Fourth of July?
The stores are stocked, the commercials have hit the air, and the radio stations have begun playing holiday songs. Yes it is the first week of November and apparently Christmas has arrived. I actually began seeing Christmas displays in early October, before Halloween, seriously I understand economics and the need for any excuse to increase revenue, but October? For as long as I can remember my favorite holiday was the Fourth of July. I mean how can you not love a holiday that's sole purpose is celebration? Think about it. the Fourth of July is an outdoor celebration involving friends, family, fireworks, and cook outs. There is no religious connotations or separations. There are no gifts, or pressure to please, very few decorations, and plenty of space for everyone to be together with out killing each other! Now look at the winter holiday season. First is the separation of at least 4 major religious celebrations. There is no one moment everyone celebrates. Next is the pressure to buy presents for family, friends, bosses, teachers, coaches, your cleaning lady, hairdresser, mailman, oh and don't forget your kids, and nieces and nephews, god children, uggg I am exhausted and broke just thinking about it! No wonder they start holiday sales in October. It takes that many paychecks to afford all that!
Now I don't want you to think me a Grinch. I am actually quite the opposite of the mean old Grinch. I adore Christmas. I am already watching Hallmark Movie Channel religiously and I do not watch TV on a normal basis the rest of the year. I watch football, the news, and a when time allows I pull up things on Netflix. This time of year I watch a years worth of television in 2 months. I am playing Christmas music in the car and driving my daughter nuts, and yes I have made a secret batch of Christmas cookies for fun.
What makes the holidays special for me is the magic. I love sitting in front of the fireplace with the tree all lit up. I love snow falling in the moonlight. I really love time with friends and family. I am not a religious person but every Christmas eve I watch midnight mass with the Pope on TV. This may seem funny but I am not baptized so I did not grow up with a church. To me Midnight Mass seems like the real deal, it is peaceful and calming and unadulterated. I enjoy baking and the holidays are an excuse to go to town. This time of year should go by so slowly. It should be a time to relax and energize both your body and your mind. For centuries winter meant exactly this. People did not farm, or travel, or run around in the cold dead of winter. Modern inventions mean we no longer have downtime. People work and travel and run around 7 days a week. We have even lost the supposed 7th day of rest! When I was a kid very few things were open on Sundays. This meant few people worked and there was no place to go. We simply relaxed or visited family. In the winter when it snowed schools actually closed and people stayed home. I miss this life. This is what the winter holidays mean to me. The magic is in the waiting, relaxing, and in the peace that you can only feel after a good heavy snowfall. Did you ever listen to just how quiet it is during a snow storm? The air is so heavy sound just does not travel.
I still love Fourth of July the best of all holidays, but the magic of Christmas is in the air and I fully intend to enjoy it, my way, at peace. As for all the gifts, I believe in giving and think everyone should get one special gift. I buy local, love small business Saturday, and hand made gifts as well. I will never get caught up in Black Friday or holiday deals, or the toy of the season. It is the spirit of giving, not the price or quantity of the gifts that count.
Happy Holidays...
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