Midweek Musings: Finding Meaning in Christmas

For a while now, I have been thinking about Christmas. Not about what presents to buy or anything like that. More about what it actually means to us, to me, and how we celebrate the occasion in our little home.

You see, I'm having trouble with it, to be honest. When I think about it, it really makes no sense. In fact a lot of things in Australia make no sense, when you consider that they are traditions from the Northern Hemisphere and we are all backwards and upside down, down here. You know? I mean, we're not backwards really (although from the current government elected by the people of this country, you could argue that point), but really - we celebrate Easter in autumn, and Halloween in spring, and surely these traditions are related to the seasons, yes? Hang on a sec, why do we even celebrate Halloween here? When I was growing up, it was barely heard of, and now it seems like any other major spend-money-on-stuff-you-don't-need occasion. 

And then there's Christmas. From what I can see of the mainstream, it's basically a jab in the arm for the economy. There's plastic trash piling up in shops, toys for kids and adults alike, tonnes and tonnes of junk that people don't need, and that will soon enough be discarded. But it's there to serve a purpose - so that you can spend money and give someone a gift at Christmas. Ok so not everything you might buy as a gift is junk, but I tell you what, when I flick through the catalogues that are hurled at our house (which reminds me, we must put that 'no junk mail' sign up…), but when I flick through them, mostly to see how the other half lives, I simply cannot fathom the amount of crap that the shops are selling.

So what is Christmas all about? We're not religious, and although I'm sure there was once upon a time a dude named Jesus who was all about love and peace and forgiveness (have I got that right?), I think many a tall tale has been spun in the name of religion. And I tend to think that religion, at it's core, is more about power and control than it is about any spiritual practice. No doubt I will offend people in saying that, but I cannot help but see through the tales and the lies. Perhaps it was my family upbringing that has instilled a disdain for the formal religion (my mother was a nun and got out, my father was almost certainly abused under the Catholic system). I don't know. I am most definitely a spiritual person, but organised religion… not my thing.

Anyway, back to the Christmas conundrum. I think for me, true meaning harks back to pre-Christian times, before the manipulation of seasonal celebrations and traditions, when celebrations were based on the earth and the seasons. But I know very little about these celebrations and traditions. And there are aspects to the festive season that I love: the winding down and bringing the year to a close, the sense of excitement, the giving and sharing, the food. So I'm not anti-gift-giving, by any means. I just have a preference for simple, thoughtful, (edible, seasonal, local), don't-cost-the-earth kind of gifts. And in moderation. Surely there are better ways we can show someone that we love them than to shower them with cheap crap?

I want my little boy to experience the joy of Christmas. I want to spend time making yummy seasonal treats, our own little traditions in this house, and the excitement of putting up the Christmas tree, and waking up to some gifts on Christmas morning. I want to make a pavlova to eat for dessert after the Christmas lunch. I want to spend time with close family. I want us to enjoy each other's company.

I do not want to feel an obligation to travel here, there and everywhere to see different people around Christmas time. I do not want to feel pressured to buy presents for people that I barely see during the year. I do not want to come away from the whole thing feeling like my boundaries have been completely trampled by well-meaning but not necessarily thoughtful folk.

So I don't really know. How do I explain to my little one why we put up a Christmas tree, when I can't really tell you myself? What about this little fat man that supposedly comes down the chimney with a sack full of presents? I know my husband isn't keen on that idea, and to be honest, I don't think I am either. I guess like everything in our life, we walk our own path, somewhere to the left of mainstream, and work it out as we go. And I remember the line I've read for a few years now on some of my favourite simple living blogs about gifts - something you want, something you need, something to read. I like that. I think it captures the essence of gift giving, without being excessive or over the top, and directs the gift buying (or making) towards meaningful things.

Tell me, what are your favourite Christmas traditions? What does Christmas mean to you?