A/N: Part 3 of the Holiday Marathon after Halloween and Thanksgiving. Read those first if you haven't already.
Starfire woke up in her bed as normal, but for some reason, and for a reason that was beyond the Tamaranean princess, melancholy. No deep amounts of joy or cheer. Just numbness. Feeling like she needed some fresh air, Starfire went to the roof, not feeling hungry enough to eat breakfast and went to the roof of the tower. It had an undisturbed layer of snow a few inches high. Flying over to 'The Thinking Wall', a brick wall placed there where titans could think since last Christmas. It was wide enough for five people and was at different heights every couple of feet so that each titan could comfortably lean on it. A sixth section was added after Jinx joined. Placing her glum face into her right palm, she looked out into the city which seemed slightly louder and busier than usual. Robin soon after found her there, and joined her.
"Hey Star. What's wrong? You rarely use the thinking wall." He asked while mentioning a fact about her.
"Oh, hello Boyfriend Robin. I do not know what is wrong with me specifically. I do enjoy the Christmas times. The gifts, the cards, the decorating of the Christmas tree, but I do not feel glorious or wonderful about it now. I tried to ignore it, that I am just feeling down for no reason, but this morning since I awoke I just cannot ignore it any longer."
"When did you start feeling this way?" The Boy Wonder asked. Thinking about it, she soon came to a conclusion.
"I believe it was when I experienced my first Friday that was Black. We have celebrated Christmas before, but that was my first time experiencing that because I wanted to learn about it, why that Friday is particularly black. But coming across it, it was just so frantic and violent, and I was even told by various people that the only things that make Christmas good is the gifts, toys and money. And I have been thinking, why is everyone else celebrating that? We the titans have focused on ourselves as family, but does everyone else only focus on themselves and the kids they have? And does it need to come by stepping on those that are down and shoving the elbows and knees to get the material object that you need?"
"Yeah, that's consumerism for you. Christmas has been reduced from being a time of family, love and good will to just what's the hottest thing to get and upstage everyone else to get a reward for best decorated house for some reason."
"Robin?" She asked, turning to him. "What is Christmas really about? You mentioned the three things, but I do not know why they are to celebrate the holiday." This took the titan leader by mild surprise.
"Oh. Well, I don't really know myself but there are a few movies that could answer your questions. They're timeless classics that tell not just what the meaning of Christmas is, but tell them in a way that everyone can reflect upon them, and learn something in their own way."
"I would like to watch the movies please. With my friends." Starfire requested with a small smile. Robin smiled in return as he brought an arm over her shoulders, bringing her close.
"Gladly."
They just got finished watching the first movie, A Charlotte Black Christmas.
"That was most enjoyable. But tell me, during that speech with Linton, who is this Christ lord, and what does he have to do with Christmas?"
"Uh, we'll give you a summary, since none of us probably has ever read or even picked up a bible." Jinx said.
"In the most basic sense, Jesus Christ is the most prominent figure of the Christian religion, who is both the son of God and the messaiah who will save the Earth from sin." Robin explained.
"Great job on that last part." Beast Boy chuckled with a sarcastic tone.
"Jesus went around doing stuff. Spreading how to follow God, healing people, teaching lessons, etc." Raven shrugged. "He and God are even the bane of the dark forces such as demons and the devil. Of course, crosses and holy water don't do anything to me since they're just sticks and regular water to me.
"And if I remember correctly, Jesus died on some cross because he wasn't doing what was okay at the time, and tried to atone for everyone else's sins, I think." Cyborg added with some mental effort.
"How interesting, but what does he have to do with Christmas?" Starfire asked again.
"Well, from what I can put together from the special..." Robin started to explain again, "...Jesus was born as nobody special, but would later on grow to become the greatest leaders and religious figures of his time. The same can to a lesser extent be applied to the tree featured. It was small and pathetic looking, but it was the most authentic tree of them all, and it's the simplicity that made it special like Jesus when he was born. So the first lesson is appreciate the simplicity and beauty of everything, even if it's not shiny or the hottest thing people are selling."
"And it's more than just that." Raven continued. "When Linton said "Peace and good will towards men-" Jinx cut her off.
"Should've had women in there too. Christianity was never that respectful towards women in those days. Or any religion or government for that maneer. Sorry Raven, just needed to say that. Resume."
"Right. When Linton said that, that's what Christmas is really about."
"Yeah, be peaceful and kind to others and stuff." Beast Boy concluded while giving a peace sign.
"This sounds very good. This Christianity religion sounds mostly wonderful."
"Eh, don't look at anything at face value Star." Cyborg warned her. Jesus may be the leading example of being a good man, but those who lead the religion after him sullied it. One of the biggest criticisms is that if you're a good Christian, you go to heaven, a place where everything is perfect. But if you're a bad Christian or not Christian at all, you go to Hell, regardless if you're a nice person at all."
"Yeah, and the priests try to shove their religion down the throats of as many people as they can. Not to mention their abuse on women, their intolerance of other religions like the Islam and Judaism, hatred of homosexuals, and even the driving force of killing the natives of North America." Jinx brought up. "And those are some of the tamer things they did."
"The worst part probably is that some people commit acts of terrorism for the sake of God. They think they were born to commit what others view as a crime because it was their destiny to do so or something." Beast Boy added.
"So, is the Christianity not a good religion? It sounds pretty terrible." The alien girl inquired with concern.
"Well, just because a religion can be terrible doesn't mean it's all that is." Robin clarified. "So long as you treat others with the kindness and acceptance that Jesus did, then you're morally a pretty good Christian.
"Yeah, I knew a kid back in Detroit who was like, the nicest guy I knew back then." Cyborg told while remembering. "He would volunteer, help the elderly, give his allowance to charity, and never raised his voice or hand at anyone."
