86R5637 BGU-D
By: Price H.R. No. 2126
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, On December 25, 2019, many Texans will join in
worship and in fellowship as they celebrate the joyous occasion
known as Christmas; and
WHEREAS, Observed by Christians all across the world,
Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whose
arrival on earth is heralded as a promise of salvation for
humankind; after more than two millennia, Christ's example
continues to serve as a model of generosity and compassion and as a
guiding presence in the lives of countless people; and
WHEREAS, Although Christmas has a longstanding history in the
United States, the breadth of its observance has grown considerably
since the earliest days of our nation's founding; the Christmas
tradition familiar to us today arose during the 19th century, and
most markedly in the years of rapid industrialization following the
Civil War; at a time of national unrest and uncertainty, a holiday
reminiscent of a simpler life, suffused by the fundamental spirit
of peace and goodwill, offered comfort and spoke to the most fervent
prayers of all Americans; by 1870, the observance of Christmas had
become so widespread that the day was declared a national holiday;
and
WHEREAS, Modern-day Christmas evokes images of families
gathering by the warmth of the hearth, of city streets adorned with
lights, of tinsel-strewn trees, and of such confections as
gingerbread and eggnog; many present-day customs are derived from
Old World forms of celebration that have been shaped, refined, and
interwoven with more recent practices, like the exchange of
presents, to yield a wealth of festivities that are definitively
American; and
WHEREAS, Amid the bustle that now attends the holidays, the
original significance of Christmas nonetheless reveals itself;
more than any other time of the year, the Christmas season calls
forth a heightened sense of charity, as individuals share what they
have to help alleviate the needs of others; the holiday also invites
celebrants to set aside worldly cares, enjoy the company of loved
ones, and rejoice in the heartening gift that is faith; and
WHEREAS, The simple story of a child born in a humble manger
has endured and inspired generations, and the scriptural lessons of
redemption, mercy, tolerance, and most of all, love, remain as
profound and transformative as ever before; as Texans share their
delight in this most cherished holiday and its many treasured
traditions, they may take to heart the virtues that define the true
spirit of Christmas and endeavor to carry them forward in the year
ahead; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate Christmas Day 2019.