh," that is, when God took on human form and came into the physical world to suffer and die as a sacrifice for the purpose of our salvation. Quite an amazing thing for an all-powerful being to do for creatures he didn't have to create in the first place.

Luke's biblical narrative of the event is almost as dry as the dictionary definition:

"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child. And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."

So a woman had a baby. Such an ordinary thing (which is part of the point), yet so extraordinary because it was, we Christians believe, the first step in the fulfillment of the glorious promise of Judaism.

Inevitably in discussions about the meaning of Christmas, someone will bemoan its commercialization. And, indeed, that aspect of it has thoroughly dominated the Christmas season since early in the 20th century though its origins go back several decades farther. Santa Claus was popularized by Thomas Nast's editorial drawings during the Civil War. Christmas trees came into general use in the 1870s. The growth of department stores in the late 19th century really gave commercialization a push into prominence.

But commercialization is about "the holidays," not about the holy day that is Christmas itself. And the very word "holiday" stems from "holy day" just as Santa Claus stems from the religious figure of St. Nicholas. Commercialization, thus, is a kind of separation of church and state. It is what happens when a holy day becomes a holiday.

Worse than commercialization, however, is the very real assault on the holy day. People now routinely say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" (though, in my experience, saying "Merry Christmas" usually gets a very positive, if surprised, response). Schools now have Winter vacation and Winter pageants. Christmas carols are "holiday songs" and must be cleansed of any actual references to Christ. And, of course, no Nativity scenes can be on courthouse lawns because someone, somewhere will be offended.

All of this reflects the "progressive" view of culture which requires that we respect all traditions but our own. Alas, there is not room here to delve into that particular lunacy other than to call attention to it.

Even in the commercialization of the holiday, however, there is a reflection, albeit a pale one, of the true meaning of the holy day. Giving gifts reminds us, or should, of the unselfishness of the ultimate sacrificial gift that was the Incarnation. And, whatever the meaning, if any, of the secularized version, the Incarnation remains the true meaning of Christ's Mass.

So Merry Christmas to all. And, as Tiny Tim said, "God bless us, every one."