PinkBubbles

12 days of blogging for the Frontliners Dec. 23 prompt

"WDC Frontliners Group"  asked:

Answer this Q. Is Christmas too commercialized or why? Or what can we do about this ... ?? lllllllllllll Sidebar llllllllllllll Note this prompt offers bloggers options. All prompts may be bent if the blogger so desires. If it fits ... we'll accept your take on the prompt. llllllllllllllll


I was very disgusted this year when I saw Christmas Decor out before Halloween was even over. To me, it takes away some of the magic of the season. Why are we so easily dismissing other holidays that fall before it and setting up displays when it is still warm in some places? (I realize that in some countries, Christmas comes in Summer- but not where I am from).

As far as commercialism goes, yes, it has become a problem but one we have created ourselves. I do not have to buy tons of gifts for my children, yet I do. I was raised where every Christmas morning we were all surrounded, literally with packages. I carried on this tradition until one year when I could not.

In the year 2003, I was laid off of my job as a Director of an after-school program for at risk children. I loved my job and was depressed. The lay-off came right before the holiday season. The company's State grant had not been renewed. I was in the process of creating a 'Mommy and Me' program for the community and was disappointed for both myself and the community. As I was reluctantly looking for a new job as Christmas loomed, I worried. I just did not have the money to hold Christmas the way I usually did. I was limited in funds and the idea that my children would miss out on their 'normal' Christmas morning depressed me further. I cried often during those few weeks.

I finally sat down my girls, Heather who was 14 at the time and Katelyn who was 7. I explained that they would not be getting oodles of presents and I was unsure if I could afford the turkey or tidings that came with our usual Holiday meal. Literally, and quite amazingly, the phone rang during this conversation with my kids. I was being asked back to work at my previous place of employment, a job I gave up to take on the one I had just been laid off from. I was elated. I told my former boss I would be honored and she was a life-saver.
This did not mean Christmas would change. I had bills piling up and had to pay those bills before even thinking about presents. I decided to hold off on Christmas until New Years day. I was being paid my first paycheck the day before the new year. I went to thrift stores and picked out clothes for Heather who, thankfully, was very into second hand clothes at that time. I went to after Christmas sales and picked up a few toys for Kat. Thankfully, it cost me very little to get them quite a few gifts. There was not the normal amount and I worried they would feel it was not Christmas without the mountains of presents. I even had a turkey for the Holiday.
One day very close to Christmas my work provided a turkey to each of its employees. I received a nice sized one. I was so grateful. My mood was lightening up and I saw this as a opportunity for growth. My girls and I decided to include personal hand-made items in our gift giving. Since there would be no mountains of presents, we would sit and watch each other open gifts. Savoring each one.

My best friend ended up being invited over for Dinner 'Christmas night'. She did not have family commitments as it was New Years instead of the busy day of Christmas where you are obligated to go to every family member's home. She would prepare homemade mashed potatoes and a pie. I would make the turkey, gravy and corn. It was simple, it was beautiful.

'Christmas morning' arrived and my girls were excited. They were not rushing to open their gifts, we sat and savored each and every gift so lovingly given. When my friend arrived, we had dinner. We took out time as we had nowhere else to rush too. The day was all about family and love. You could seriously feel the love thick in the air.

Later, not that night, but perhaps a year later, both my girls would tell me that was their favorite Christmas.

We started a new tradition of having Christmas on New Years. That tradition lasted a few years until, Emily, my granddaughter was born. We still remember that first year of our new Christmas traditions and no longer rush through unwrapping our gifts. We figured out if you wrap as simple lip-gloss, it can be just as a thoughtful and wonderful gift as a 50.00 dollar sweater.

Has Christmas become too commercial? If you allow it to be. The power is in your hands. Complain to the stores that Christmas is coming to early for your taste, write letters to the Chain of stores who put out Christmas displays on Oct. 15th. Refuse to buy into the fallacy that you must supply endless amounts of toys or gifts to make it Christmas. You have the power to choose how you will spend that holiday and to heck with the masses.

I miss caroling and many of the traditions we used to have. I want them back and we actively start new traditions within our family as often as we can. For example, we buy each other simple or make homemade ornaments for each other. Those ornaments are my favorite, especially the homemade ones. One year, Kat did not make one in school as usual. I was very sad and she noticed my disappointment when I asked her where it was. The next day I noticed that Kat had hung her newly made ornament for me on the tree. She had taken a plastic pocket 'envelope' wrote the date and printed 'Here is your Christmas ornament, Love Kat.' It was both the ugliest and most beautiful thing I had ever seen. It still graces my tree every year and get many comments. They always ask me what it is and I always enjoy telling them the story of love....