Why do I dislike xmas so much? Hard to say. I suppose at base I believe in principles. I respect the Puritan viewpoint for its consistency. This dressing up in santa suits and yipping about jesus and buying lots of stuff and partying—offends my sensibilities. Just because I don’t believe something is true, doesn’t mean that other people’s beliefs don’t matter to me, and , well, I guess I fall ideologically on the Puritan side. I am annoyed by inappropriate merriment, hypocrisy and xmas.[/quote]
I feel pretty much like that most years. I do. I grin and bear it because I don’t want to be a downer and don’t feel it is a big enough issue for me to attempt to persuade others. So I go through the motions. I put up with the repetitive songs, the gaudy decorations, the commercialized trading of bad guesses at gifts.
But this year, this year is different. I’m excited this year. We have a couple of little ones running around the house this year (younger than 7) and they are super excited. It is rubbing off on me. To drive around looking at Christmas decoration and watch the awe come across their faces, to hear the excitement in their voices, to see them jump around like pogo sticks around the tree. That’s what Christmas is about – the little ones.
I think it started this season when about a month ago – not seasonly timed but by pure accident – we watched the Christmas Special episode of the British show Stella that was made a few years back. It was beautifully done. Christmas can be tasteful, though usually it isn’t done that way.
In any case, I’m sure I will revert back to my old viewpoint in whatever December these littles one are either no longer little or no longer in our household. But for now, I’m gonna enjoy the feeling.
And we’ve highjacked this thread a bit. For that I apologize, sjk.
Though I’m neither a believer nor a Christian, Merry Christmas to ya sjk my friend.
