Gentle, faithful steps towards a simpler Christmas

[doni_georgia]

My pastor handed out these Advent calendars yesterday. This is from Simple Living. It has some really good ways to simplify Christmas. You can find it here on the simpleliving.org web site:

http://simpleliving.org/Archives/XB/XB2004AdvCal.html

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Good ideas

and not just for Christians. I donate to Refugees International on a regular basis. I didn't shop on Black Friday. I believe in spending quality time with loved ones. Thanks for the list.

[doni_georgia]

2. Exactly - I see these ideas as ways to fight commercialism in general

I loved that they had on there for one day in January to watch and listen to alternative news sources and actually listed Free Speech TV. We have tried for years to celebrate the spirit of love and giving at Christmas without all the commercialization. Isn't easy to do with three kids, but we are passing on some traditions with our children that we hope will shape who they are, and I am doing some of these things with my students as well.

For example, my class is decorating a tree on the playground the last day of school before winter break. We are decorating it with birdseed pinecones, popcorn, cranberries, etc. for the birds and squirrels. We are also providing Christmas dinner to a needy family (many of my students are usually the recipients of charity this time of year, so I feel this is really important for them to be on the giving end - they are REALLY excited about this). I am supplying the turkey and the kids are bringing in canned goods and other non-perishables to go with it.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. You are teaching them well

The Prophet Mohammed said that even the poorest of the poor could give something-a smile, a kind word, etc. It is important to teach children the beauty of charity. And thanks for remembering the birds!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. For one thing, Christmas doesn't start in November

My family celebrated Advent, and we usually didn't get our Christmas tree until about December 18 or so. My father was a Lutheran pastor, and he would not allow any Christmas carols in the church services until Christmas Eve, even though parishioners complained. However, in the church calendar, Christmas lasts until January 6, so we sang Christmas carols tilll then.

That's fine with me and always has been. I love the Advent hymns and all the customs associated with it (except for fasting, which the Lutherans never did anyway).

[doni_georgia]

5. Down here the stores had Christmas stuff up before Halloween

It's ridiculous. Now the stores are selling the pre-decorated trees - Give me a break! One of our traditions is decorating the tree. Each family member picks out ornaments that mean something to them to place on the tree. Our tree is a hodge podge of heirloom ornaments, ornaments my husband and I made as kids, ornaments our kids have made, and ornaments that have been given to us over the years as gifts. My husband and I always place the ornament that we got when we were married (an old fashioned house) on the tree, and then each child places the ornament they were given their first Christmas. When we are finished, the tree is truly a symbol of our family. It's not the most fashionable tree around, but to us it is beautiful and something we look forward to each year.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

6. What a great site. My family and I have been moving in this

direction for a while... there is lots of good stuff on there that will help out.