Description 

Synopsis:

• We hit a local outdoor shopping mall, armed with a platter of fruitcake, and see who is brave enough to sample it.
• Surprisingly, many people are, in fact, brave enough to eat Fruitcake. (Californians are often brash and fearless)
• A woman working at a bakery is horrified by the fruitcake.
• A man in a basketball jersey seems offended that the fruitcake is in his personal space.
• A man in a ridiculous hat samples the fruitcake and says it reminds him of Christmas.
• Amidst the fruitcake love, we begin to ask people where the idea of giving gifts at Christmas originated.
• Some acknowledge the ancient Christ story, and see a connection to His birth story and the traditional narrative.
• Some see Christmas gift-giving as utter nonsense, and a bowing to the industrial-retail grindstone.

Conversation:

• This is a light-hearted introduction to Christmas themes, but how can we challenge ourselves to reclaim a meaning of Christmas that is beyond the retail monster?
• Does gift-giving at Christmas really have anything to do with the ancient Christian narrative?
• Does a re-telling of the Christmas story help connect the secular world to the mysteries of the Christ?
• How do we build truly unique, truly lasting Christmas memories with our friends, families, and brothers and sister in the world?
• Fruitcake is one of the more absurdist holiday traditions. Are there any other Christmas traditions that we can pare down, or simply go without?
• Why oh why do people eat fruitcake? It looks so gross.

Suggested Uses:

• Appropriate for Christmas season services and Bible studies.