Some people celebrate Christmas as a non-religious gift-giving holiday. Others celebrate Christmas with the full religious trimmings straight from the biblical story of Jesus' birth. And still others find themselves somewhere inbetween. Where do you find yourself this holiday season?
I grew up celebrating Christmas with some religious trimmings. My family was very Catholic. We participated in the rituals. Religion itself was taught as a very inward thing. Prayers were not expressed outloud at home other than grace before meals. We lit the candles of the Advent wreath, but no prayers were said outloud unless one of us kids had brought prayers home as an assignment. (We all went to Catholic grade school.) We went to church on Christmas morning before opening presents -- unless I could get everyone up at the crack of dawn so that we had time to open them before church.
In the years since then, I have discovered many things about many religions.
I find wisdom in native teachings as well as Jesus' teachings. Jesus has become for me one of many ways of expressing God's being. So, his birth (which, biblical scholars say really falls in October, according to the clues given in the biblical story) is not outstandingly special. At least, not any more special than the Dali Lama's birthday, my nephew's birthday or the birth of a new tree in my backyard -- which are, to me, other expressions of God's being.
I have struggled over the past 5 years in knowing how best to celebrate this holiday called Christmas. The rituals I grew up with lost the deepness of their meaning and I was left with a holiday devoted to shoppers and companies eager to earn the Almighty Dollar. I knew I enjoyed Christmas lights, baking cookies with my mom, and surprising people with gifts, but I didn't have anything deep or meaningful to connect those traditions with. And I wasn't sure how to celebrate what was important to me this time of year. So I spent 5 years being confused and lashing out against the superficial. I knew there was more -- I had felt more -- I just didn't know how to conceptualize it or communicate it.
A couple of years ago, Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Shops sold decorative bowls right before Christmas. They were labeled with Peace, Love, and Joy. I bought them and put them on my fireplace mantel. I used them to put in prayers for others...to bring others peace, love, and joy. Since then I have found myself drawn to those three words. I see them everywhere. I create collages and paintings with those words or title pieces with those words. Just this past week I found mugs at a dollar store each labeled Peace, Love, and Joy. I bought them in a heartbeat.
In an Ah-Ha moment I had in the shower last week, I have finally been able to put words to the meaning of Christmas for me -- Love, Joy, and Peace. Christmas, for me, is a time to show people I love them, spread joy, and do what I can to bring peace to the world.
What rituals/traditions does this leave me with? That's another article to be written.
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Comments: 6
Then when I was with my ex-bf, X'mas had a little religious meanings attached to it. His family is Christian, but not so strong.
Then when I am with my husband, X'mas almost becomes a burden. His family is extremely religious and I have been to the church services every year to fulfill my duty as a daughter-in-law. So I didn't look forward to X'mas any more.
This year, I finally found an excuse not to worry myself with all the X'mas stuff, because I am pregnant and my baby is due on 12/31. I have every excuse to skip X'mas with the in-laws (out of state) this year.
Best wishes