Remembering What Is Holy about Holidays

Following Thanksgiving, we will hear the annual news reports of people pushing and shoving their way into stores for Christmas shopping specials and reports on how much our society goes into debt each year for the holiday season. It does seem that the season gets more hectic every year. The pressure is on to produce the most extravagant parties, buy the best presents, and win the neighborhood decorating contest at all costs. In that mass of human-made insanity, one can stop to wonder: What has happened to the celebration of Christ’s birth?

This is not a new question. People have been asking it for a while, and the question is even more relevant today. The good news is that you don’t have to fall for all the glitz and glamour our culture pushes on us. You can keep the season simple and in doing so remember the sacredness of it. Try some of the following ideas:

• Set a limit on how much money you will spend on Christmas presents. You can either designate a certain amount per person or set a flat rate you will not spend more than.
• If you are part of large family, consider drawing names. Instead of spending a lot of money on ten people (or so), you would buy one present for the person whose name you drew.
• Limit the number of gifts you will buy for your family members. What child will play with the entire toy store? Select a few gifts you know the child would really enjoy.
• Give presents away. Have family members choose a few presents they want to keep. Donate the rest to service agencies, shelters and so on.
• Participate in an alternative gift-giving opportunity where you give money to charities in people’s names.
• Do an Advent study together as a family. There are many Advent studies you can choose from, including a new Advent devotional guide from Congregational Ministries Publishing. Have a meal together on Sunday evenings for your study. Commit to having that quiet family time. Turn off the television, stereo, and telephones (including cell phones). Decline any invitations that would conflict with that time.
• Keep the number of parties you attend and give to a minimum. Life does not come to a screeching halt for Christmas. Allow yourself time for rest and reflection during the season, instead of packing in as many activities as you can.
• Go to a worship service before opening presents on Christmas morning. This helps to set the tone for the day and reminds us why Christmas is celebrated to begin with.
• Remember that the Christmas season continues until Epiphany, January 6. You can spread out celebrations over the season rather than doing it all in one day. You can also continue a family study together. Find a book about Christmas customs around the world, and learn how Christmas is celebrated in other ways.