Angels and Elves

Christmas is a time when superstition reigns. Angels and elves, fictitious beings from ancient cultures, figure prominently in the myths of Christmas. Angels, messengers from deities, provided the link between man and the supernatural in early religions of the cradle of civilization from Greece to India. Elves were the pagan's way of interpreting events that had no apparent or comprehended cause. The allure of these mystical, inaginary creatures as a connection to the supernatural is so great even today that they persist in our imaginations. An overwhelming number of people actually believe that angels, the biblical term, are real. Many can cite an incident from their lives where they feel they encountered a angel. They have no other rational explanation why a stranger assisted them in some important and possibly life saving way. Fewer believe in elves or fairies or genies, I suspect because they are from the pagan tradition and clearly referenced as fictitious in literature, that is, they don't have the authority of scripture to bolster their reputation. The belief in messengers from god(s) is a harmless infatuation with the possibility that magic can be part of our lives. It's a relief from the drudgery of typical days, which is what holidays are all about. Enjoy.