"Taxes and the Christmas Story" from the December 20, 1956 Door County Advocate
by Stanley R. Greene
Our Mayor Says
by Stanley R. Greene
TAXES AND THE CHRISTMAS STORY
Does the unpleasant subject of taxes have any relationship to the Christmas story and the Christmas season?
According to St. Luke, it has — in this way:
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed...And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is Bethlehem, ... to be taxed with his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that; while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered."
There are many important elements in the Christmas story and certainly not the least among them, necessary for the fulfillment of the old prophecy, was a decree of taxation.
A decree of taxation that would drag Joseph and Mary the long, weary miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. A decree which would so fill the little town with those returning to be taxed that nothing would be left for the weary parents but the shelter of a stable and for the child, the cradling of a manager.
So the subject of taxes is not alien to the Christmas story nor the Christmas season. It is an integral part — like the manager or the stable or Bethlehem itself.
And in this age of commercialism Christmas and taxes are even more closely related. It may be both fitting and profitable to pause for a moment in the midst of Christmas shopping and meditate upon the subject of sales taxes.
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
Christmas-related articles:
https://doorcounty.substack.com/t/christmas
Articles by Stanley Greene: