What makes a Merry Christmas?

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?