12 Perspectives to Celebrate The Holidays
Happy Holidays! Happy Holidays! As The Holidays approached, my hubby said, “I want our cards to read Merry Christmas, not Seasons Greetings. I want to celebrate Christmas.” Hmm, but what meaning does he attribute to the word and celebration we call ‘Christmas’? What is his TRUE meaning of Christmas? T’was the night before an interesting discussion.
Oftentimes, we are told we need to remember the true meaning of Christmas. I do not know about you, but I often feel emotionally ready to duck. I prepare to feel shame, blame or guilt. I ready myself to defend my December celebrations.
Songs and poems are shared to convey the meaning of Christmas. My top three favorites are:
- The Twelve Days of Christmas
- Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
- T’was the Night Before Christmas
But, I do not want the stores blaring Christmasy jingles in my ears before December. My gosh! Isn’t one month of retail mania enough? A curse on Black Friday, the November day after American Thanksgiving weekend, which has crept into Canada. The commercialization of Christmas is a North American stampede . . . and each year it seems to increase in its ferociousness.
Then the media joins in with sales, deals and seasonal projects for the disadvantaged. All vie for their truth of the meaning of Christmas.
The resilient person is able to muster up a sense of internal locus of control and speak from personal values, choices and, most likely, faith. To do want. Know, if not state, “I know the TRUE meaning of Christmas, for me”. Then they put their meaning into action.
Twelve Ways To Celebrate the True Meaning of Christmas
There are many ways to spend the day. In Canada we pride ourselves in our diversity. Let us allow and celebrate the many ways our citizens can and will mark the day. Our activities will depend on our faith, family background, circumstance, country-of-origin or beliefs. The TRUE meaning of Christmas might be acted out in these ways.
1. Celebrate the birth of the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ’s birth (a tradition for many Christians).
I truly believe that if we keep telling the Christmas story, singing the Christmas songs, and living the Christmas spirit, we can bring joy and happiness and peace into this world. Norman Vincent Peale.
2. Honor the celebration of Hanukkah (a tradition for most Jews).
3. Worship and praise God like every other day (a tradition for most Muslims).
4. Do ancient Winter Solstice rituals to honor the seasonal cycles of darkness and light. (tradition for many Aboriginals, Shamans, Wiccans and other earth revering groups.
5. Be extra aware of opportunities to do acts of kindness. (a tradition for most Buddhists).
My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness. Dalai Lama
6. Be off work allowing time to read, relax and go for a walk.
7. Enjoy the snow and winter wonderland.
8. Gather as a family to express loving appreciation, eat turkey and dote on the children.
9. Feel stressed by wanting the day to be perfect, eating too much and enduring drunk Uncle Harry.
10. Give and receive gifts made popular by the myth of St. Nicholas (1822).
11. Give up being a Scrooge as described in a Christmas Carol (1843) and Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1957)
What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas . . . perhaps . . . means a little bit more!” Dr. Seuss
12. Serve at a homeless shelter offering comfort, care and hope.
PLUS during COVID-19 we need some extra perspectives th celebrate the holidays. Here are some ideas:
As we evolve as a human race on planet earth we increasingly create our own meanings, celebrations and rituals and are less persuaded by pressure to believe and buy into what we do not need, do not want, nor do not value. Happy Hanukkah, Happy Solstice, and Happy Christmas . . . no matter how you spend it!
December 22, 2020 @ 3:08 pm
Merry Christmas Patricia
As always, I enjoy reading your newsletters. This one in particular had an idea that will be tried once Covid is over. That article is about the Christmas Gift for grandchildren. I’m thinking it would be a great idea for birthdays as well. As my grandchildren grow, the experience of shopping, allowing them to pick what they want and wrap it, keeping it for that special day, also has the benefit of a special bonding experience between me and them. Thank you so much for the suggestion.
Happy and healthy New Year, Cheryl-Anne Priest
January 7, 2021 @ 6:28 pm
Hi Cheryl-Anne,
Somehow I missed seeing your comment LAST YEAR. Thank you for leaving your acknowledgement and sharing the idea to using gift exploring for birthdays. Lovely! Yes, I totally agree with the benefit of this process is the bonding. Often the best gift of all is the time and attention. All the best to you and your family in 2021!