I head out the door in the morning on my way to work and I’m greeted by plastic reindeer in my neighbours yard. A few blocks later I’m nearly at my bus stop when HoHoHo’d by a light up inflatable electronic Santa in a person’s yard. Not long after a green bus pulls in to my stop with holly leaves & candles painted on it, it’s the Santa Bus. I step and I’m wished Merry Christmas by a local no name media personality as I toss in my bus fare and a little extra for the Christmas Cheer Board. As I sit down I whisper a silent prayer offering thanks to Steve Jobs for giving the world the iPod in my ears that now blocks out the Christmas Carols playing on the buses intercom. The process only continues throughout the day as I get wished Merry Christmas by customers call after call and my co-workers decorate the cubicles, and the various areas around the office. When I finally get by home the TV offers up Christmas special after Christmas special and all the shows I do enjoy our having their own Christmas themed episode. At the end of the day I fall asleep only to repeat some variation of it the next day.
Some days it all just makes me want to scream and other days I take it as well wishes made in the holiday spirit. I often wonder if this is what it feels like for people of other faiths even the more main stream ones that don’t celebrate Christmas. As a faith we are still pretty fringe, we don’t have large temples across the city in fact most cities are lucky if they have one. At times we lack that all encompassing sense of community, which leaves us to deal with feelings alone or in small groups. So what do we do? How do we make Yule a special holiday for us in this time of year where we are bombard on all sides by holidays in every shape and form? On that note forks I hope you are all making the most of the Yule Season in your own way and see you all in a week with the next question.
I find this ‘Christian Holiday’ sort of funny! So many of them don’t even know where their traditions come from. VERY briefly:
* Jesus wasn’t even born on this day (he was born in mid autumn). The Dec 25th celebration is based on the Roman Saturnalia.
* Kissing under mistletoe was a Druid tradition.
* The emperors compelled their citizens to brings gifts during Saturnalia.
* Yule logs? Um, sort of obvious.
* Scandinavian celebrated the solstice Yuletide season by hanging ornaments on evergreens.
Isn’t it ironic that the same Christians who shun pagan ways are in fact imitating them in a corruption of their beliefs? Just wait for Easter … I mean Ostara.
ps – when told “Merry Christmas” … I cheerfully reply “Happy Yule”.
As someone who works in a Call Centre this time of year I have a lot of people saying to me at the end of the call Merry Christmas. Which is fine whatever however a few go that next step and add “God Bless.” Now while a blessing from any god is often a good thing. If I happen to be in one of those moods I’ll reply with “Oh she does don’t worry, thanks.” and end the call.
.-= Randilin´s last blog ..Current Project Sample =-.
We try to make Yule special by staying away of all the cliches – and the worst cliches in Spain are: hypocrite socializing, eating more than any other time of the year and spending as much money as you can on Christmas meals. To fight that, we handmake all gifts, try to eat “on the season” simple and homemade foods, and since we are our own bosses there will be no hypocrite social reunions for us. A hermit Yule is our answer to all the madness around us!
.-= Carolina Gonzalez´s last blog ..Reflections On The Year’s End – Part II =-.
My husband is a Christian so we celebrate Christmas also. I used to get mad, but now I figure, hey, it is another reason to have a holiday, and as Joelle said most of the crap is ours anyway. Ha ha laugh is on them, really.
I also think Jesus was a cool dude that did a lot of good things, so I don’t mind giving him a nod this time of year. His ,”followers” (and I use the term loosely) get on my nerves, but He did some good things. I just try to go with it, and take out the things I don’t like ( like overly religious songs, and nativity scenes) and use the things I do like ( like decorations, trees, music, and gifts).