The Endless Santa Season--a Low Tech Poll

[gurdonark]

I loved the old Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer specials, because when I was a kid, while its conventional "let's not commercialize Christmas" message played out, the commercial breaks were always filled with heart-warming advertisements for Norelco rotary head razors. In my mind, Burl Ives was a huge snowman who rode a rotary sleigh that gave a close shave. I'm sure I am not the only kid who wished to live on the island of misfit toys, nor the only adult who feels that my wish was somehow abundantly granted.

In the current generation, Hollywood made a mega-blockbuster film starring Jim Carrey, with extensive commercial tie-ins, out of Dr. Seuss'"How the Grinch Stole Christmas", a heart-warming tale of how even when every present was purloined, the Who villagers still found comfort in each other (not to mention a really hip song)--because it's not about the commerce, really. I'll bet I could have bought a Who Happy Meal or something similar.

I just don't have much original insight into this "commercialize the holidays" issue. Since the time I was 4, I've been hearing about the over-commercialization of the holidays, and yet at 43, I see the time from Thanksgiving to the twelfth day or so after Christmas as one long Santa Season. The only real change I've seen is a broadening and internationalization of the Holiday, as Yule, Hanukah, Solstice, Kwanzaa, and holidays of virtually every faith have been pulled into this omni-present Santa Season. I see the whole phenomenon as about things like macro-economic and consumer patterns which are beyond my simple ken.

I am beginning to ponder the holidays this year, though, and in particular to draw up a new form of holiday list for myself. I do not believe that I need very many things, but I wish to do a great deal more than I traditionally do. Here's my un-original idea for a list of "outgoing holiday cheer", and my low tech poll for more and better ideas:

I wish to do each of the following:

A. Send more holiday cards out to people than I have ever sent before. Life is so very short, and it is so easy to lose touch with everyone and everything. In this vein, I know a few of my LJ friends and acquaintances' mailing addresses, but if you would enjoy receiving a home-made photo-of-nature-on-construction-paper-or-corrugated-plastic holiday card or a personalized poem or some such, please drop me a comment or an e mail (gurdonark@aol.com), and I'll be happy to send you one.

B. Minimize my own holiday gift wish list for my family down to things that will be easy to find, and not particularly extravagant. In particular, I will actually provide ideas rather than the oh-so-precious "I don't need anything", to avoid placing those who normally give me gifts into the position of fretting. At the same time, my gift requests will be simple, easy, and non-extravagant.

C. Try to figure out a few small non-profits to which to donate small sums I might otherwise spend frivolously. Here, too, if someone knows of some that might be overlooked, my mind always runs in favor of small rather than large folks;

D. Try to make at least a few of the gifts I give, and try to select gifts for others which will delight with their thoughtfulness rather than impress in any more material way.

My "outgoing wish" list is not particularly clever--I know scads of people who do this more effectively than I do every year. But I realize as time moves on that we cannot "combat" the commercialization of the holidays. We can only confront the way we individually choose to live during the holidays.

We don't all share the same belief structures, and we don't all share the same values. I'm frankly as bored of the bashing of various faiths and skepticisms which seem to accompany the holiday season as I am of the absurdities of the hypocrisies that seem to arise in this time.

But my low tech poll is this: Who can tell me ways to make the holiday season more meaningful?

Comments

[microbie.livejournal.com]

...stepping on soapbox...
Buy local, or at least avoid buying items made in sweatshop countries.
Give recipes, favorite gifts of mine to receive.

Make mix tapes (or CDs) for gifts.

Minimize wrapping, or choose recyclable or reusable wrapping materials.

I like to write poems on construction paper with crayons or colored markers and use the paper to wrap gifts.

For people who live nearby, plan projects together: for example, plan to explore the Kimball museum a few times in 2003. Set up dates and everything.

...end of soapbox...

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I love all those suggestions, except that I am not one to make mix tapes or CDs of other folks' material! The Kimball would be fun in a group. What a great museum!

