Seasonal reflections
This past Christmas was the last one I celebrated, it was a cross-over with my first Chanukah. It was easy to cope with the transition this time because Chanukah came in on the evening of 25 December. I went to my parents' home on 24th, and we had a pleasant family meal on both 24th and 25th. On the afternoon of 26th, we went to my fiancé's parents'. We got there in time for candle lighting and to give his (adorable) nephew and niece their Chanukah presents.
In all, the festive season was remarkable easy to cope with. Christmas is one of the main Christian festivals, and Chanukah one of the minor Jewish ones with little preparation. I felt a sense of relief that I didn't have to participate in the frenzied present buying that seems to grip most of London during the last months of the year. Even a friend who bought most of her gifts on the internet still had to brave Oxford Street (tip: much easier if you arrive as soon as the shops open and don't wait until lunchtime). When I did celebate Christmas I found it hard to remember and focus on the meaning of the festival, as all the shops and television channels seem to go overboard with hype which mostly revolves around spending money, drinking, and idealising family gatherings. This leads to people being left rather flat after the holiday period - as the Samaritans can prove, as they have much higher caller volumes over Christmas than any other period of the year.
This year, I didn't go to any Christmas parties (office or otherwise). I sent people "season's greetings" cards avoiding pictures of fat jolly men in red coats and reindeer. Mind you, I usually avoided those anyway and tried to stick to pictures of nativity scenes and snowy landscapes. It was a good time. I didn't eat too much. I didn't get hammered at parties. I didn't feel guilty because I was taking the commercial element and leaving the religious. I had some lovely time with my family and my future in-laws, and continued my unbroken record of failing to catch "The Sound Of Music". I listened to my fiancé's nephew and niece sing the Chanukah song (Ben used alternate wording for one rendition but still sung it beautifully when told!), and loved lighting the Chanukiah.
I enjoyed the lack of sensory-overload that usually accompanies this season. I'm not saying I did it perfectly, or that I don't enjoy time off work and the fact that everyone seems more pleasant at this time of year (except when you're diving for the same toy at Hamleys), and I'm also not saying that I'm some re-born Christmas-hater, but the mood of Chanukah matches the way I feel in myself at this time of year. I feel more in synch.
I read this site quite frequently and think he summarises some of my feelings eloquently.
In all, the festive season was remarkable easy to cope with. Christmas is one of the main Christian festivals, and Chanukah one of the minor Jewish ones with little preparation. I felt a sense of relief that I didn't have to participate in the frenzied present buying that seems to grip most of London during the last months of the year. Even a friend who bought most of her gifts on the internet still had to brave Oxford Street (tip: much easier if you arrive as soon as the shops open and don't wait until lunchtime). When I did celebate Christmas I found it hard to remember and focus on the meaning of the festival, as all the shops and television channels seem to go overboard with hype which mostly revolves around spending money, drinking, and idealising family gatherings. This leads to people being left rather flat after the holiday period - as the Samaritans can prove, as they have much higher caller volumes over Christmas than any other period of the year.
This year, I didn't go to any Christmas parties (office or otherwise). I sent people "season's greetings" cards avoiding pictures of fat jolly men in red coats and reindeer. Mind you, I usually avoided those anyway and tried to stick to pictures of nativity scenes and snowy landscapes. It was a good time. I didn't eat too much. I didn't get hammered at parties. I didn't feel guilty because I was taking the commercial element and leaving the religious. I had some lovely time with my family and my future in-laws, and continued my unbroken record of failing to catch "The Sound Of Music". I listened to my fiancé's nephew and niece sing the Chanukah song (Ben used alternate wording for one rendition but still sung it beautifully when told!), and loved lighting the Chanukiah.
I enjoyed the lack of sensory-overload that usually accompanies this season. I'm not saying I did it perfectly, or that I don't enjoy time off work and the fact that everyone seems more pleasant at this time of year (except when you're diving for the same toy at Hamleys), and I'm also not saying that I'm some re-born Christmas-hater, but the mood of Chanukah matches the way I feel in myself at this time of year. I feel more in synch.
I read this site quite frequently and think he summarises some of my feelings eloquently.
posted by Chaya at 4:37 pm
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