"So, the true meaning of Christmas is to be kind to others and appreciate the simple things in life?" The Tamaranean asked, her mood growing back up.
"That's one way, but we have more movies to watch.
After watching 'It's Been A Great Life', all of them were greatly touched by the greatness of the movie, but none more so than Starfire, whom was crying.
"Star, is there something wrong?" Robin asked his girlfriend.
"Oh, no nothing is wrong. It is just that...do you remember when we fought that time villain?"
"You mean War-oh. Right. The future where we drifted apart."
"Wait, what?" Jinx asked.
"Star went into a future where she disappeared for 20 years when we fought a time travelling villain called Warp." Raven told the pink haired witch. "She disappeared, and without her kindness and sheer value of friendship, we dissolved and Jump City fell. But with the help of us from then, Warp was defeated, and she came back to remind us of said value and friendship."
"So Starfire experienced a situation similar to this movie? Whoa."
"It is indeed the whoa. Remembering that time along with watching this movie just brought up so many emotions I couldn't hold them back."
"Yeah. Just the thought of us not being friends bums me out just as much as it did back then. In fact, even more so since we've become better friends and family then ever before." The Boy Wonder stated, which everyone can agree.
"Huh, I should probably appreciate your over sugary sweetness more then. Never know when you might lose it." Jinx said, which made Starfire smile.
"Thank you Jinx."
"Well, with the Christmas moral # 2: 'appreciate what you have' out of the way, let's watch the next movie." Cyborg suggested.
After watching the 1951 version of A Caroling Christmas and learning about how greed and selfishness will never make one happy and it's never too late to change one's ways, they then watched the age old classic of Rudy the Ruby nosed Reindeer. Beast Boy hummed in contemplation.
"Huh, you know, I heard that this movie was supposed to have a broken message in that differences are bad except for when they're useful, but they seem to have forgotten that Rudy was accepted by saving his family and love interest deer friend, not just because his nose was convenient."
"So even though they mistreated Rudy for his deformed nose, the message of tolerance and acceptance still holds up?"
"I guess so." Cyborg shrugged. "I mean, I ran off from Detroit because I was angry at dad and everyone thought I was a freak by becoming a cyborg. But thinking about it, now that I'm a hero, perhaps they'll look past that and say that they were wrong to treat me different."
"Now that's a good way of thinking about it Cy." Jinx said as she snuggled up closer to him."
"Well, there's one more movie to watch, so let's get that over with before starting up dinner." Robin recommended, which they all nodded to.
The Teen Titans finally finished their Christmas movie marathon with The Story of Christmas. However, the titans were...less than pleased.
"Wow. Talk about racist towards the Chinese." Jinx said with a slightly disturbed look.
"And no sense of toy safety. I mean, even without all these school shootings throughout the US now adays that is just too disturbing." Cyborg shuddered. "I was fine with Army Joe figures and Shapemorphers robot toys, not functional weapons."
"How could the mother allow the other one to beat up her child? Is there not something to prevent that?" Starfire called out.
"Yeah Star, it's called the Child Protection Services, though I don't think that existed back then, and she would've been in trouble for not doing anything today." Robin answered.
"And a leg lamp? Really?" Raven shook her head in disapproval.
"I don't understand how this can be called a classic. I did like when Randy beat up that bully. That was cathartic." Beast Boy chuckled.
"Well, all of those negatives aside, there was one thing I noticed throughout that was a good thing." The Boy Wonder brought up. "And that was capturing the the view of a child on Christmas. I remember when I was like Randy around the winter holidays."
"Yeah, same here." Cyborg nodded.
"I also remember having the pleasant times of Kergoff on Tamaran." The alien girl reminisced.
"I don't really remember celebrating Christmas all that much." Beast Boy said despondently. "I remember some with mom, but I was like really young."
"Azarath never celebrated Earth holidays so I never had Christmas as a kid." Raven added. Both her and BB looked at each other before scooting closer to each other for comfort.
"Never really celebrated either. Because, you know, I was an orphan freak and I've told you the Hive don't celebrate holidays." Jinx similarly stated.
"Well, how was the Christmas marathon Jinx? Was it good?" Cyborg asked, wanting to have feel how good it felt. She sighed with a content smile and closed eyes.
"Not every moment was good, but the majority was fine. It felt nice."
"There has been so many positive lessons about the Christmas time." Starfire spoke up, smiling. "There was appreciating the simple things in life, treat everyone with the peace and will that is good for everyone, we should cherish what we have in the comparison to otherwise, don't be greedy and selfish for objects, tolerate and accept those that are different and enjoy the feelings your inner child and the joys of family."
"You just summed up everything about the true meanings of Christmas. Sure, presents and the food is fun, but it's all that you just said that makes the holiday truly special." Robin told her.
"Oh, thank you for helping me understand Christmas Robin. I love you the so much."
"I love you too Star." He replied before the two kissed with a short peck.
"Well, now that we got those out of the way, let's make ourselves some dinner, and then watch 'How the Green Grouch has Taken Christmas'!" Cyborg shouted, with all of them agreeing. Heading into the kitchen, each of them that there was a mistletoe in the doorway. Giggling, each of the two kissed. Robin and Starfire, Raven and Beast Boy, and Cyborg and Jinx. And watching that movie with her friends while eating food, she learned one more lesson from it. It was that even if there is nothing, no material items covered in ribbons and tags inside boxes or bags, Christmas will always come to those who value love above all else. Merry Christmas.
A/N: Well this was interesting to write. I know there's over 100, maybe 200 Christmas fanfics with the Teen Titans, but I bet this is one of the first to dive in depth about what the true meaning of Christmas is as a philosophy or something. I can't wait to publish New Years soon.