How people celebrate Christmas is truly not only their choice, but their very own business. Yet, every year as far back as i can remember, there are opinionated debates on commercialization vs the true meaning, which I've always found silly. Don't want to buy anything? Don't. Want to enjoy the lights, cookies, overeating, gifts, kitsch and gaudiness. Yes, please. I don't understand how commercialization is preventing people from going to mass or being charitable as they claim.
There are opposing articles on how making Christmas commercial and less religious made it more inclusive and promoted ideas of love peace unity. That is certainly the case. It is what an individual choses it to be. In addition, not all stores are evil, but selling means jobs and many artists depend on Christmas sales.
I have very positive memories associated with it and gifts are very much a part of it. It's a time to slow down, relax, unwind. One pleasant Christmas holiday was spent at home, painting after buying new supplies, watching movies, eating some good food and doing nothing. Stressing over gifts? I stopped doing that a long time ago. I usually pre buy as I come across gifts that I know the person will enjoy. Sometimes we gift handcrafted items other years we buy.
Craft shows
A tradition that probably came from attending Christmas fairs/markets as a child, where the best things in life were candied apples, various glazed almonds and items covered in chocolate was going to craft shows just to admire all of the crafts. Wish they had them year round. I rarely buy anything, but love looking at artisanal displays. I did purchase a handknitted Alpaca wool scarf there from a vendor who owns Alpacas. Looking at candles with things in them (does that just melt or fall off?), and often see items that I never see anywhere else like felted wool items, art work, wood bowls and carvings and handcrafted ornaments.
My personal style is classic/traditional so I'm not fond of colored lights but monochrome white. To each their own and it's yet another form of self-expression.
Torchlight descent
One of the best experiences of my life was participating in a torchlight descent at night. It is usually meant for ski instructors and ski patrol, watched by the villagers and tourists at the bottom, but I had managed to talk my way in. A moving and exhilarating experience and very special. I felt like an Olympian. We used real torches that were lit at the top then skied down at an equally spaced timed interval, to prevent a ski instructors pile up.
Advent calendars
I was looking for images for this post, and got lost in watching unboxing advent calendars. Something relatively new. Very jealous of this one, but if one collects fountain pens (as I do) that's Keith Haring and the little "flower" represents the Montblanc mountain top. Also the flux capacitor is called a converter, surprised that an artist who presents this doesn't know some of these products. (She also doesn't know the difference between fountain/calligraphy pen ink and artist's ink). Nonetheless. a fun watch.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=e_YzEJ1JAyY&pp=ugUEEgJlbg%3D%3D
I have no idea what happened to the original idea of this post, but this is a well thought out craft/art advent calendar that guides you through the projects.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=12vfxK-TW4w
There are very few for booklovers, but I think this marketing trend will continue and one can buy the advent boxes and fill them with multiple gifts. Not sure I would enjoy it but there's an advent book; as you open each page the story unfolds. (I would ignore it and just keep reading).
To me this is a time of joy and lights to illuminate the winter. I never understood why people dont leave them up until March. Encouragement to bake cookies, eat nuts and chocolate and yet people whine about it. Food. Get together with family and friends. Decorating the home and crafting. I see blogs calling it a children's holiday. I think it's a holiday where adults treat themselves and should.
Best gifts I ever received also have some sentimentality attached and am not inclined to go there, but one of the best gifts I have received was a book called Women Artists an illustrated history by Nancy Heller, because I would have never come across it otherwise. Beautifully curated and eye-opening. I had never heard of many of these artists who were just as good if not better than their msle counterparts. I highly recommend it.
Before I start to decorate this post with stickers and garlands, I'll stop here.
A little prompt: What was the best gift you've ever received? Has to be an object. What was the best experience?
The best experience, repeatedly:
ReplyDeleteThe family is very big, on three continents, many first, second, third degree yet nevertheless close cousins, their spouses/partners, kids, all loved and appreciated. So the rule has been for as long as we can remember that only children up to age 12 will get gifts on feast occasions and if one comes across something that a cousin, sibling, friend etc would dearly love, get it and give it there and then.
Sharing food and laughter whenever, wherever we meet, has become our preferred gift.
The best gift I ever received:
When we could bring home our prematurely born daughter from hospital just a few days before xmas, weighing 998g but feeding hungrily and bursting with life. Not an object, so maybe the breast pump?
Codex: That is a great way to gift.
DeleteI mentioned object. because obviously the birth of a child is more than a gift and getogethers are a different matter and i knew people would think of that first. Must be complicated organizing it across continents.
I'm glad you enjoy it. Not my favorite time of year for many reasons. As for gift giving I prefer to do as Sabine does, gifts for children (though my children and grandchildren have all aged out) and for adults see something, buy it and give it then and there regardless of the time of year.
ReplyDeleteCodex: I'm sorry Ellen. It can be such a wonderful time. Even if you just create it for yourself.
DeleteI have had mixed feeling about Christmas over the years. As a kid I loved it. As a parent I found it harder. It was always a lot of work (so much work!) with a lot of complicated family dynamics and expectations. I learned to equate Christmas with stress. It’s gotten better because we’ve worked at simplifying things, but the residual negative feelings haven’t disappeared. I feel some guilt that I still feel that way as we’ve never had to worry about not having enough.
ReplyDeleteI have figured out what I do like about the holiday and that is lights and music. I also really enjoy Boxing Day when the hubbub is over and we can go skating or maybe tobogganing or just curl up with the book Santa brought.
The female artist book looks amazing. Nothing like a great book for a gift. :)
Marly
Codex: I think Marly that the perfectionism that goes with it is the stress. It's a holiday. We make a few dishes, just a few friends, the rest is potluck. We also had to rethink, why not make it relaxing? Or fun? Changing perspective turned it into something that I enjoy.
DeleteI think people are too obsessed with turning it into a hallmark Christmas. Do you treat yourself?
Your Christmas sounds lovely. :)
DeleteI will keep expressing my wishes for simplicity.
Yes, I’m pretty good at treating myself.
Hope you are starting to feel better.
Codex: It is. Have one friend who brings board games. Plenty of food, order if necessary.
DeleteYes, thank you. Symptoms stopped but I'm really tired all the time. Very strange.
Oh, Codex, this torchlight descent experience and feeling like an Olympian? *claps-claps-claps*
ReplyDeleteBest gift ever? An old used snowmobile! Blew. My. Mind.
Codex: Although it wasn't it felt like being part of something big.
Delete*Mind blown*. I may be a little envious. What did you get? Oh a video game where you can fly copters and drive snowmobiles. Db: Hold my beer.