Merry Christmas! And good riddance..
December 23rd 2007 18:35
Don't get me wrong, there are some things about Christmas I like. The lighted boats that cruise the rivers, the little streets where everyone does a fanciful display, The Nutcracker...but it is all becoming overwhelmed more each year by what I don't like. The crass consumerism, the idiocy exhibited by so many who gleefully march into more debt, the waste. And most of all, the ever-increasing whining of Christian fundamentalists about their imagined "war" on Christmas. By the time the day passes on the 25th, I will be one of many that is happy to see it go, and wouldn't mind a bit if it faded in importance. If it were just another religious holiday the rest of us could ignore, that would be great. Like Easter or Passover or Hanukkah or Lent or Ramadan. If a person isn't deeply involved religiously, they can ignore those days. But not good old in-your-face Christmas.
Personally, I like New Year's Day. To me, it's about so much more than Christmas. It's not a celebration of a particular mythology, nor is it nearly so overtly consumerist. It's about renewal and reflection, promise and pause. New Year's Day represents a "clean slate." Sure, we all have ideas what we will put on that slate, and some of it will be dictated for us. Still, it is a time for optimism and hope mingled with remembrance of the last year.
My wife's family is in Ukraine, and we spent last New Year's there. It is a big holiday, with huge family feasts and parties. The way it is celebrated there is alot more than just watching a ball or singing a song. It's what Christmas could be, if it wasn't what it has become. Gifts are exchanged, but there isn't the fever pitch. Santa (Grandfather Frost) visits the children, and there are fireworks everywhere.
It's a much better winter holiday because it is a holiday for everyone. Christmas there is exactly what it should be, a religious holiday for those who wish to celebrate it. The timing helps. Christmas is observed according to Eastern Orthodox traditions, which places it after New Year's Day. January 7th is the date and it is in the shadow of New Year's Day, not the other way around. So everyone gets a wonderful winter holiday, and the religious get their observance.
I would love to see such a separation occur in America. There is no "war" on Christmas. but those of us who aren't caught up in it would like to be able to step back from all the hoopla. I would think that the deeply religious would join me in my sentiment. They can hardly say that Christmas in America is a day following in the teachings of Christ. They should welcome a separation of a secular winter celebration and a religious day.
Personally, I like New Year's Day. To me, it's about so much more than Christmas. It's not a celebration of a particular mythology, nor is it nearly so overtly consumerist. It's about renewal and reflection, promise and pause. New Year's Day represents a "clean slate." Sure, we all have ideas what we will put on that slate, and some of it will be dictated for us. Still, it is a time for optimism and hope mingled with remembrance of the last year.
My wife's family is in Ukraine, and we spent last New Year's there. It is a big holiday, with huge family feasts and parties. The way it is celebrated there is alot more than just watching a ball or singing a song. It's what Christmas could be, if it wasn't what it has become. Gifts are exchanged, but there isn't the fever pitch. Santa (Grandfather Frost) visits the children, and there are fireworks everywhere.
It's a much better winter holiday because it is a holiday for everyone. Christmas there is exactly what it should be, a religious holiday for those who wish to celebrate it. The timing helps. Christmas is observed according to Eastern Orthodox traditions, which places it after New Year's Day. January 7th is the date and it is in the shadow of New Year's Day, not the other way around. So everyone gets a wonderful winter holiday, and the religious get their observance.
I would love to see such a separation occur in America. There is no "war" on Christmas. but those of us who aren't caught up in it would like to be able to step back from all the hoopla. I would think that the deeply religious would join me in my sentiment. They can hardly say that Christmas in America is a day following in the teachings of Christ. They should welcome a separation of a secular winter celebration and a religious day.
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Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
With you all the way here, as well as the New Years celebrations as my family is from central Europe also ... right on!
I hope your's is special and there is nothing from stopping you celebrating it in your own home that way, anyway. We always do.
Lilla ...
Comment by Louie
Climate Forum
Climate Red
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips
Some of te STUPID behaviour i have witnessed is incredible, particularly this morning at the Sydney Fish markets, what a display of ridiculousness (I was only there because it is my partners birthday and I had to get a little seafood to make it special as it always gets overshadowed by Chirstmas) People were running, jostling, panicking to get food - of which there was TONNES - at 6.30am this morning, they were fighting over car spots etc it was disgusting. I went in because I happened to be walking past and it s something I often do being a local......as for what they were buying, talk about excess, some people were racking up like $750 - you'd have to have a pretty big family to get through all that- it was cmplete panic - for WHAT!!!!! crazy crazy stuff....
I felt like shouting get a grip on yourself people.....as it was by being calm I got served in two minutes flat, no stress, no panic......again I say bah humbug, what is wrong with everyone, it is just one day. Enjoy it by all means but do you have to stock up like its a nuclear war? and panic, guess what, Shell servos sell just about anything you could possibly forget.