We're hosting a big group the evening of December 24th this year -- popularly known as "Christmas Eve" -- our first time hosting family and friends at this time of year since moving here!
So I got to thinking about Christmas. I have to be honest, Christmas is stressful. In fact most people I know think it's a royal pain, mostly because of the commercialization of the event and the forced march we all seem to go through: finding just the right gift for 250 of our closest friends, writing hundreds of greeting cards, figuring out new recipes, sweating out the possibility we've missed someone on our lists, figuring out what to get that person who has everything, attending the numerous holiday parties where we don't know anyone, on and on. And on top of that, overspending.
But also I must reveal that I don't care for Christmas in particular, because I'm not your garden variety believer. I've decided that it's as good a time as any to bring out the silver and china, and have a lovely couple of days with family, all dressed up. Is this act of celebrating, when I don't believe in what it stands for, an act of hypocrisy on my part?
As I see it, it's all in the way you look at it. For thousands of years people have been celebrating at this time of year for various reasons. The winter solstice was and still is celebrated all over the world in numerous ways -- in fact, you can find a name for celebrations or events acknowledging winter solstice for just about every country in the world, from the Japanese Amaterasu to the Russian Ziemassvētki. Another familiar one (at least historically speaking) is Saturnalia (established about 217 BC), devised by the Romans to cheer up the people they had conquered.
Then along came Christmas. As far as I can tell, this time of year has been acknowledged by people all over the world for thousands of years, and Christians only began to popularize that time of year as the birth of Christ in the early to high middle ages.
So...here's my suggestion. Instead of Christmas, I think we should call this time of year something like Satwinsolmas. That covers pretty much everything. Has a nice ring, no? Roll it around on your tongue for a while. Sat...win...sol...mas.
For Satwinsolmas, you could do anything you want: worship, acknowledge, sacrifice to, or thank whatever or whomever you believe in; and then celebrate by giving gifts, lighting candles, preparing special meals, putting up decorations, throwing parties.
But in my mind, Satwinsolmas would NOT be a forced march. Instead, people could choose, or not choose, to participate. And no one would be persecuted for it! And guilty feelings would positively NOT be allowed.
Absence of guilt, freedom to choose. Celebrate. Satwinsolmas.
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2 comments:
I agree 100% withy our sentiment. Humans have been celbrating this time of year since caveman days. It is essentially a pagan celebration of the winter soltice. Most religous holidays originate in pagan tradition. The main point is that one does not have to have a religious reason to be a good person. As the song goes, "Be good for goodness sake."
I understand your reasoning. I have a few thoughts on the subject.
As you know, I was brought up with the understanding that Christmas was pagan and had nothing to do with Christ’s birth. After I got out from under the thumb of the group that indoctrinated me to this way of thinking, I couldn’t wait to be part of this celebration. So Jill, if you’re a hypocrite, so then am I. I attach no fond childhood memories to this holiday since my family growing up did not celebrate it. I have, however, made it my own, and have started from scratch in obtaining holiday decorations. I have no nativity scene although I have a collection of ornaments that I very much enjoy. I wallow in the notion that I’m conforming to the world around me, yet not conforming to the single-minded teachings that tried to mold me in my youth.
I love all the lights and the songs even though they are not part of my youthful memory. It is not stressful to me. For the reasons I’ve explained, I do not feel obligated to buy gifts for my siblings, parents or even my husband’s family. I do enjoy finding practical little gifts for just a few people and that brings me pleasure.
The day itself is relaxing with my husband, our two sons and myself doing absolutely nothing. We four celebrate in our own quiet way opening gifts and eating something we love on china. As I’ve explained, the day holds no religious significance and so we don’t attend church. My husband was brought up Catholic and I remember telling him that Christmas is derived through paganism and his reply surprised me: “Who cares?” I was taught that if one was told something was pagan, of course one would abhor it and run the other way.
And so I find myself a member of this newly formed club, Satwinsolma, with absence of guilt and freedom to choose. Let’s celebrate!
Posted by Kamie Mulroy
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