We are almost there; that time of the year when we celebrate the birth of Christ (if you are christian that is). Christmas was a big deal when we were growing up. When we celebrated the occasion at the rural homestead it was an even bigger deal. It meant two sets of new clothes and new shoes for Christmas and new year. Mountains of bread (slathered with sun jam [no marmalade or some such spreads - we had not acquired the taste]), gallons of tea, lots of soft drinks, vetkoeks, balloons, sweets, rice and sometimes lots of beef or goat meat. Oh it was fun! We would wake up in the morning, have tea, then the rest of the food around lunch time. The gramophone (the kind which always looked like a briefcase, came in funny colours and was battery operated [my parents still have one]) would be brought out and we would dance to some music before going visiting. We would get more food at each of the homestead we visited. Then we would end up at the growth point dancing to music.
There was a sense of community which was gratifying and amazing. I knew almost all my relatives and was close to most of my cousins. Now it is a different story; our kids do not know all their relatives. Christmas is spent where it is convenient and we no longer spend Christmas as the huge extended families like we used to. it is almost an ordinary day.
There are those who argue that Christmas like valentine and Easter are machinations of the retailers who want to strip us of our hard earned money. It might be true which is why it is never a good idea to do your shopping in December. But I still feel that we have neglected Christmas. It is not the food, or the new clothes but the coming together as families and having a roaring good time that is important.
And this year things do not look promising either. People are buried in debt [what with the loans the banks were giving left right and centre], prices have gone up and we have grown selfish. I know there is no disposable income but how about pooling resources as families and celebrate Christmas together? I have not felt christmassy for a long time and I really miss it. Forget the family bickering and trauma that this holiday brings and just enjoy it!
peace,
fadz
There was a sense of community which was gratifying and amazing. I knew almost all my relatives and was close to most of my cousins. Now it is a different story; our kids do not know all their relatives. Christmas is spent where it is convenient and we no longer spend Christmas as the huge extended families like we used to. it is almost an ordinary day.
There are those who argue that Christmas like valentine and Easter are machinations of the retailers who want to strip us of our hard earned money. It might be true which is why it is never a good idea to do your shopping in December. But I still feel that we have neglected Christmas. It is not the food, or the new clothes but the coming together as families and having a roaring good time that is important.
And this year things do not look promising either. People are buried in debt [what with the loans the banks were giving left right and centre], prices have gone up and we have grown selfish. I know there is no disposable income but how about pooling resources as families and celebrate Christmas together? I have not felt christmassy for a long time and I really miss it. Forget the family bickering and trauma that this holiday brings and just enjoy it!
peace,
fadz
I miss xmas from the good old days, my dad used to put up xmas decorations every year, when our tree got too old, he got us a natural one every year from the bushes close to our house! I guess he was tryn to instill a sense of appreciation for the festive period and he was successful. Im going home fo xmas.
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone feels the same way Patie and they do go home for Christmas. We need to be less obsessive and less selfish which is what Christmas is all about.
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