[marstokyo.livejournal.com]

You don't see any difference in the level of commercialization of Christmas say in the 1960's and present? Well, it's true you can only pack SO many commercials into an hour of television-- but did you know that amount increased dramatically during the Reagan administration and has steadily climbed higher? The F.C.C. actually used to regulate the broadcast industry in some pretty good ways by limiting the number and length of commercials within an hour of broadcast time. Cable changed everything too. It's true there actually ARE more ads on TV than there were back then--and sure-- Thanksgiving til NewYears is going to be mostly all Christmas promotions. But now it's the whole month of November-- it doesn't start just AFTER thanksgiving. It starts after Halloween. Beginning with store decorations--extending to advertising.
If you look at the plethora of *Christmas feature length films* that have come out in the past 10 years, you'll also have to agree that now there is a whole genre and market for Christmas films (the advent of video changed that)- When I was little they didn't even show It's a Wonderful Life-- the Christmas movies were Miracle on 34th St. and A Christmas Carol--and they'd show them Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and that was IT. Oh and maybe that animation on TV with Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer which I think came out too late for my interest. But really, we didn't have Peanuts Christmas Specials, we didn't have Tim Allen and the umpteenth Santa Claus or all the other stupid clone movies with no plot, crappy writing, and cheap production values, made so they can clean up in the discount video market.
Yeah, I'd have to say, there actually is a heck of a lot MORE of this stuff getting shoved in our faces NOW than there was when I was growing up in the 60's. Minute for minute, we're bombarded far more often with sales messages than we ever were.

Your question is an excellent on-- and in truth-- the only one that really matters when it comes right down to it-- How to make Christmas meaningful? Maybe from now until Christmas-- decide to do, at least once a day, something that you normally wouldn't do to help someone else. There are opportunities all around us--sometimes just giving a friendly greeting to someone when you otherwise would be silent can make a difference in that person's day. If you want something bigger, volunteer somewhere that needs volunteers. Make something little.. and stand out on a street corner and give them away for free.. I don't know.. maybe you already do all these things anyway... you've always struck me as a very thoughtful and caring person.

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I think it is more commercial now, but that it has always been quite commercial. I think that disposable income is up for a lot of people, and hence commercialism is up.

I love that "do one nice thing" suggestion. A good way to have a 365 day holiday season.

One idea:

[salaryman.livejournal.com]

Sing with friends.

Re: One idea:

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

That's one I like. I think that people in general should sing together.

[nacowafer.livejournal.com]

I think all your ideas sound rather lovely. Last year we made the majority of our gifts (mostly edible) and I was really so touched by the reaction. We traded handmade treats with koffe and 515 and effiemay and her P. It was really so nice. We're doing it again this year. Our families really appreciated everything, too. I, of course, had much grander plans than were realized and couldn't resist buying a few books and fun trinkets to throw in the baskets. If you look back at my journal for last year, you may also see that I was frustrated with some of the baking (as you might expect). But that only meant there was a little blood, sweat, and tears in there as well.

I wish I was better about correspondence. It's so nice to get a holiday card with an actual message in it, not just a signature.

I'm quite sure you will have a lovely holiday.

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I am trying to remember if I posted the entry about the time I won last place in a bake-off with my green gingerbread men. Note to posterity: cloves in this context meant "ground cloves", not "whole cloves" and "yes, Virginia, there really is a coloration difference when one uses maple syrup instead of molasses".
I do remember that biting on a whole clove was a lot like having
an entire packet of doublemint gum explode in one's mouth like plastique. Hmm....that imagery displeases me, somehow.

I like the idea of writing something real in my cards. I think I'll give that a try. Thanks!

[laruth.livejournal.com]

But my low tech poll is this: Who can tell me ways to make the holiday season more meaningful?

Gather the family around, everyone brings a dish and eat! A family that eats togther stays together.

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

Great idea, especially as eating together is real family specialty in my family!

[rose-queen.livejournal.com]

Each year we go to The Nutcracker with our daughters and then out to dinner. There are few occasions each year when we are all dressed in our finest at the same time.

We go on drives to see Christmas lights - complete with holiday music. Most of the time Mike and I go alone, as we enjoy the quiet time together. But once or twice each year we take the girls too. That's not as easy to schedule now that they are grown up.

