Exercise Love to Create Great Christmas Memories
Non-Wallet Draining Holiday Gifts and Wonder
June 26, 1870 is the official date when the United States declared Christmas to be a federal holiday. History’s official website reports that presently about 30-35 million live Christmas trees are sold in the United States alone each year. Some places of worship, like Greek and Russian orthodox churches, celebrate Christmas across a span of 10 or more days.
Christmas Celebrations Around the World
Christmas has been celebrated differently across the globe for hundreds of years. Some regions around the world acknowledge and celebrate the winter solstice rather than the religious holiday. According to History, Scandinavian Norse celebrated Yule from December 21 through January. Men would venture outdoors, carry home large logs and set them on fire. They believed that sparks from the flames would guarantee them a growing livestock.
Ancient Romans acknowledged winter solstice by honoring Saturn, who they believed to be the agricultural god. Citizens of Rome ate and drank festively for a month to celebrate Saturn. Slaves and masters switched roles during the month long celebrations. Financially wealthy Romans also celebrated Juvenalia.
Juvenalia recognized Mithra’s birthday. Mithra was thought to be the god of the unconquerable sun. Mithra was also thought to be have been born of a rock. The god’s birthday was celebrated on December 25. During the time that Juvenalia was celebrated, Mithra’s birth was thought to be the holiest of all holidays celebrated during the year.
Christmas Gift Giving in the United States
Much of the United States begins its winter holiday season with the celebration of Thanksgiving. Millions of people in the country acknowledge and celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Christ, on December 25. Gifts are bought and given to people including friends, colleagues and family members. The gift giving is akin to how the three wise men in the Bible are said to have bestowed gifts upon Christ when he was a newborn child laying in a manager in the East.
Over the years gift buying has helped to strengthen merchant and retailer balance sheets. Down economic markets like the down markets of 2007, 2008 and 2009 can put a damper on, but not stop, holiday gift buying.
In their October 20, 2008 “A Bleak First Look at Christmas Spending” article, Gallup reported that 35% of Americans would spend less on Christmas in 2008 than they did the previous year. Even with that change, the average American was expected to spend between $700 and $800 on Christmas gifts.
Wall Street’s Impact on Gift Giving
Stock markets have improved significantly in 2009 over 2008. Yet, many Americans continue to find themselves out of work. The trimming back that small, midsize and large companies have done throughout 2009 will undoubtedly have an impact on the holiday spending habits of the world’s citizens.
The good news is that people can celebrate Christmas and create strong memories during the holiday season without going into debt. By putting more of themselves into the holiday and the gifts that they exchange, adults can avoid going into debt and create warm and loving memories between themselves and the people that they give gifts to.
Hand crafted gifts, homemade video or audio recordings that are designed from the heart or a book of personal poems written with a particular person in mind are just a few gift ideas that people can incorporate into their Christmas gift giving. Another way to celebrate the holiday without going into financial debt is to set aside time to fully be with the people that one values.
The Gods of Christmas and the Need for Love
Put the Blackberry aside and move away from the computer on Christmas. Make it a day of dining, singing and playing games with family and friends. Share memories that were created earlier in the year with each other. For those who do prefer to purchase and give material gifts, consider putting a limit on the amount of money each person will spend on a single gift.
Forgive loved ones for past mistakes that they made and freely express and share love with one another. Doing so costs not even a cent and its impact last much longer than a material item. Focus on giving love this Christmas. Its energy will be remembered fondly for years to come, perhaps throughout the duration of someone’s life on earth.
Whether people celebrated agricultural, earthen or other gods during the winter solstice, it was the act of joining in festivities with other people that made the holiday grand. Although millions of people now celebrate Christmas to honor the birth of Jesus, the Christ, the importance and the value of giving and treasuring love during this time of year has not diminished. People can do this by creating hand crafted gifts, singing, dining and having fun together across families, friends, colleagues and the global citizenry at large. Give and bring love home this Christmas.
Sources:
- History. Christmas Fast Facts. 11 October 2009.
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