For those of us living in Australia, Christmas is a flurry of hot bright sunshine, summer holidays, busy air-conditioned shopping centres and Christmas light filled streets where homes vie with each other to present the brightest display.
And the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas heighten the anticipation of wonder and joy for small children barely able to lisp full sentences. Christmas carol events where plastic sticks that glow in the dark are waved (no longer the smell of wax candles flickering in the dark) and well-known words evoke images of joy and peace.
And then the anticipated delight of gathering with generations of family to create happy dashes of memory for our loved ones. These ideals fuel our rush to 'do' Christmas.
Wrapping paper and Christmas trees, wish lists and Christmas decorations. Christmas lunch menus. Will we do a cold lunch of seafood or a 'traditional' roast turkey? Who's turn is it to host Christmas lunch this year? Will we give individual gifts or do a Chris Kringle with one gift bought by an allocated purchaser for each guest? And we're running out of time with Christmas coming up quickly. Oh the rush, rush, rush that leaves us frazzled at the edges!!
And for many, Christmas evokes memories of loved ones lost too soon, of sadness and unfulfilled expectations of past Christmases with memories of anxiety fuelled family gatherings.
Christmas blurred beneath family tensions that have festered from year to year. Or lonely Christmases endured with stoic determination to 'not care'; that this is just one day like any other.
But, what if we stopped for a moment and deliberately took time to re-think Christmas.
Just as there is a movement for slow food and flowers that are seasonal, grown with care and enjoyed with delight and appreciation ..
what if we created a slow Christmas?
Perhaps ...
hung in a window casting a softer hue over Christmas preparations.
Lights that last from year to year without the need to be replaced annually.
A wrapped gift (shopped for with our children) placed under a communal Christmas tree for those who wouldn't otherwise have gifts at Christmas.
A gift that signifies the sharing of our bounty with others less fortunate.
A live Christmas tree selected and purchased after an outing visiting a Christmas tree farm, or at the markets where cut trees are sold.
Decorated with ornaments handed down. And the smell of fresh pine filling the house with scents of Christmas.
Christmas carols playing in the background sounding pastoral scenes of babes in mangers (and with all other screens turned off!!).
Christmas food ordered weeks ahead of Christmas, to stave off that last minute panic of what to have for lunch.
And an heirloom recipe re-created for new generations.
Fresh flowers given as a gift and infusing a room with perfume, replacing a cheap, plastic centrepiece.
Gifts hand-crafted with care and who's purchase supports local artisans; unique and individual gifts.
Christmas cards hand delivered to neighbours seen only in passing throughout the year.
Gathering foliage and flowers from the garden (or friendly neighbours' gardens) to hand-craft a fresh seasonal display heralding Christmas.
Inviting grandparents (or videoing) to share in small children's delight at opening presents from Santa!
Ah, the sweetness of creating little traditions that signify Christmas unique to you and yours each year.
Traditions of simplicity and delight, of thankfulness .. and even remembrance of the sadness of Christmases past.
Because in Australia, we are blessed beyond counting with freedom to enjoy Christmas in many varied ways, with traditions gleaned from other cultures and generations.
And to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas in a way that has intentional and personal meaning.
May you have a wonder filled and meaningful Christmas.
No comments:
Post a Comment