“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more!”
– Dr. Seuss
Had enough yet?
First, there was Black Friday. Then came Gray Saturday, Savers’ Sunday, Cyber Monday and Puce Tuesday. By the second weekend in December, you’re black and blue – and there’s how many shopping days left until Christmas?
If you’re tired of the shop-till-you-drop rat race – if you find it unfulfilling or see it as a gratuitous drain on the environment – don’t despair. There are plenty of ways to have a happy, meaningful and memorable holiday season without getting on the consume-the-latest-fads bandwagon.
To enjoy a richer holiday season, you’ll probably need to deprogram the kids in your life. After all, “Christmas is for kids,” as the saying goes, and of course, you’ll want them to be excited by the holiday experience. But often their expectation for heaps of material goods has been raised by marketers to the point where they think that gifts – and more gifts and more gifts – are the whole point of the holidays.
How can you counter these expectations? As spiritual leaders have known for millennia, the best antidote to avarice is the promise of a higher reward. And while such abstractions would be lost on little ones bent on tearing open their presents as fast as they can, keep in mind that what your kids really crave is your love and attention – gifts are merely symbols of that, and hollow symbols, indeed, if the attention isn’t forthcoming.
So what would happen if your kids found fewer packages under the tree, but one of them contained a “gift certificate” that entitled its bearer to do something special with you? Would they be disappointed?
Think back to your own childhood. I know that I remember few of the trendy toys I got for Christmas, but I sure remember the times my dad took a break from his busy medical practice to spend time with me. Kids can learn to appreciate the real meaning of the holidays if we take the time to teach them.
Another path to a gratifying Christmas is volunteering to help people in need. Your presence can warm the hearts of the poor, elderly or sick, as well as your own. It’s great if you have a talent such as singing or storytelling to share, but the important thing is to be there at the darkest time of the year – to help usher in the light.
Of course, there’s also a legitimate material side to the holidays; gift giving goes back centuries. But there is materialism and there is materialism. You can buy mass-marketed, ephemeral stuff or thoughtful, quality gifts from artisans and local merchants. The former erodes the true spirit of the holidays; the latter generates employment and wealth in your community.
Finally, remember to give yourself a gift – something special that will give you satisfaction for years to come. I just gave myself $50 I’d saved and donated it to a Philippine relief fund at our ecological house.
Philip S. Wenz, who grew up in Durango and Boulder, now lives in Corvallis, Ore., where he teaches and writes about environmental issues. Reach him via e-mail through his website, www.your-ecological-house.com.
