Photo Credit: still searching/Creative Commons
Years ago, we approached the Christmas season so differently. For one thing, there was a welcomed pause between Halloween and Thanksgiving. Christmas wasn’t announced or even thought about until turkey drumsticks were eaten and the last slice of pumpkin pie had been served. We upheld tradition and savored the holiday at hand before ushering in the next one.
Now we hear Christmas music as soon as the last of the trick-or-treaters have scampered off our porches.
I love Christmas carols as much as the next person, but it seems almost irreverent to sing Jingle Bells weeks before Thanksgiving.
I believe it’s less about invoking the holiday spirit and more about enticing gimmicks. Creative marketing has reached new heights. The mentality seems to be “The sooner we push, the sooner folks will buy.”
And let’s face it. It works!
This year, I resisted the urge to fall prey to deceptive tactics.
I made the conscious decision to avoid trends and schemes. I listened to Christmas music after Thanksgiving. The Christmas tree was decorated after Thanksgiving. I even went against the grain and waited to begin Christmas shopping until after Thanksgiving.
Instead of feeling harried or resentful, I’m excited about the approaching holiday.
Jesus is foremost on my mind. The way He should be.
In addition, Christmas carols fill our home, the tree sparkles with shiny bulbs and lights, and Christmas presents have started to appear. There’s a new crackle in the air.
I’m looking forward to family time.
And…
Christmas movies.
Cookie making.
Savoring.
Celebrating.
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How are you savoring the Christmas season?
Photo Credit: still searching/Creative Commons
Blessings Always,
Comments 7
I’m spending more face-to-face time with friends. What a blessing!
Spending time with my family.
Once the kids grew up, we all realized how Christmas has just become one big buying frenzy. Spend, Buy, Must Have, Need… We do buy gifts, and we make gifts. But we don’t participate in the crazy shopping – such as Black Friday. Watching those people shoving, biting, hitting, and pushing each other over sales items is just insane.
Mostly, we cherish the moments with friends and family. Good food and good company – all gathered because we have the GREATEST GIFT OF ALL!
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Keli: There’s nothing like that up close and personal kind of connection with our favorite people. So glad you are savoring the CHRISTmas season!
Loree: You’re speakin’ the truth, friend. I’ve done Black Friday a few (rare) times, but never managed to snag any great deals. I notice that Christmas is upon us now as early as Halloween, and it’s not about celebrating our Savior’s birth. It’s about commercialism in the biggest way possible. Isn’t it wonderful when we can revel in the holiday season knowing we have something that all the money in the world can’t buy?
Don’t get me started on the whole Thanksgiving-night sales that cropped up this year. *shudder* 🙂
As for savoring the season, I just enjoyed a Christmas outing with my husband and kids today.
Hope you have a wonderful week, Cynthia!
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Sarah, our nearby area went whole hog with the Thanksgiving-night sales. I thought of how it used to be compared to the frenzy it is now. Disheartening.
Good for you for making the day count with your family!
I wish somebody would come decorate our tree. It’s sitting here, waiting…
I didn’t start shopping until after Thanksgiving, either. I like it better, but ordering things from American Girl should be done in the summer–note to self and fyi. :)I can’t wait to start baking (and eating)cookies.
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Ahhh, dear Patti… If only you lived closer. I would not only help decorate your tree, but I would supply the hot chocolate, too! And we’d probably not get very far because we’d have a lot of catching up to do.
American Girl, huh? Oh, I so love dollies and all that girly stuff.
What kind of cookies will you make? It would be fun to be a little fly on the wall in your kitchen.