What makes a Merry Christmas?
One of the big ideas in organizing news this year is the KonMari Method. The creator of the method, Marie Kondo, has her own Wikipedia page – so you know it’s legitimate. Her method remains provocative, but one idea sticks out to me – the idea of “less”.
However,
his time of year challenges our commitment to “less”. Like it or not,
Christmas revolves around gifts. Lots of gifts, few gifts, gifts,
gifts, gifts. Buy, Buy, Buy…Buy.
We like to give and receive
gifts. But, how can I reconcile my desire for less with the pressure
for holiday consumption? And, it’s not just a question for me. Would my
family and friends appreciate less? How can I communicate to my family
that I don’t need more stuff?
A few Christmases ago I suggested
to my family a “no gifts” policy for everyone over the age of 18. I
attempted to convince all the adults in the family that we should not
exchange gifts amongst ourselves. I received a mixed reaction. The
idea was abandoned and no one has spoken of it since. Thankfully the
family did not have the votes to approve that I be flogged for
suggesting that idea.
After my near-flogging experience, I’ve
come to see that gift giving is a fun ritual at Christmas; one of
several. What do you remember from past holidays? Is it singing
carols, visiting family, food, or whatever shared experience made you
happy? Including the exchange of gifts. It’s these traditional, communal
rituals that make holidays special.
But my point is that the ritual of gift giving is more significant than the gifts themselves.
So
that’s my long-winded way of answering the question “What makes a merry
Christmas” (or any other holiday). It’s shared experiences.
This
year I am shifting my focus from buying the “perfect” gift to finding
ways to make our shared rituals more memorable. For me, that means more
food experiments to inflict on gift my family…The sweet potato
dumplings are ready in the freezer. Anyone know where I can get
food-grade beef suet for mincemeat pies?
What holiday rituals do you enjoy the most?
