General Debate Forum - Making Sense of the Holidays


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sillyakchick

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Making Sense of the Holidays Posted: 12-05-07 11:34am


I am conflicted. Christmas hosidays are oncfe again approaching and I am struggling to find meaning for myself and for my children. growing up, I loved the magic of Santa Claus. I want to provide this sense of wonder for my kids. I am not a Christian-I am more of a Buddhist, so the church thing doesn't appeal to me whatsoever. I believe that Jesus existed and did great things, but our savior and son of God? I cannot accept this. What is most troubling to me is the mass commercialization of this time of year. the pressure to "Buy Buy Bu" is disgusting to me. Being in stores this time of year seriously nauseates me. Ironically, the most religious people I know are the worst offenders of buying into the commercialization of the holidays. We will be celebrating the Solstice with a day of darkness-I can't wait for this! I DO intend to have some gifts from snata and a few gifts in general for my family, but I refuse to go in debt over a holiday I have little belief in anyway. The conflict that arises is that my extended family insists on going absolutely nuts at the holidays and showers my family with gifts. It's not that I don't appreciate this, but I simply am unable financially and unwilling spiritually to reciprocate. I would bake for them, but they are too far away. I just don't want a bunch of "stuff" for the holidays, as we try to keep our extraneous "stuff" to a minimum. How do I make sense of this in such a confusing culture?

Birch

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Posted: 12-05-07 15:46pm

It's ironic that the holiday celebrating the birth of a man who espoused this:

Quote:

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew)

has become one of the most disgusting things we do all year? (Other than a Dirty Sanchez if you are so inclined.)

I too avoid the stores from mid-November until about mid-January, when I must muster the strength to go buy groceries. Very
Happy

Here is what we have done in the past:

1. Went on a trip during the holiday. Being out of town meant no family gathering required attendence.

2. Said we were going on a trip. *ah-hem*

3. Made a "I am only going to give gifts of things I have made" declaration. This works wondrously. If you have kids, get them in on it. Things just mean more this way. (Incidentally, I am doing this again this year. It's fun!!)

4. Given in and bought ridiculous presents at stores like Ten Thousand Villages, local sex product shops, and other local small towny stores with bizarre items. How fun it is to give gifts to say, your cousin and she doesn't know what it is because it is a condom dispenser and she has never seen one before, but by god, she needs it.

5. Limited gift giving to ONE present each. That way, it is always really well thought out and isn't something you bought "just to get something". I hate that.

6. eBay

Anyways, there are of course the usual "volunteer" or something like that for the needy, but that bugs the heck out of me b/c I think this should come into play all year, not just during Christmas. An organization I run is sponsoring winter can food drives and clothing drives during Jan/Feb b/c donations significantly drop off during those months. Incorporating a sense of humanity should take place all year around.

I have some friends who celebrate the Soltice, too. They have an enormous cactus and light it up and give "I love you" presents and have a festive party. I think this is great. I've asked them to do it during the Summer soltice...and the equinoxes...and every other weekend. Very
Happy

I don't know if any of that provided any information for you, but it was sure fun to write! Happy Neutral Holiday!

Jude-Love

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Posted: 12-05-07 16:16pm


I am not religious at all and I do believe Jesus Christ was real, but am also skeptical about him being the son of God. Even so, what's wrong with celebrating his birth? He was a good person, right? He was someone who made a difference. Nothing wrong with observing his birthday with your family. Christmas was always a time for family when I was little. That is still what it means to me.

Sandbox Party

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Posted: 12-05-07 16:58pm

Jude-Love wrote:

I am not religious at all and I do believe Jesus Christ was real.... Even so, what's wrong with celebrating his birth? He was a good person, right? He was someone who made a difference. Nothing wrong with observing his birthday with your family.

Mother Theresa was a good person too, does that mean we should all go broke by celebrating her existance?

I think Christmas has completely lost its true meaning, and that corporate americas fault. Its pathetic. People are trying to profit off of a religious holiday celebrating a man that did things like, oh, i dunno, DIE for us by being materialistic and violent in the stores fighting over toys and purses and DVD players.

its ridiculous.

Birch

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Posted: 12-05-07 17:16pm


Is "corporate America" a guiding force in American culture, or a reflection of American culture? Or is this true: "If you sell it, and it is on sale, they will come".

Jude-Love

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Posted: 12-05-07 23:35pm

Sandy_Pants wrote:

Jude-Love wrote:

I never said anyone should go broke, actually. But thanks for putting words in my mouth and ignoring my last statement!

Tylanas

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Posted: 12-05-07 23:43pm


I don't celebrate Christmas as a religious ceremony; but I do love the LOVE that I was raised to feel during the season. Our Christmases have always been small; 5-7 gifts for my brother and I and a few for our parents. Gifts became fewer as we got older. What I still love about the season is how warm it makes me feel. I truly enjoy the connection to my family; I love the ceremony of giving gifts and I don't think it's wrong to dedicate a day for this. I love many ceremonies related to Christmas. I in fact love going to Church on Christmas Eve (my birthday! Hah, I'm older than Jesus ). The candles get lit, people sing, and the message of love and caring for everyone is extolled. I get swept up in that feeling and it makes me swoon. I've never been exposed to a super-commercial version of it. It is a small, private and warm thing to me. I think it's a beautiful season.

marvel

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Posted: 12-06-07 01:36am


^^ I totally totally agree. I ignore the commercialisation that goes on and just enjoy the season for what it is: A time to be with family. We're not big on presents, we just spend time with each other, cook together, watch movies together... go to church... There's nothing in the world like Mass on Christmas eve.

Sandbox Party

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Posted: 12-06-07 02:05am

Jude-Love wrote:

Sandy_Pants wrote:

Jude-Love wrote:

I never said anyone should go broke, actually. But thanks for putting words in my mouth and ignoring my last statement!

i was siding with you, hello!

Rolling Eyes

i was trying to get across the point that its wrong we all go broke and blame it on a religious holiday. Its pathetic.. like its Jesus' fault for making us spend so much.. *Well Jesus was a giver we should be too!*

JESUS GAVE AWAY WATER AND WOODEN SANDALS.

not Gucci purses and computers.

sillyakchick

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Posted: 12-06-07 07:56am


I would rather be with my family then have them mail gifts out here and only receive a phone call from them. THey don't seem to understand this, though.