'Tis the Reason
Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 6:17 pm
The holiday season is a good time.
We ruminate over the myths and traditions of old, and there’s comfort in them. They encourage us to be generous with our fellow humans, to think about what’s important to us, and to have fun. It’s a demonstration of our love and appreciation.
But it would be a bit disingenuous to overlook the price of it all. Only children believe Santa is a real, magical individual who eats cookies and drinks milk all over the world, has the girth to show for it, but can still fit down the narrowest of chimneys. They’re the ones who really get the most fun out of it, because they’re the ones who actually believe it all. They aren’t the ones making the big dinner and doing the dishes after. They get to eat and play.
My wife and I just finished putting away all of our decorations and cleaning up after the season (while my daughter stays at a friend’s house). It’s amazing how much dust and garbage accumulates in just one month. In the joy of celebrating the myths, we don’t even notice how much of a mess we’re making of our space until we pack up all the religious symbols and artifacts of our traditions. It’s a good thing it only lasts for a few weeks. I can’t imagine what would settle into the crevices if we did this sort of thing all year round. Doing the post holiday clean up puts these traditions in perspective. Sure, the traditions have their benefits, but you certainly couldn’t do them all the time. The responsible thing to do is put the season in its place, enjoy it while it lasts, but to also face the New Year with a clean slate. You can’t carry those myths around all the time; at some point, you have to face the reality of day to day life.
I’ve met people who wish it was Christmas all year. They seem to think that people can only show appreciation during the season. I often wonder why they can’t do it without all the myths. What’s more generous, showing good will toward your fellow humans just for the sake of it, or because that’s what the traditions require? If we need Christmas to show generosity, I’m not so sure its associated price is worth it.
I’ve come to appreciate the post season clean up as much as the season itself. The act is cleansing. Our home is more open, clean and welcoming without the clutter of the myths. Sure, we’ll take them all out in 11 months or so and do it all over again, and then in a year, I’ll get to remind myself once again how good life is when we live it realistically and put away our childhood fun.
We ruminate over the myths and traditions of old, and there’s comfort in them. They encourage us to be generous with our fellow humans, to think about what’s important to us, and to have fun. It’s a demonstration of our love and appreciation.
But it would be a bit disingenuous to overlook the price of it all. Only children believe Santa is a real, magical individual who eats cookies and drinks milk all over the world, has the girth to show for it, but can still fit down the narrowest of chimneys. They’re the ones who really get the most fun out of it, because they’re the ones who actually believe it all. They aren’t the ones making the big dinner and doing the dishes after. They get to eat and play.
My wife and I just finished putting away all of our decorations and cleaning up after the season (while my daughter stays at a friend’s house). It’s amazing how much dust and garbage accumulates in just one month. In the joy of celebrating the myths, we don’t even notice how much of a mess we’re making of our space until we pack up all the religious symbols and artifacts of our traditions. It’s a good thing it only lasts for a few weeks. I can’t imagine what would settle into the crevices if we did this sort of thing all year round. Doing the post holiday clean up puts these traditions in perspective. Sure, the traditions have their benefits, but you certainly couldn’t do them all the time. The responsible thing to do is put the season in its place, enjoy it while it lasts, but to also face the New Year with a clean slate. You can’t carry those myths around all the time; at some point, you have to face the reality of day to day life.
I’ve met people who wish it was Christmas all year. They seem to think that people can only show appreciation during the season. I often wonder why they can’t do it without all the myths. What’s more generous, showing good will toward your fellow humans just for the sake of it, or because that’s what the traditions require? If we need Christmas to show generosity, I’m not so sure its associated price is worth it.
I’ve come to appreciate the post season clean up as much as the season itself. The act is cleansing. Our home is more open, clean and welcoming without the clutter of the myths. Sure, we’ll take them all out in 11 months or so and do it all over again, and then in a year, I’ll get to remind myself once again how good life is when we live it realistically and put away our childhood fun.