Searching for the Christmas Spirit

Ron (grudgingly) helped me put up the Christmas decorations this year. He's never been the season's biggest fan and nearly four decades in retail took their toll. He got to see the stress, short-temperedness, and gratuitous commercialism that embodies that side of the season. There's so much pressure for the 'perfect' gift, perfect memories, perfect day, that he really didn't care for the experience of nursing people through it. I get it. Working in banking didn't give me a much different perspective. Bank accounts got low, credit card statements rose and houses filled with stuff...unnecessary stuff, or even worse, expensive unnecessary stuff.

You'd like tired after 9 hours of parading, too.

Now, I know that there's a whole raft of people who believe that Jesus is the reason for the season. Good for you! Enjoy your observances, enjoy mass or services, take the time to appreciate His sacrifice. Not everyone has that same belief. I could go on about the historical realities of Yule and other festivals that celebrate the winter equinox, when days get shorter and celebrating the return of longer days. I won't get into Jesus's birthday.

Ecuador is a blissful mix of secular and laic celebration. They have no issue with Rudolf riding a bike next to the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. In many ways, it's my kind of Christmas. I don't really believe in the commercial side, nor the religious, so what does that leave me? (Especially with a spousal unit that would prefer to ignore the whole thing?) Twinkling lights, copious amounts of glitter and food. Food is the one thing I know Ron can't resist, so Christmas baking, toutiere and homemade caramels are on the list. 

You thought I'd made that up, didn't you?

We also have a movie watching ritual that includes It's a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol (with Alastair Sim), A Muppet Christmas Carol (Beaker gives Scrooge the finger) and A Christmas Story...who can resist little Ralphie in a pink rabbit suit and an Italian mystery prize? So that, that is our Christmas, good food, some minor traditions...I mustn't forget out traditional Christmas day walk...so much more pleasant when it's over 20 degrees, as opposed to minus something.

Festival of Lights

A little holiday laundry? Sure!

Christmas trout? Why not?

My take away? Gratitude...that's what most people can agree to about this season. Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Eid (yes, it sometimes falls around this time of year), Saturnalia, Festivas, Yule, Bodhi, Pancha Ganapati and anything else I might have missed, I'm pretty sure we can agree that being thankful for what we have, whom we have with us and how lucky we are to be wherever we are is a decent theme for the holidays. May you find things to be grateful for and we wish you a very happy holiday season, whatever you believe.