December is the time for family, shopping, baking, and the anticipation of presents on Christmas. Or that is what the TV ads portray about Christmas.
Christmas is one day on the calendar, yet November and December is all about Christmas. Have you noticed that Merry Christmas is coming back after the years of the “politically correct” Happy Holidays?
Christmas has become a season rather than a day. Is it because retail and now online sales push us to consume more and more? Have you noticed how “Christmas” decorations have spilled over into clothes, hats, socks, dishes, towels and every decorative item imaginable? More things to buy. I will admit I am no exception. I have Christmas earrings, sweater vest and tops also. The photo gives you a sample of the decorating that is done on the package shelves next to our apartment doors. Mine is decorated too.
Do you remember a simpler time? We had a tree and some limited decorations growing up but nothing like we see today. We moved to simpler decorations with our last move and with my need to have less “stuff.” I have reduced the decoration to one big bin, a 4 ½ foot tree and two shoebox size containers. The holly embrodiered guest towels and Santa Claus soaps are gone. The Spode Christmas dishes are gone, but I kept the red tartan dishes that my sister gave us as a housewarming present years ago.
I have been thinking more about the Advent season this year and what it means. It is a time of waiting and anticipation. Although we enjoy the parties and get-togethers, it is also a time for some quiet and reflection. It is so easy to get caught up with the “stuff” and the busyness of the buying, wrapping, and mailing the “stuff,” that we lose sight of what Christmas is all about. To me as a Christian, it is the Nativity of Jesus. So let us find out own meaning in the days approaching the 25th, Christmas.