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It’s a weird world we live in… full of weird traditions. I remember Christmas differently as a kid than I do now and I’m not sure if this is because Christmas has changed for my family, or because I’m just seeing it from a different perspective.
As a child, I remember the putting up of the christmas tree really meant something. The tree was a magical thing with decorations that would come out each year and be something to play with army men on or drive matchbox cars along it’s branches. Each year I would be a little taller and able to play a little higher in the branches. Each year there would be the old favourite decorations that I remembered from last year, and maybe a new one that I or my sisters had made at school. We would wake up early on Christmas day, and excitedly await our parents waking up so that we could open our presents. Some years we would have family drop in on us, other years we would go visiting other reletives or friends, dropping off presents, maybe getting some. Admittedly when my folks split up, it was a boon for us kids, as we would then have 2 Christmases… But I think thats when the whole degredation of Christmas started. There were some great christmases, and some crappy ones in there. I was introduced to the concept of gift value and slowly the mystique started wearing off. The larger family started laying down gift giving rules so that they would feel better. The Secret Santa concept was introduced to limit people to only buying a gift for one adult and funnelling their money into buying for the kids. Personally I think all this does is teach the kids more that Christmas is all about getting presents.
Personally I’m a little over Christmas these days… I’m over the commercialisation of it… I’m over the keeping up with the Jones’ of it… I’m over all of the stress and arguements it causes in families simply because of those previous two. Maybe I saw things differently as a kid, and missed the stress buildup in my parents? Maybe it was there and Christmases haven’t changed all that much, it’s just my perspective that has changed… I don’t really know. This Christmas was nicer than most, as whilst there was the whole extended family thing with the stress and the Secret Santa thing, there was also a nice immediate family get together on Christmas Morning. It was wonderful and it was almost what I remember about Christmas.
Christmas started off as I believe, a Pagan celebration of the middle of Winter, and the coming of spring. A celebration of a new year and a new chance to make life better. The gift giving should be small and purely a token of love and friendship, the feasting should be provided by all as a community/family effort rather than provided by a small few. Organise everyone prior to the event rather than just have a couple of people preparing a feast on the day. Bring back the fun of Christmas I say, instead of the stressful controlled and planned Christmas’ that I’m seeing and not really enjoying over the last few years. Bring back the small immediate family get together on Christmas morning.
Maybe I will start enjoying Christmases again.
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I am totally with you on the overtly commercial nature of the “holiday” season. I remember when Christmas actually meant something. The fear of not getting anything at all far outweighed the fear of not getting the most up to date/name brand label ‘thing’. Last year we had to resort to threatening with calling santa for months prior to xmas because the shops were decorating and starting to get the xmas stock in place in October. Luckily for us My dad has Santa’s mobile number on speed dial. ;)
Christmas Morning is traditionaly Pancakes for breakfast with the immediate family, sometimes my brother and his partner and kids come, (this year they didnt make it,) and my daughters Godmother and her son.
With such a large extended family we did the secret santa thing from the early nineties. it was ok to begin with but as we grew up and had kids of our own it was decided by the “powers that be” (aka nan) that each family would buy a small gift for their own kids and put it under the tree. I dont like that idea much, but when it comes to my Nan, its better to save your breath.
Thankfully, our Boxing day extended family thing is an all day drop in, leftovers for lunch affair usually attended by as many of my aunts, uncles, cousins and kids as can be there. It is a truely “Family” affair with several generations getting together and catching up on what has been happening over the year, meeting new additions (Like my cousins baby who is now 9 months old)
I really do feel that we need to go back to basics with christmas… Family … isnt it about time… so whats with all the presents??!!??!!
Easter Eggs and hot cross buns in the shops already!
Boycott any/all shops that are stocking Easter Goods already!
Well… Easter is early again this year, so realistically they are just starting their 10-12 week advertising/selling season when they usually do… relativity speaking. ;) Being someone who actually enjoys Easter as a great excuse to eat more chocolate, I’m not really that fussed, though I do avoid the crap they usually sell at easter and go for decent chocolate. ;)