I have a vast library of Christmas music so I make CDs for anyone who needs some - whatever they enjoy.

I make handmade porcelain ornaments and give one to each person I know each year.

We have a few evenings together to watch the old Christmas specials - White Christmas, Rudolph, etc.

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

We love to drive around and look at light displays, too. I'm impressed by this porcelain ornament idea--certainly, that's beyond my skill set, but what a neat idea.

[gregwest98.livejournal.com]

I guess it depends. Do you *like* all the Christmas trappings like lights and special music? If so, well, hit the road and attend the local holiday music things. Drive around with friends and check out the lights. The churches are full of them. If you are annoyed by carols and all that, well, I'd say you're S.O.L.

Avoid the shopping centers like the plague.

Spend time with family. If they ask you what you want for a gift, send them an Amazon Wish list. That makes it really easy on them; unless of course they turn out to be one of those perverted souls that just likes to go shopping.

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I do love church musicals, particularly when they do more traditional hymns. I've never yet created an amazon wish list. Maybe I should try one this year :)

hi Robert

[nancyjane.livejournal.com]

your list sounds great, but it also sounds like you put a lot of pressure on yourself.

I spent Thanksgiving with family, including my 3 year old nephew. At the table before eating we all said a little something about what we were thankful for and raised a toast... no one pressured the young kids into saying anything, but the question was proposed rather off hand to my nephew who looked like he was going to burst with something to say.

So his father, asked him, Aidan what are you most thankful for? and he basically shouted with excitement MYSELF !! and was very proud of his answer. All us adults just automatically kind of let out a little laugh, mine was probably the loudest. Just sounded funny you know someone thankful for his or her self the most. But the joke's on me really, as I thought about it some more...

My advice to you on making Christmas more meaningful would be as follows: be good to yourself this Christmas season and always, Robert. Don't measure your deeds and actions only by the occurence of holidays, don't measure you life only by your accomplishments and growth. Enjoy the benevolent energy and joy of the season and let it come to you, and accept it, don't disregard your deservingness based on your wealth or your ability to do without for the sake of someone else "who really needs it."

I think your Christmas goals are enlightened and well-meaning, and I expect that they bring you joy as well... (i hope so !) but to add to that joy, don't forget you couldn't experience any of it at all without being you. And you deserve all the credit for that.

I know you already know these things but i didn't see mention of it in your list. :) .

Re: hi Robert

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

Hi. Good to hear from you. That is a thoughtful answer to my question. Thanks!

[serendipoz.livejournal.com]

What a thoughtful and joyful set of ideas -

But my low tech poll is this: Who can tell me ways to make the holiday season more meaningful?

Things I have done in the past:

1) Sing carols with choirs in nursing homes, hospitals, etc.

2) Drive elderly to Christmas dinners at Churches. (I've driven for Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, I don't know who is available in your area.) Alternately you could cook for them!

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

Those are two great suggestions! Thanks for sharing them.

[mockinggreylock.livejournal.com]

I'm sure I am not the only kid who wished to live on the island of misfit toys, nor the only adult who feels that my wish was somehow abundantly granted.
Yes! Me too :)

Make the holiday season more meaningful? Simply choose to perceive it as such. I find that being grateful for my time, thankful for my life as it is, has lead me to become more generous with my time, and myself. It works the other way around too, methinks. Of course, this would naturally extend past the holiday season, but in this season, random strangers (and friends) are less suspicious of overtly kind acts, which makes it much easier.

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I completely agree that it is in some measure how one defines the problem--the perception thing. Good points, all!

[blossom-jo.livejournal.com]

This Christmas I am putting more effort into creating a wonderful, wecoming, loving and joyous space in my home than I am on pressies. Candles and storytelling are ways of doing this. We are also welcoming our family, friends and whoever else wiskes to come over for Christmas Eve to share food, laughter and company. I am (if stage fright does not over come me) going to read "twas the night before Christmas" to everyone.

Jo XXX

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

What a great idea. During Thanksgiving, my mother gathered around some of her grandchildren and read "The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever"....