Christmas is all about family. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that in the popular Christmas movies. It’s a nice sentiment. But it’s completely wrong. Family is good, but as we all know, it’s flawed too. Some of us don’t even like spending time with family because of unsettled feuds. Family can’t support the weight of the Christmas holiday.

For one thing, just look at the symbols of Christmas: Santa Claus, Christmas trees with a star on top, lights, and candy canes. What do any of these have to do with family? Santa Claus, or Saint Nicholas, was a historical figure; a bishop born in Turkey in the late 200’s, who was known for his generosity. His gift giving reminds us of the gifts of the wise men, and also that Jesus is the greatest gift to mankind. Christmas trees are evergreens, symbolizing eternal life. The star on top is the star that led the wise men. The lights remind us that Jesus is the light of the world (John 1:9). Candy canes are red and white to remind us of purity and the blood Jesus shed on the cross. None of this has anything to do with family, and everything to do with Jesus.

Hollywood is in a bind when it comes to Christmas. It can’t really acknowledge that the incarnation of God becoming human in the person of Jesus is the true meaning of Christmas because they don’t believe it, and so many in our country don’t either. And yet, most of the best-loved Christmas songs are full of lyrics about Jesus because they were written to be sung in church during the Christmas season. Family is the best non-believers can come up with.

So if you’ve bought into the Hollywood version of Christmas, that it’s all about family, or maybe you acknowledge Jesus once a year but go no further, then I imagine Christmas leaves you dissatisfied. Once the presents are opened, it’s over. Apart from more stuff that will soon be in the trash bin (and more credit card debt), nothing has changed. The family is as flawed as ever. After all the build-up, was it really worth it? Under the circumstances, a feeling of emptiness is rational.

But if Christmas really is about the birth of Jesus, then just maybe the joy of Christmas is just beginning! What He did for us—all of us—is still the same every day. Of course, it would be rather silly (and exhausting) to celebrate Christmas every day, but we can do just that in our hearts. Jesus is Immanuel, “God with us”. He’s not distant and uncaring. He’s with us, understands us, and loves us. That’s the meaning of Christmas, and it never grows old.