Cape Karen
No! It can't be! Christmas can't be only 3 weeks away? I haven't even gotten the birthday gifts mailed yet from August, September and November. They're wrapped - but were never mailed because their recipients were off traveling to Germany. (Well, the three August recipients were anyway.) So, to simplify things, I decided that this year I woud just send all the birthday gifts in with the Christmas gifts. It would make for a jollier day. . . even if a heavier package!
For some reason I'm just not 'with it' lately - one day blurs into the next, and nothing gets done. This is so not like me. I'm usually very good at keeping busy, active and up-to-date with things. Could this be real old age setting in? Or has living in 'the barrio' finally gotten me down? (It's probably a combination of both.) All I know for sure (as Oprah would say) is that I'm just not 'in the spirit' this year, at all.
Speaking of Christmas, there's a movement afoot, I hear, to put Christ back in Christmas. When did they take him out? Where have I been? I don't go shopping in the malls very often, and especially not at this time of year, so I guess I've missed the switch from "Christmas" to "Holiday," that has some people up in arms. They're upset over the lack of respect for what is supposed to be a religious celebration. There's even a whole website devoted to the topic. A friend sent me the link, so I went there and read all about it.
Here, from The Coalition to Save Christmas In Massachusetts, is their plea:
"We have created this site in order to bring to light the attack on Christmas and in the tradition which we celebrate Christmas. Some may not have noticed the surreptitious and skullduggerous attack that is being perpetrated against Christians and our most cherished Holiday, Christmas. It is time to take back Christmas and we need support. We cannot afford to give another inch to the secular movement in this Country. Help us thwart the imminent abolition of Christmas. We need to stand together as one, and make it perfectly clear that enough is enough. Its Christmas! Furthermore, we want Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah and Happy Kwanza restored in the malls and stores that would have our money. Let's not forget that all December traditions have been removed from most malls and stores. Notwithstanding, it is the Christmas, Hanukah, and Kwanzaa season not the holiday season, it is a Christmas Tree not a pine tree, and He is the Christmas Santa, not the holiday Santa. We would like to invite all to participate and show support for this cause because all religions are under attack by the secular movement."
Well, first of all, whoever wrote that blurb needs to return to english class. Is there really a word "skullduggerous?" (I guess I'll have to go check my Webster.) The intent is clear, but the message is garbled. "He is the Christmas Santa, not the holiday Santa." Well, while you're at it, what happened to Jesus? And what "secular movement" are they referring to? The Christmas season has always been like the Easter season - a chance for shop owners to get into the black and out of the red. That commercialism is prevelant in our country is certainly not new. It's true that, collectively, many have basically ignored most 'religious' celebrations as such- but to start a movement against secularism now seems moot.
In my opinion, to put the celebration into its true context is an individual thing. If you're religious, go to church and celebrate there. Give of yourself, instead of buying store bought gifts this year; volunteer your family to go feed the homeless on Christmas day; go visit the sick in a hospital together and bring the patients a pretty flowering plant to enjoy during the lonely weeks ahead; do your small part to ward-off global warming - give everyone you know some of those $4.00 environmentally-friendly lightbulbs as Christmas gifts. Use your imagination, and follow your heart, in order to combat the 'holiday' blast. Bring your own beliefs into the Christmas season, and be a real witness to whatever you believe. You might as well stop complaining about 'secularism' ~ because, I'm afraid it's here to stay.
By the way ~ Happy Birthday, Jesus!