Scientology Media Advisory: The Scientology Religion and the Holiday Season

At this time of year, media often ask how Scientologists observe the holiday season. To answer that question, the Church of Scientology International provides the following: How do Scientologists celebrate the holiday season?

Because the Scientology religion is practiced in 165 countries and territories, Scientologists come from a wide variety of faiths and cultural traditions, so observances of the holidays are as diverse as Scientologists are. But no matter their religious or cultural tradition, Scientologists observe the holidays in a manner similar to the members of all other religions: they gather with their loved ones, whether they observe Christmas, Chanukah, Yule or Kwanzaa, enjoying the warmth of friends and family and celebrating the joy and love of the season. No matter their religious or cultural tradition, Scientologists embody the spirit of the season as expressed in the universal message, “Peace on Earth and goodwill toward men.”

Scientologists live by a code which includes: "To use the best I know of Scientology to the best of my ability to help my family, friends, groups and the world." During the holiday season, Scientologists are especially active in this respect, volunteering in a wide range of endeavors to improve the lives of individuals and the community and bring joy to those who may need assistance. What do Churches of Scientology do during the holiday season? Many Scientologists take advantage of time off from work or school during the holidays to advance themselves spiritually through Scientology training and spiritual counseling.

In addition to these regular Scientology religious services, Churches of Scientology also provide many special holiday services and activities for Scientologists and open houses and tours for members of the community. Scientology Churches and their members also organize and support numerous charitable events during the holidays, such as toy drives, food and clothing collections, and parties for underprivileged children. Scientologists visit nursing homes, orphanages and hospitals, providing cheer through gifts and entertainment. Scientology Churches are festively decorated in a manner suitable to the country where they are located and local traditions.

Christmas Stories

The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International in Hollywood produces an annual holiday benefit performance calledChristmas Stories, presented in the style of a 1930s radio show. (http://www.scientology.cc) Celebrities perform traditional and original stories, songs and skits, this year’s cast including Anne Archer, Jennifer Aspen, Eric Balfour, Erika Christensen, Jason Dohring, Jenna Elfman, Juliette Lewis, Marisol Nichols and Ethan Suplee. Proceeds benefit the Hollywood Police Activities League’s annual Christmas party for underprivileged children and PAL’s year-round inner city programs for at-risk youth. Since the first Christmas Stories in 1993, the event has raised more than $265,000 for PAL. Winter Wonderland Winter Wonderland is an annual tradition that began in 1983 when Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard provided a 60-foot Christmas tree as a gift to the people of Hollywood. A tree is now lit each year at Winter Wonderland, a Christmas village where more than 40,000 Los Angeles residents and tourists from around the world have enjoyed live performances by community vocal and instrumental groups and have their pictures taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Winter Wonderland opens on the Sunday after Thanksgiving each year when Santa rides into Hollywood in his sleigh—always the final float in the famed Hollywood Christmas Parade—and signals the official start of the holiday season with the lighting of the Winter Wonderland tree and village. Winter Wonderland is made possible by the Friends of L. Ron Hubbard Foundation. Winter Wonderland in Clearwater, Florida, is also presented for three weeks each December, for the benefit of needy children in the area. The Church of Scientology and Scientologists organize and sponsor the Christmas village, with ten thousands residents and tourists visiting Santa, Mrs. Claus’s cookie decorating kitchen, live entertainment by local school, church and professional groups, a hot chocolate shop, petting zoo, pony rides and a bouncy house. http://www.clearwatercommunityvolunteers.org/winterwonderland.html)