Every year in one way or another I’ve written some sort of blog, essay, or memoir regarding the Christmas season. To get you up to speed, following is a synopsis of the past two years' musings and a link, should you feel inclined to read the full text:
Two years ago I spoke of the lost nostalgia and feeling of “magic” that surrounded the Christmas holiday when I was younger. At the time I worked in a toy store and I observed that what made Christmas so exciting as a child were all of the toys and surprises—expensive goodies that inevitably were outgrown in no time! I further stated how the family dynamic of the holidays has forever been altered with the passing of my grandmother December 23, five years ago. In conclusion, I surmised that new friends, family, and traditions need to be incorporated in order to keep the excitement of Christmas alive, even if the childlike joy cannot ever be fully relived.
Last year I reflected on Christmas through an essay contest submission (it should have won, in my not-so-humble opinion) regarding celebrating Christmas in a recession. My take: get past the expensive, fancy parties, gifts, and other non-necessities. Make Christmas a time to reconnect with family and friends and give thoughtful, practical gifts. Celebrations may need the extravagance cut back, but people were too depressed to avoid celebrating Christmas.
So what’s my take as Christmas approaches and 2009 wraps up? Well, we’re still pretty much in a recession. While things look far more optimistic and less uncertain than they did one year ago, a lot of Americans are still out of work. I guess this should make me all the more grateful that I have a full-time job, even if selling shoes may be considered “underemployment.”
What is it that makes Christmas such a great holiday? I’ve pretty much concluded December 25th has very little to do with it. In fact, even when I think back to being a child, by 8am (Christmas was one thing that could drive us out of bed early, if not to my parents’ chagrin) there was a hint of let down in the air. Sure, all the new presents were wonderful, but there was nothing like those first 20 minutes, coming down the stairs, seeing the presents piled high, listening to dad gripe about how much it all cost, listening to mom complain that we woke her up too early…
What really makes Christmas is the season itself. While retailers would have us think Christmas starts in late September, truthfully, it’s the season from Thanksgiving to New Years. Come early January, it’s just Christmas on life support; people are just trying to keep the excitement alive in lieu of having to accept the harsh reality of months of winter.
As I enjoy this Christmas season and excuse the burden of snow as all part of the fun, I am reminded that I have already received many gifts to be grateful for this holiday season. It is my hope to enjoy this season to its fullest and to prepare for a wonderful and prosperous new year.
No comments:
Post a Comment