adam or tim, or maybe both was recently lamenting the loss of thanksgiving. it used to be that xmas would start after thanksgiving. now, even in our neighborhood, xmas decoration and ads pretty muched jumped right after halloween. it does suck. thanksgiving is a nice holiday, and is something that we should take time out of our lives. i mean, it's not like they're emphasizing the religious aspect of xmas. it's all about buying crap. spend spend spend because it's christmas or holidays or something. and so as soon as possible, get that idea in people's minds.
so, i'm trying to enjoy this thanksgiving as much as i can. went to my first family one today. had a good enough time. it's making me look forward to the ones to come. i've got at least one more.
but, this also reminds me of my own recent traditions. for the past few years, we've gotten together as friends, and done our own thanksgiving on some alternate day. unfortunately, our friends keep moving away. jerks. so, we haven't got anything planned and it's coming up. new traditions dying!
this has also got me thinking about xmas. the decorations, gifts, distractions. these last few years, we haven't done gifts. last year, we encouraged people to spend the money that they would spend on us by giving it to a charity. don't know how well that worked. it was a good gesture on our part, as our lives are filled with junk and more junk is far from what we need. i don't know about this year. it's hard to kick against the goads (what's a goad, i'm too lazy to look right now).
10 comments:
I was just thinking last night about exactly what you've said about skipping over Thanksgiving. It makes me sad - Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the time in the kitchen, the family time, the meal. I think it's just not "commercial" enough - you don't give gifts, there's no cards or candy, so it gets lost in the merchandising hoopla of Halloween and Christmas.
I've noticed the last couple of years, it's even getting harder to come up with. I'm going to be buying a new camera when we're in California - I'm telling everyone if they need to get me a gift, just pitch in for that. Honestly, though, the real gift this year will just be getting to see my family. Living so far away really tends to change your perceptions about holidays.
AMEN!
I'm just not much of a holiday fan, they seem too forced for me, and since both my wife and I live close to our families, that draw loses its appeal.
I have a big problem with Christmas and Easter. For me, it's just too hyprocritical for me. We say we are gathering or celebrating for the birth/resurrection of Jesus, when in essence we say a prayer at the meal and then forget about it for the entire season. Maybe it's just me, but that's been my impression. If we are going to make it about family and presents, I have no problem, leave Jesus out of it. But to appease our conscience by combining the two, I'm not a fan.
like I said, I want to have some sort of Christmas dinner when I'm in town, preferably potluck.
-justin
so, here's your chance to redeem. don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. don't just protest holidays because of what they've become. don't punch out everyone with "merry Xmas" painted on their store window. celebrate with meaning with others of like mind. without sounding too cliche, change starts with us. (yeah, i like the song man in the mirror).
I totally agree with Arthur. The holidays are what you make them. Choose to celebrate the way you feel it should be celebrated. Wecomplain about the state of "things" - whether they be holiday commercialism, politics, the church today, the media, morality - and don't do anything about it. Complaining changes nothing.
To be even cheesier than Arthur, be the change you seek. It's got to start somewhere.
I didn't think I was complaining in my post, I simply presented where I stand right now and I have chosen my path. Others can do as they choose and as the Lord puts on their heart.
i think i'm complaining. but, sometimes you've got to start with a complaint. then, you move to action. so, yes, i'm trying to do stuff differently because i'm tired of the commercialization of xmas, am pissed that we're skipping over thanksgiving so i'm having more of them.
ed, i cant tell you how bad we miss our thanksforourfriendsgiving. not that we dont like to spend time with the fam, but it was so fun and relaxing to be with the frescrew. i am pro-holidays, but the older i get the more i want them to be a time to kick back and chill and sometimes they are the opposite. anyhew, i miss those thanksgivings...
ps
goad: provoke,annoy
(according to ms word)
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