Winter Solstice is one of my favorite days not that I celebrate it with any sort of Pagan festival. There are some good ones with lots of candles and fires as we welcome back the sun. Most religious observations for this season, from Hanukkah, Saturnalia, Solstice, and Christmas, do have lights as some part for obvious reasons of darkness in the Northern Hemisphere from where so many of our traditions originated.
I am really not a holiday person-- not any of them. I did decorate the house this year because two grandsons were coming for a day. For me, decorating means a few angels, white candles, snow villages, and those evergreen strings with red berries and pine cones that all look real but don't give an allergic reaction, and no Christmas tree which would hurt our allergies if the real deal and I have had no reason to want a real or artificial one.
The reason I don't generally decorate anymore (and I used to go all out for it) isn't about a war on Christmas or some angst about that holiday. It's just I have other things to do than put up and then down decorations. Truth be told I just don't care that much. Now the decorations I put out this year are pretty subtle, not so much about a religious look at Christmas but more seasonal for the Solstice as well as a few objects that have come to me through various family members over many years. I like them well enough but other than having little ones here, why would I have put them out?
Absolutely I was not going to send out any cards (notice the past tense). Much of my list is now on Facebook; so it's easy to share family events there. I don't believe the Christmas story as in being historic; so I stopped long ago sending religious cards. This used to be a season I would proselytize a bit. Actually, I guess I still do but just something different.
For the second year running, I did draw the line at sending out a Christmas letter even though I used to find them fun to put together as we always have a colorful year at the least. I began to have a negative feeling about writing them as I knew I was only putting in what somebody else might enjoy seeing or doing. I was leaving out the stuff that wasn't so much fun during the year. What was it all about anyway? It's kind of like an illusion of the best parts of a life. Maybe that's what we usually present to others anyway unless they are close to our lives.
The mythology behind this season-- the giving without asking return--certainly has value whether it's oil that never runs out, a spirit who goes around giving gifts to especially children, or a god who came to earth to die for all mankind asking nothing in return, but that's not exactly the way these celebrations usually end up. It becomes instead of gratitude, a time of conspicuous consumption which is required to keep the economy bolstered up. As for giving and asking nothing-- most people at least want gratitude (even gods who sacrifice it all)
I enjoy the giving part of all this, but really like it best when during the year I have seen something and buy it, not holding it for six months, but giving it right then; or we are in a store and I tell the grandkids they can pick out something. To do it for a specific day has never appealed to me even if I go along with it as part of communal expectation.
When I was involved in the church-- any of them, Christmas made more sense to me with Christmas programs or Midnight Masses; but now it seems more a high pressure time with a lot of expectations leading to pain for those where life hasn't dealt with them as they had hoped.
It always seems ironic to me that this season of glitter and gold would be based around a man who taught none of that as the way to live, a man who did have concern for the poor without blaming them, a man who talked of love as mattering more than all the possessions one can accumulate. How did corporations, with the gifts, the wrappings and the cards, end up taking over a day that should be about minimalism? Never mind. I know the answer to that one.
This last photo was pure luck. I was trying to get the colors adjusted on my webcam and happened to look behind me and there was our newest cat (who we are still trying to decide on a name she likes). She is still in hide and run mode; so this was surprising. My cam has a 3 second delay; so I was only hoping she'd still be there by the time it took the photo. I got luckier than that as she reached up with what can only be called a model pose to more closely observe one of the village buildings and snap.
11 comments:
Rain--You've come a long journey. You and le chat look great!
Cop Car
I like how you think about all of this, rain. It really is such an interesting season, this solstice and the return of the light. I can see how celebrations occurred around this time of the year. Because I came from a family of secular Jews, we never celebrated this time of the year in any special way though. It was always interesting being an outside observer of all the consumer rituals. It's gotten much worse as I've gotten older. It amazes me that "Black Friday" is practically becoming a holiday in and of itself. I like celebrating the return of the sun. It makes me want to go out and dance outside in the early light.
You are so right on Rain. I do have a small, fake tree that my grandgirls decorated in the living room with my nativity set under it. It sits on a little round table with a drape and gifts are under the table. Pretty much that's it. The whole Black Friday thing is ridiculous. I join you in the joy of spontaneous gift giving throughout the year.
I love the Indian prints - the one over your mantel and the one of the Indians in winter. As for Christmas, I don't really participate myself and see it as a day for family and old friends to come together for a nice meal together. It is what we make it.
I love your Christmas decorations -- and obviously so does your kitty~!
I opted for a fake tree (I call it a 'hand made' tree) years ago because of allergies. It makes Christmas so much easier.
I think the holidays are great fun if you're interested in it -- if not, it makes no sense to pretend. I may be more interested these days because now I have a grandchild, and Christmas is more special when you can see it through a child's eyes.
It's fascinating to me how many winter rituals have developed over the years of human history -- and they make sense in the northern hemisphere. Humans are responding the their natural environment.
It's summer in the southern hemisphere -- wonder what they're doing down there?
Very sweet Christmas Decorations, my dear...And the picture with your new kitty is priceless....! I understand what you are saying about Holidays and Gift Giving....I'm with you! You see something that is perfect for someone--Buy It and Give It, Right Then & There! I wish you a Very Merry Christmas, my dear, in whatever way you celebrate these days.
Every year that's exactly what I think at the Winter Solstice -- "we made it!"
I'm ambivalent in the midst of the Great American Consumption Holiday. No tree for us this year; too busy.
Be well as the light increases.
Today we had neighbors come and cut down a fur tree for their traditional candle lighting of a freshly cut tree. Only their sensitive granddaughter was upset that a tree should be killed. She worried about the tree spirit. I didn't know if I should try to do much to convince her that the tree spirit was unhappy under a towering, water sucking birch tree.
Rain--Rubye and Lady of the Hills wrote in their comments some of the things that I thought while reading your posting. Unfortunately, as often is the case, I got distracted in writing my first comment and failed to mention anything but my last thought. I especially like the tapestry (or whatever you call it) over your mantel.
Cop Car
Thank you. The rug is Navajo and purchased in Arizona. I have another one with browns, grays and gold. I should photograph them both sometime as I absolutely love them. I also have a Navajo wedding vase and several Hopi pots. In Tucson there are some from Acoma and Zuni pueblos.
Such a thoughtful post, Rain; you got to the honest part of what the holidays used to mean to you and how you approach them now. I love that photo with your cat. Perfect!
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