We aren't a religious family but we look upon the festive season as something to focus on during dark, cold times before Spring. As generations before us, Cameron and I suffer quite badly with the seasonal blues and so make an strong effort to invest in our happiness during that time.
Like everyone else, I get disheartened by the commercialism that comes with Christmas nowadays but I don't believe you have to buy into it. I guess that's easier said than done depending on how much media/advertising you have in your life.
Of course, we love presents as much as the next person but it isn't all about that for us.
I get cross with people who are annually grumpy about the whole experience but continue along the same path - I got disillusioned about Christmas around 2006 and decided to change things so that it suited us better - afterall, childhood innocence is so fleeting. I wanted to make sure I sprinkled some Christmas magic into Cameron's memories before it was too late and cynical conversation around the telly, next to a fibre optic tree wasn't quite what I had in mind (no offence intended to my family!).
My view is that celebrating Christmas is not mandatory - if you don't like it, change it or opt out. Many people in our own family get grumpy about Christmas, and that's fine for them, but I insist that if people want to be included in our plans or visit then they keep their grumpiness and cynicism to themselves because we find it unnecessary, it doesn't achieve anything and it spoils an important time for us (rant over!).
For us, the approach of Christmas is punctuated with a series of activities and traditions, on a slow boil from mid-autumn, building up anticipation for a Winterval, if you will - a time to celebrate, indulge in festive foods, enjoy each others company, exchange home made (and thoughtfully bought) presents, decorate the house, dance and sing to songs you can't get away with at any other time of the year and generally be merry. So, I just wanted to say that, if at any time our festive arrangements seem a little OTT to you, just know that we are investing in joy for the Winter months and (hopefully) some magical childhood memories that may be carried down to other generations.
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We began that investment when we made our Christmas cake this week, so that it can have time to mature. I thought we were really late making it compared to our usual routine but I checked back in the blog archive and last year it was November 7th!
We use the same recipe each year - one I devised in 2005 just by experimenting and worked out very well. We make a very small cake because we are a very small family and the cake often gets forgotten about until the abundance of festive chocolate and home baked cookies has gone, by which time we are usually craving salad and a jog around the park! I think I enjoy the process of making the cake more than the eating part but this means that even if the birds end up eating it, we've all gained something from the experience.
7 comments:
I couldn't agree more with that post!! We are going about it a very similar way. This year we did our own mincemeat. I'm not a huge fan of the cake--but if your recipe is for a small cake--can I have it? We would never be able to eat a regular one. I don't like the icing, but M and the kids do--so maybe I'll give it a go.
You have to create your own fun & wonder in life! Why spread grumpiness when a smile is so much more fun!
Really inspiring, thank you Hannah, and makes perfect sense!
I am some way from where you are Hannah but would love to get there. 20 years ago we decided the day would be a family day and have stuck to that and it has generally been an enjoyable day although complications have arisen in the shape of a son in law and my eldest now stresses about pressures to share her time which hopefully she will successfully resolve.
But the lead up - I moan and groan with the best, I am still involved in family events that do not add much joy to our lives and I am hopelessly disorganized so any pleasure in the build up is usually destroyed by that.
I have SAD too and a family of five at home makes it a struggle although we are now four for the uni terms and i have yet to see what difference that will make.
Anyway ramble over, i will try to bear this post in mind this coming lead up to Christmas and try to get myself into that better place, thank you.
Thanks for your comments ladies :o)
Elizabeth - you are welcome to my recipe. Give me a nudge if I don't send you it by the end of the weekend.
Come on over to my place, its all about Christmas and not the commerical side of things for us too!
I will definitely check your blog out Pippa - thanks for visiting :o)
Just found this blog post.
I completely agree with your mindset. Christmas isn't an uncontrollable force that happens to people. It's something you choose to participate in, to the extent that you choose to do so.
Your Christmases sound awesome. :)
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