Happy December loves!
It's once again the most festive time of year! Admist the cold weather, we're surrounded by twinkling lights, hot chocolate and cider, cozy fires, and all the other holiday trappings that create a warm feeling of hygge inside us.
I personally love Christmas and the entire holiday season surrounding it. Spending time with family, giving gifts to loved ones and partaking in old traditions that connect us year-by-year just make it feel like such a magical time.
Or at least it did when I was a kid. Then I got older, life got busier and suddenly the holidays were transformed into a whirlwind of to-do lists and nostalgia. Sometimes it felt like I could only catch my breath and begin to get into the holiday spirit after Christmas had already passed.
I know I'm not the only one who's felt a lack of Christmas Spirit the past few years. Honestly, there's been articles and thinktanks about this since the early 2000s, so it's not even a new concept. (I think it feels more prevalent than ever before because of social media, but I digress.)
There have been a lot of theories about how the holdiays lose their "magic." Some say it's just part of growing up---there's no santa, presents begin to merge from wants to practical needs (like socks), and as grown ups you start to have more responsibility during the holiday season. Others say it's because of the commercialization of Christmas. Decorations are shoved in our faces as early as August, making it less special by the time December rolls around. The quality of decor has gotten worse and is clearly meant to feed overconsumption instead of being your next Family Christmas Heirloom. And still others say it's because the world as a whole has lost it's Christmas spirit. You fast-track orders rather than visit stores to buy presents and miss out on the decorations and human interaction. Everyone's too busy (and slightly too selfish) to care about the parts of the holiday that don't revolve around getting things. Funny how there's no time to go caroling anymore but always time to make a Christmas List of wants.
And yes, I think there's some truth to all these theories. I think it's easy as we grow and start to lose our childhood blinders that we let the darkness of the world take away our holiday cheer. I think companies using Christmas as nothing more than a marketing tactic to sell cheap crap no one wants or needs is pretty bad. And I do think that the hyper-individualism of today has buried the true meaning of Christmas.
That's what the real issue is: We've forgotten the true meaning of Christmas.
So, what is the true meaning of Christmas? How can people keep their holiday cheer? Well, I think it's important to look at why we celebrate Christmas in the first place:
Christmas, from the Christian point of view, celebrates Jesus's birth. The Savior came to earth to save us all from an eternity of darkness and suffering and isolation. Religious or not, I'm sure everyone knows the natvitiy scene of Mary and Joseph, the shephereds and sheep, and the 3 wise men (dealer's choice if they're in the nativity scene or on their way to it.) It's why most churches hold a candle-lit vigil on Christmas Eve. It's a tradition that reminds us of how the world was dark until a brilliant spark of hope came to us in the form of a baby.
A lot of Christmas traditions, however, come from Yule, the pagan holiday celebrating the Winter Solstice. Originally, Yule was a multi-day festival spanning from Winter Solstice to the New Years---usually around 12 days (yes, this is where that comes from.) Yule was a time of gathering together in the darkest days of the year to feast, gather around the fire, and look forward to the future. During the 12 days, the Yule Log---an actual log, not a cake---is kept burning to provide a constant light during the winter cold, both literally and metaphorically.
However, the most popular tradition and the one most celebrated around the world, didn't come from Yule. It's origins vary depending on which version and country you're looking at, but it's a similar story in most places. Yes, I'm talking about Santa Claus. Also known as Sinterklaas, Ded Moroz (Russian for Grandfather Frost), Père Noël, 圣诞老人 (Chinese for Old Christmas Man), and much more! It's interesting to see how each variant of St. Nick is changed depending on the country and culture, but one common thread seems to be a generous old man offering gifts for good behavior.*
*Aside from Krampus, who is more of an anti-Santa Claus. If you're nice, he'll leave you alone, if you're naughty. . . you'll be wishing all you got was a lump of coal.
As fascinating as I find all the Christmas lore, I promise I'm not bringing it up just for an impromptu history lesson.
See, in all 3 traditions, the Nativity, Yule, Santa, there is a theme of love and giving. God loved the world so much he sent his Son down to save us all as the ultimate Christmas gift. Yule is spent sharing laughter and food while cozing around the fire with loved ones to strengthen each other against the dark winter. Santa Claus is the embodiment of a generous spirit, who provides toys and presents to those who are nice---which in older stories, usually referred to children who helped out with chores, were kind to their family and friends, and weren't selfish.
Christmas, at it's core, is meant to celebrate love. It's a time to challenge ourselves to be kinder, to be more generous with our time and resources. A time to show those around us that we care and to enjoy each other's company.
I recently watched the Muppets Christmas Carol (ironic since I have an irrational fear of them), and I think the ending displays the true meaning of Christmas very well. Compared to other iterations of Christmas Carol, this one is probably my favorite just for how it portrays Scrooge's change of heart. As he runs out into the square, he seeks out every person (and muppet) he's wronged. But where this version differs than the others is when he makes his donation to the charity people he insulted earlier. Considering his attitude and what he said, it would be understandable for most to accept the donation but not really forgive Scrooge. Instead, one of the muppets gives Scrooge the scarf it's wearing. He seems genuinely surprised and touched that someone actually gave him a gift. The rest of the movie then ends with the entire town, who have all happily forgiven Scrooge, as he surprises the Cratichits.
The scarf scene stood out to me because it shows just how impactful taking the time to care about someone else can be. It wasn't like it was an expensive Burberry silk scarf. It wasn't new, it literally came straight off the muppet's neck. But that wasn't what was important. The scarf's significance to Scrooge was that it was a gift. It was a symbol that he was forgiven, that he was acknowledged as a new person, and that he was accepted in the community, despite how awful he'd been toward everyone in the past.
That's what Christmas is.
Everything tries to tell us that it's about the materialism, the "Buy Buy Buy!," "Christmas Savings Deal," "Have the Trendiest Decor," etc. And I think that's why so many people lose the Christmas Spirit. It's not about getting the latest and greatest thing I want. It's not about buying the biggest, most expensive present to silentbrag about how much of a better friend or family member you are, or a chance to show off wealth with unnecessary extravagance.
Christmas is a chance for us to tell others that we care. Sure, getting things is fun too. But its the moments when we are genuinely generous---even if it's just with a tiny card or present--that'll we'll start to remember what the holiday season is all about.
And sometimes the littlest gift might just create the biggest impact in the world.
Love y'all and Merry Christmas!
"You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. 'For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.' And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others."--2 Corinthians 9:7-8
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