Can you believe it! We are almost through with the month of October. Days away from Halloween. You know when I was a kid, Halloween was an afternoon; now, it’s morphed into its own season, complete with outdoor decorations and adult costumes. I have to tell you, I don’t like it.
Because when I turned 10 years old or so, there was nothing so “grown-up” as NOT trick or treating anymore, but staying home and opening the door to the little kids who did. (trick or treat!) It was a coming of age, so to speak, something which seems to be lost in our anything-goes culture.
Then, there is Christmas. I will not say holiday here; because it is Christmas we buy gifts for, it is Christmas we put up all of the decorations and the tree.
IT IS NOT “THE HOLIDAY”
Call Christmas what it is and don’t be afraid to say so when out and about. That is just one of the ways to make Christmas just a little crazy. What other holiday do we refer to as a pronoun, for God’s sakes?!
Before you know it, you feel as if the days are closing in on this one BIG time of year. Because there is SO MUCH associated with it. Christmas is not just a day and an eve, but it is now a season, where there are greeting cards, parties, school functions, music, TV shopping channels, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and everything in between to help you to slowly
GO OUT OF YOUR MIND!
This, friends, is not what Christmas was meant to be. So, let me share with you, 5 ways to avoid the Christmas lunacy, before it’s too late.
#1 — Start with Autumn FIRST!
Autumn is a most BEAUTIFUL season. There are so many ways to get out and enjoy the cool, crisp days that you’ve just been waiting for all summer long. Browse through your favorite places. We love Peddler’s Village in Lahaska, PA and drive out there at least twice a year.
Get in the spirit of Autumn with pumpkins and more. Garden centers and fruit stands carry your favorite mums and many varieties of apples. Clean out your fireplace and start using it. Because, now that the days end sooner, around 6:00 or so it’s just about dark, you can bring the light inside to a warm, cozy, apple-scented home. And you can take Autumn right through Thanksgiving. Don’t leave off this most beautiful season.
#2 — Throw OUT most catalogs you receive.
Do you really need more Christmas lights? Why pay shipping for a poncho there when you can buy one at the mall? Be careful of the kids’ toys you buy; some of them are just tacky cheap. Do you really need magnetic chip clips and couldn’t you find them in the Dollar Store?
You see what I mean? THINK before ordering. I’m not saying every catalog is junk; there are some I’ve received every year, and order something from them. But, don’t waste your time and your hard-earned money on things you don’t need and could buy elsewhere for less.
#3 — Be simple NOT tacky.
Lately, I’ve been seeing TV commercials for Christmas lights that you can literally throw on your tree and be done in 10 minutes! No, no, no, my stunningly, beautiful, large Christmas tree takes all of a day to put together. There are heirloom ornaments and many newer pieces that all have their own special places picked out for them by me.
Also, I LOVE tinsel on my tree. Years and years ago, everyone had a tree covered in tinsel. At night, when all the lights are on, my tree just glistens! It’s so beautiful! And don’t throw it on like Ed Norton (from The Honeymooners) or my Uncle Rick (rest his soul) used to do!
#4 — Get your shopping done and wrapped EARLY.
Try and order your big items before Thanksgiving weekend even rolls around and ignore all of the craziness of that particular weekend. Remember: it is all formulated to make MONEY for the stores. They don’t care if you get what you want at a bargain price or not. It’s all about THEM making money.
Keep your costs DOWN. Only buy what you can afford and what you know you’ll be able to pay back over time. Which brings me to my last reason to avoid the Christmas lunacy
#5 — Remember WHY we celebrate Christmas
The four weeks leading up to December 25th are known as Advent. They are my favorite time of year. You can read all about what I think about Advent here. Christmas is not really about Santa Claus, and it’s not really about how many gifts you GET and it’s not really about giving the most expensive gifts to family and friends because you think you’re more popular than anyone else.
Christmas is Christ’s birthday. That is what we celebrate. You know, years ago I worked in a nursing home. One day, one of the girls from the kitchen came over to our nursing station for some aspirin for herself. She then proceeded to tell us that she and her family wouldn’t be celebrating Christmas that year. When asked why, she said because her father had lost his job. So, I said to her, “what does that have to do with not celebrating Christmas?” Well, you know she looked at me with horror and derision, as if I had 3 heads and said, “because we won’t be able to afford to buy any gifts!” And again, I said to her, “what does that have to do with not celebrating Christmas?”
Then I went on to explain, that I didn’t need ONE gift to celebrate Christmas. And I still don’t. And I know that went right over her head and the heads of some of the others I worked with; a few of the nurses actually used to exchange gifts with each other, so their own kids couldn’t rummage through their houses opening gift-wrapped boxes weeks before Christmas. Can you imagine?!
Yes, it’s nice, very nice to get a pretty wrapped gift with your name on it. We all love that. If I didn’t have any money for gifts, I would still celebrate Christmas. Because Christmas doesn’t rely on my gifts.
Christmas relies on the gift we are given.
There is no lunacy in that. Only peace and joy and serenity. Make your Christmas one worth celebrating this year.
Just another way to
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