Just a quick post, because I figure I shouldn’t let Christmas go by this year without at least mentioning it in some way.
I’m not much of a Christmas person, and I think I get that from my Mom. I still remember the year when she suggested we stop doing presents altogether. That didn’t pass, of course, but as you can see in the photo, she successfully downsized the Christmas tree. Even I would never stoop so low.
In a lot of ways, though, I sympathize with her. The blatant commercialization of the holiday shocks and disgusts me. I find nothing redeemable about the Santa myth, and will teach my children not to believe it. Until Thanksgiving rolls around, I prefer to act as if Christmas doesn’t even exist.
But I’m not a Scrooge. The holidays are for family and traditions–for being with and appreciating each other, making fond memories, and be quirky together in that special, unique way that makes family what it is (for better or for worse).
When celebrated well, it’s also a time to step back from the grindstone and recharge the spiritual underpinnings of one’s faith–kind of like a Sabbath for the year. It’s getting increasingly difficult to balance that with all the secular noise, especially in this panicked, self-conscious economy–but hey, faith by definition is never easy.
Anyhow, I had a great Christmas, in spite of the fact that I didn’t go home.
Explanation: we have an arrangement worked out with my sisters’ in-laws, where we alternate Christmas and Thanksgiving. This year, Thanksgiving was for the Vasiceks to get together, while Christmas was for the Challises and the Laws.
And anyway, home isn’t a place, it’s the people you’re with. I spent Christmas with my sister here in Provo, and all her in-laws, and it was great. I managed to get a small present for everyone, and it was a lot of fun watching them open theirs. I didn’t get as many presents as perhaps I would have gotten at home, but I love everything I got and got more than I expected (an illustrated translation of One Thousand and One Nights, a novel by L.E. Modesitt Jr, and Daft Punk’s Alive 2007 album. Oh, and some money from home–thanks Pop!).
We spent the day lazing around, watching Northern Exposure (which is actually a really good TV show–or was, back in the 80s when it aired), playing around with our presents, eating dinner, and doing other stuff. The Laws tend to be laid back, and I like that. I feel at home with them.
We ended the day by playing Apples to Apples, and let me say, it is a much different game playing it with old people (aka non college students). The first round, I didn’t get a single card. The second round, I got “weird” and “unhealthy.” The third round, I got “patriotic,” “shallow,” and a mildly suggestive one which I’ve since forgotten. Steve should have chosen my card (“picking your nose”) when the word was “bold.” Connie skunked us all.
So yeah, that was Christmas. I wasn’t expecting it to be super awesome, but it was. Thanks to the Laws for letting me share the day with them!
And to finish off this Obligatory Christmas Post, here is an awesome Christmas video. Even though it’s not Christmas anymore, you need to watch it–now. You won’t regret it–or maybe you will, but in an awesome kind of way. Just watch it.
That’s too bad you don’t find anything redeemable about the Santa myth. It’s such a huge part of our culture around Christmas, that I think it’s too bad if kids don’t understand who he is when they see him, because Santa is an embodiment of generosity. Also, it’s handy to have the myth to promote good will in the family in December, even if it does amount to bribery. 🙂
That said, I have never received presents that were explicitly from Santa, and neither have my kids. We tell them that we sent our presents to Santa for him to deliver Christmas morning.
For the record, Joe, I suggested replacing wrapped gifts with intangible ones, gifts of service, appreciation and face-to-face acknowledgment–like going to a concert together, writing top ten lists and surprising each other with doing another’s chores. You make me laugh to see my beautiful tree online! I collect bird ornaments, btw!
I too, am not particularly impressed with the Santa myth. While he has become a veritable ’embodiment of generosity’ such generosity need not be so material, as Sharon suggested. In the end, I give gifts not because I feel obligated to buy something for someone, but for the joy of making their eyes light up.