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CM77

What happens in Vegas can happen anywhere there are 12 midgets, a trampoline, and a vat of Crisco.
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Member Since: 6/2010  Last Seen: 5/06/2012

The Meaning of Christmas?

Fri Dec 17, 2010 9:53 PM EST
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By CM77
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Christmas 2010 in America - It’s upon us and it seems to come faster and faster as the years go by. The crowds, the sales, sparkling lights, Christmas trees, Chia Pet, Snuggie, and Clapper commercials; things that remind all of us the holidays are near. This year, I found myself looking past all the hustle and bustle of preparing for Christmas and focused more on the meaning of Christmas.

It’s been a really, really long time since I’ve been to church on any day (other than funerals or weddings), much less on Christmas, and just as long since I’ve seen a Charlie Brown cartoon. As I’ve grown older, I’ve forgotten exactly why I’m giving and receiving gifts anymore. It’s become routine, a tradition, but a tradition with no value. It makes me feel like some kind of a hypocrite this year so I asked some people I know what the meaning of Christmas was.

The most common answers I found was Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and giving to others who are less fortunate. Yet others said it was about the kids and being with family and loved ones. Some people were very “honest”, admitting they could do without Christmas but their (fill in blank here) “makes them” celebrate Christmas or they LOVE the gift giving…. and getting! I was also reminded of who my Jewish and polytheistic friends were along the way. : )

Hearing a few different responses to the same question made it a little more difficult for me to feel any differently about Christmas this year, but in the end, I think it did help. I realized I have a very diverse circle of friends who celebrate Christmas slightly different from one another (if at all). They don’t all agree on the meaning of Christmas but they all have their traditions and many have the infamous “Christmas Spirit”.

For me, December 25th means family, family traditions, and feeling that “Christmas Spirit”. There is a sense of wanting to do more than usually during this time of year. Be kinder, donate more, and help those less fortunate. The “Christmas Spirit” to me is a warm feeling inside that I want to share. The lights, the decorated trees, the smell of cinnamon all helps fuel the spirit of Christmas for me.

My family doesn’t live in the same state as I do and this year, my Mom and Step-Dad are coming to spend the holiday with us. This year, we will open only one present on Christmas Eve and it will be pajamas for everyone. This year, I will wake up way too early like an excited little kid so I can see my Mom open all her presents and see her face as she’s opening them. This year, I’m feeling that “Christmas Spirit” a little more than the past years.

I wish all of Newsvine a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays… no matter how you celebrate during the month of December. Oh! And please drive safely. : )

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CM77

What's the meaning of Christmas to you? Or family traditions on 12/25? : )

    Reply#1 - Fri Dec 17, 2010 9:55 PM EST
    POaksitwithastick

    Hello my friend! It seems to me that the level of Christmas spirit I possess in any given year is in direct correlation to how much money I have to spend. Christmas has become way too commercialized, like all the major holidays and can lead to some serious self-loathing if your finances are tight. My family would never be upset if I couldn't give much but I would feel like a loser & that I let them down. All over some stupid material possessions. It can be quite stressful trying to "keep up with the Joneses" who are probably feeling the same pressure I am. I guess what I'm trying to say is Christmas has become nothing more than a reason to buy lots of stuff for your friends & family & get together to eat great food. Now that I think about it, that doesn't sound so bad.

      Reply#2 - Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:42 PM EST
      seen too much

      I liked your article. It seems like people are getting more and more cynical-Charles Schultz was ahead of his time parodying the cynicism. Christmas to me is when I celebrate the birth of Jesus, who paid the penalty for my sin. Whether or not he was actually born in December, that is when we celebrate it. When I was a child in Mississippi, we used to have wild turkey every year, as someone would always go hunting before the holiday; and nothing beats wild turkey. We always did Santa when my daughter was young, though I never actually "lied" to her about him; I said St. Nicholas was a real person who gave gifts to poor children b/c he loved Jesus. The gifts appeared on Christmas morning, but I never said Santa brought them. I always stuck to my story as above. (My strategy paid off: one day she became very angry with me in adolescence-as they all do-and accused me of lying, using lying about Santa as an example; and I was able to explain and tell her I most certainly did not lie about him!) As a kid I personally firmly believed in Santa, but it never hurt me in any way that I can see. I was way into fantasy. Now that most all the kids are adults, we mostly just do stockings; but it is fun loading those up and sneaking them down to the mantle before morning. We almost always travel to the real south from FL for the holiday, so we always hope for snow! We've had it a few times, like this year.

        Reply#3 - Sat Jan 22, 2011 11:16 PM EST
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