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on Christmas — creative writing — hobbies — preferences — home last changed 25 December 2007 |
i'm not really sure, as i sit down to write this, what i'm going to end up saying. i have mixed feelings about Christmas— some parts of it are great, while other parts are really annoying if not outright destructive. the gift–giving frenzy around Christmas has always bothered me, even when i was very young and despite consistently being on the receiving end of generous and thoughtful gifts.
the religious aspect of Christmas is centered around celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. i don't doubt the existence of Jesus, and this isn't intended to be a religious statement so i won't attack the bastion of Christianity (ie, the notion of Jesus being the son of God). this is intended to be a social statement.
if we were merely celebrating the birth of Christ, or more abstractly the gift of Jesus, we could symbolize this with a quiet evening of contemplation and the exchange of small gifts. no tree, but perhaps a scale replica of a manger instead. no decorative strings of lights would be necessary, although lawn ornaments might still be appropriate. no store–bought music, but rather families would gather to sing hymns and perhaps this would grow into neighborhood or community–wide caroling.
for many Americans, particularly the younger generations, that would be a disappointingly spartan Christmas. they expect a tree, the bigger the better. under it presents, lots of presents. Christmas music plays from Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve. as each new generation dawns, Christmas becomes more about extravagance and less about celebrating the calmly ascetic and holy life we imagine Jesus led.
Christmas has been subverted by malls. the religious significance is still remembered, in midnight mass and individual prayers, but it is overshadowed by images of big boxes wrapped in shiny paper and long lines at the department stores. for the average folks who don't fully enter into any religious significance, there is no real sense behind the gift–giving frenzy on December 25. why not some other day of the year, or one gift every month, or just forget the whole thing?
so although i enjoy the spectacle of Christmas —the suburban streets festooned with lights, the piles of gifts under the tree, and the weeks of carols and nostalgic movies— i don't participate. Christmas does seem to make the world a happier place, even if only for a day, and i appreciate that aspect of it. however, i don't have the discretionary income necessary to justify buying dozens of gifts just for the sake of spending money.
if you can afford to be a part of the Christmas phenomenon, without going into debt or becoming stressed by it, then by all means do so. if not, join me in standing on the sidelines with a cheerful smile on your face, wishing everyone a happy new year.