Comments on: The Meaning of Christmas

By: Victoria

Victoria — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:31:19 +0000

Very thought provoking, as usual. I was brought up going to Church, but stopped as soon as I was old enough to have the choice, which I know upset my Mum. Since I’ve had children, I’ve worried about this and questioned what I truly believe. I still believe that the point of Christmas is to celebrate Jesus’ birth, whether because you have faith or because it’s a beautiful story. But we’ve also celebrated the solstice this week with a candlelit tea party and indoor fireworks to chase away the night. I think as children get older, the whole thing gets easier, because they are naturally drawn to magic, so you can just go along with it. Plus, I love carols
.-= Victoria´s last blog ..Christmas tree, O Christmas tree =-.

By: geekymummy

geekymummy — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:28:15 +0000

what a lovely eloquent post. I have been pondering this very thought. With two children now it is very much about them, the sheer pleasure in giving them a bit of magic, and about much needed family time. I went through a phase when I worked in the lab on Christmas day and ate at a Chinese restaurant (only place open, a big contrast from the religious Christmas I grew up with. I always feel very nostalgic about Christmasses past, and very homesick for Britain this time of year.

By: Capital Mom

Capital Mom — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:36:33 +0000

I contemplated not celebrating Christmas a few years ao since we aren’t Christian and it always feels a bit weird. I mean, we don’t celebrate Hanukkah. Then I decided to celebrate Christmas as a secular holiday for family and part of the solstice. I have come to terms with it. But I’m still not sure about Santa.

By: Dad Who Writes

Dad Who Writes — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:03:52 +0000

This really is something one could write a whole blog about. My own spiritual..quest?…journey?..has taken a number of twists and turns but, you yourself, I’ve settled for careful interrogation for the moment, with a side order of mindfulness.

As for Xmas, it’s too tied up with religion for me to concern myself with it much. Supermum loves it and my own attitude (lets just say its not a family thing for me) caused a lot of conflict between us. Children arriving have made it a lot easier – its about them and about a couple of days we spend together as a family. Oh, and food. Unlikely any other relatives will turn up.

The solstice elements interest me but I’m cautious – I’ve had some tricky encounters in that area and Catholicism has taught me that I’m not a joiner.
.-= Dad Who Writes´s last blog ..What music did you first listen to? (Ritual and initiation) =-.

By: teamvaughan

teamvaughan — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:58:42 +0000

hmmmmmm, will have to have a good long thnk and come back to this. x

By: Liz (LivingwithKids)

Liz (LivingwithKids) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:49:57 +0000

For me it is definitely about being with the family this year. We don’t have much money at the moment so it’s not really about the presents. I do still love seeing the children’s faces light up when they receive their gifts, but for us it has never been a religious or even a spiritual time of year. It’s just an excuse to spend time together – and that’s alright by me. Thought-provoking post, Josie x

By: Heather

Heather — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:55:37 +0000

We are just getting to the point where the eldest at 3 is starting to understand Christmas (well, that family come and she gets presents) and it seem like such a relief. No more sitting around two adults and two very little children wondering what we are supposed to be doing, now there is a purpose to it all. I no longer feel like someone playing at this Christmas thing.

Out here the part of Christmas that makes the most sense to me is as a winter solstice. It is so ridiculously dark at this time of year that the idea of bringing extra light and some greenery into the home makes perfect sense(and what the original idea behind Christmas trees and decorations is all about), and so flipin’ cold that eating huge hearty meals, gathering around a roaring fire and or the TV is really the only thing you want to be doing anyway.

So I guess it all boils down to being with family, laughing, playing and eating and then eating some more and trying to stay out of the cold dark weather.
.-= Heather´s last blog ..The Finger Unveiled -not for the faint hearted. =-.

By: Amber

Amber — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 05:36:49 +0000

As my older child has gotten older, Christmas has definitely shifted to being all about her. It's great, really, it takes a lot of the pressure off. She's almost 5 this year, and at the height of magical thinking. She is enamoured of Christmas, and I am just riding her coat tails. It's really quite fabulous, I promise. .-= Amber´s last blog ..Ventriloquists are Fun =-.

By: april

april — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:21:59 +0000

My Christmas – used to be a lot like yours – having a mother who was first a devout member of CofE then a Priest made Christmas when I was little very firmly ensconsed in religion and routine. And I loved it. Then after Mum was ordained it became about loss and lonliness as she was so busy at Christmas, being an only child sucked then…
This year its about loss again as She and my Step Dad have headed off overseas to live, bringing up so many issues for me, but also allowing me to recconnect with family members who she didn’t really like which has been lovely. But this year I just have to hold on to doing this whole christmas thing for my babies, that I am making memories for them. Sorry about scattered post, yours dererved a much better response. Thank you for sharing. *hugs*
.-= april´s last blog ..The post of Many parts #1 – The Audition =-.

By: Carly (WivesandDaughters)

Carly (WivesandDaughters) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:37:09 +0000

I can really relate to this post. Christmas to me as a child was all about midnight mass, church and family time opening presents. Very warm and fond memories.

I have in the last 5 years embarked upon a real spiritual journey. I question everything. I no longer see Christmas as a Christian celebration (not to me anyway) and I much prefer to see it as a winter solstice (more in line with the Pagan roots perhaps). I follow Islam and so building Christmas into our family is somewhat against the norm but I wanted to because of the fond memories I have of it as a child.

This is BB’s first Christmas and I want her to be able to enjoy the lights and the tree’s and the presents but later on I want her to be able to make up her own mind about what it stands for. For me it is a time to reflect on family, not that we should need a set time, but hey us mummy’s are busy right and so setting dates becomes important