October 15, 2025
On a crisp October morning, something unexpected happened at a community breakfast in Fishers, Indiana: Christmas came early. But this wasn't about jumping the gun on holiday decorating or premature caroling. Instead, it was about something much more meaningful: using the story of Christmas to build understanding across faith traditions. A Gathering of Neighbors The Niagara Foundation, a national organization dedicated to fostering relationships between people of different cultures and faiths, hosts quarterly community breakfasts through its central Indiana chapter, operated by the Turkish Muslim community. These gatherings bring together anyone who shares a simple but powerful desire to break down barriers and build bridges in our increasingly diverse world. At their community center in Fishers, the Foundation regularly invites speakers from various faith traditions to share perspectives with the group. On October 11, 2025, it was Betty Brandt's turn. As Program Director at the Garden Community Church, Betty chose to explore the topic of Christmas, familiar to most yet full of surprising history. The History Behind the Holiday Betty's presentation explored how Christmas as we know it came to be. She explained that December 25 wasn't celebrated as Jesus' birthday until 330 AD, when Pope Julius decreed it "The Feast of the Nativity." This date wasn't chosen randomly. Appropriating the pagan holiday allowed early Christians to continue celebrating the pagan winter solstice, the return of the sun, with its lights, candles, and festivities, while assigning new Christian meaning to these traditions. From there, Betty traced the evolution of beloved Christmas traditions including the transformation of Saint Nicholas into Santa Claus, the development of Christmas carols, the adoption of evergreen trees as symbols of eternal life, and the creation of live nativity scenes. Each tradition, she showed, carried layers of cultural adaptation and meaning. A Story That Captures Everything Betty concluded with a true story from December 24, 1944, during the brutal Battle of the Bulge in World War II. As a fierce snowstorm raged, three American soldiers and three German soldiers took refuge in the home of a Belgian woman and her son. In that small house, on Christmas Eve, these young men put down their weapons. Together, they accepted the hospitality offered to them, shared a meal, and for one night, chose humanity over hatred. This story captured the essence of what brought people to that October breakfast. Just as those soldiers had done decades earlier, those present desired to put aside differences, enjoy a wonderful meal together, and build bridges across the divides that too often separate us. Looking Ahead The next Niagara Foundation community breakfast will take place in 2026 and will feature a panel discussion on fasting practices across different faith traditions. While no date has been set yet, the event promises another opportunity to learn, connect, and discover the common threads that run through our diverse beliefs. Whereas our world often emphasizes what divides us, gatherings like these remind us that our shared humanity is stronger than our differences. Sometimes it takes a story about Christmas—told in October, in a Muslim community center, to a room full of neighbors—to help us remember that truth. To learn more about the Niagara Foundation and upcoming community breakfast events, visit their website .
