Christmas is nearly upon us, one of the few occasions in the year that sees many of us around the world coming together to celebrate. And although there are many people who do not celebrate Christmas; for some of us it seems that the whole world is flooded with Christmas wishes and goodwill.
And this is what I love about Christmas, this seemingly universal coming together; being with loved ones to share and eat and be merry. Yet it is so easy for all this merriment and cheer to be drowned under the weight of spending and presents and stress and rushing to get it all done.
I have lost much of my Christmas spirit over the last few years, you know that little feeling you start to get right about now, when (for us in the southern hemisphere) the weather really stats to warm up and you feel like swimming and holiday plans are being made and the stone fruit and mangoes start to appear. You get that little twinge like “oh it’s nearly Christmas” and it is a happy child like rush of joy.
This has kind of been disappearing for a while and I just presumed that maybe it was only something you felt as a child but this year I am determined to find it again.
As you get older the ‘demands’ of Christmas start to appear, the expectation to spend lots of money, to spend hours in shopping centres to find perfect presents for family and friends. How often have you asked someone what they want for Christmas and they just say “oh, I don’t know”; I mean do we really need to be giving materialistic presents as a way of sharing cheer and joy for Christmas?
Christmas for many of us is about giving and sharing but this doesn’t have to mean buying and spending. Much joy and merriment can be found in real gifts; gifts of our time and love and compassion.
My family, for the first time, has agreed not to give presents this year and I really feel like this will make a big positive difference to the way we enjoy Christmas day. The decision was based on different factors for all of us but the overriding one was probably money.
Now more than ever families are struggling financially; it just seems crazy to over spend money that many of us don’t have to buy presents that we really don’t need. And I know there are many families out there who have already made a similar decision.
It has made a big difference knowing that this Christmas we don’t have to buy into the consumer machine and that we will be finding different was to give gifts. And I am pretty sure everyone in my family is already thinking of ways to give and share with each other that does not necessarily involve a present.
I have been spending some of my free time pouring through recipe books looking for goodies to bake and share while home on the holidays. And we have been planning outings and holiday activities for my nephews like bush walks and art and craft activities.
I also realised that our Christmas has always been filled with sharing and giving that did not involve presents and that these are really the things that made the Christmas Holidays so special.
We have a tradition of making my Nanna’s mango chutney; usually an affair that takes a whole day and involves a prior excursion to pick or beg for wild or home-grown mangoes which sees most of us including the kids out climbing up trees and visiting neighbours and friends. We then spend a day together in my Mum’s kitchen preparing, cooking and finally bottling enough batches of delicious chutney to last throughout the year.
And until last night, when I started to think about it, I had never really thought about how special and important this little tradition is to my family, it is a way we share and pool resources and skills to make something we all love and enjoy. It brings us closer together and keeps a tradition that has been handed down. We also share the chutney with friends and family as gifts; real gifts of time and love.
I am so looking forward to going home this Christmas and rediscovering ways to bring alive my lost Christmas Spirit. Through giving gifts of time and love and compassion. I simply want to enjoy time with my family, share in making and creating and doing things and enjoy the moments together.
There are many, many ways we all can enjoy Christmas without buying into the consumer machine. And beyond the little things we can also see Christmas as an opportunity to give back in a big way by supporting charity organisations through a donation of time or money. There are so many people out there who are less fortunate then ourselves; Christmas is the perfect time to reflect on what we have and give a little back to those in need.
Christmas for me this year will more than ever be about giving; but not materialistic giving. True giving of time, love and compassion to family, friends and those in need. Goodwill, merriment and Joy are such wonderful things to be able to share and spread around the world and are true acts of the Spirit of Christmas.
Hope you all enjoy the next two weeks leading up to Christmas, may we all find joy and peace and a little Christmas Spirit this year : )
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"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." ~Hellen Keller
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
You are right, Christmas is the time to give to those in need. If you want to send less materialistc gifts you could try charity gifts from FARM-Africa’s. They are perfect if you are looking for a Christmas gift with a difference. There’s everything from e-cards to personalised movies and beehives to banana beer! What’s more – when you buy a gift or e-card your donation will be helping to provide the poorest farmers in Africa with sustainable solutions to poverty.
Your Christmas tradition of making mango chutney is so sweet–and how fun to go hunting and begging for wild mangoes before hand!! I really love Christmas, but my all time favorite holiday is Thanksgiving, because it’s all about being merry and enjoying each other without the gift giving machine that you mention. Sounds like in eliminating the gifts for your family this year, you will achieve that! Enjoy every moment!!
Hello there, just found your wonderful blog! I love this message – I can’t remember the presents from Christmas in the past but I will never forget the fun of the cooking and being with everyone … its these things that have meaning.
Hope you have a lovely Christmas, can’t wait to see you soon ! XO
Jodi & Shona thank you both for stopping by and sharing… am starting to feel the warm & joyful Christmas Spirit already : )
Wonderful message. It is the traditions and time spent together that makes the holidays special. Holidays also transition with our lives. It seems one way when we are small and other people are cooking and doing those things that pull it together. Then when you have children and you are kind of in charge, the holidays take on a slightly different meaning. And then again when your children leave home, and make some of their own traditions, it changes more. We can want it to stay the same, but like our lives, it is evolving. Only the meaning and the spirit stays the same. We can choose to keep the joy. Thanks for a thoughtful post.