Just finished this little book. Its been around awhile but has some good explanations as to how our society's Christmas observance has evolved into the commercial chaos it is today. The author suggests that we limit our financial involvement to $100. Not a bad goal.
An excerpt:
"The Christmas we now celebrate grew up at a time when Americans were mostly poor, mostly lived with extended families, mostly worked with their hands and backs......But more and more that old Christmas finally feels played out. We’ve changed too much, and if we feel harassed by Christmas, that’s why. Its not that Christmas has changed, it’s that we have. We’re like fifty-year-olds going to Daytona Beach for spring break. Maybe we can remember why it seemed fun once, but frankly we’d rather sleep at night."
That's probably the best explanation I've ever heard!
The author goes on to ask.....
"Whose birthday is it anyway? Good question..... We know how to behave at birthday parties; We know someone else is the center of attention, and that the pleasure comes from putting the spotlight on them. And yes, you get to eat cake, too, and ice cream, and maybe there’s a little bag of treats to take hom. But you’re celcbrating someone else. That’s what the fun is all about."
1 comments:
That does sounds like a good book. I'll have to remember it for next year. Although, I don't know that the $100 involvement would work for all of us, but I do like the idea of setting a goal and sticking with it.
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