Simplefying the Holidays

[jessmarimba]

One of the holiday traditions around where I live, that I like, is that people only use white Christmas lights, and there are no gaudy displays of anything on lawns. This seems to be a tradition in the "historical/colonial" towns west of Boston. It's very pretty, especially when there is snow. But, outside of this area, you see the huge displays. You know, the ones where people go to "visit" the lights and block traffic for miles?

I tried using just white lights - it's hard than you'd think, now. I use LEDs, chose "cool white" (because there are different colors of "white") and all the same brand - and they're STILL three different colors. My fence is almost purple, except for the last 20 feet which are more bluish (an extra small string to reach the end) and the lights on the roofline are much whiter. The house across the street also used white, and their lights are a different "cool" white than mine.

[Owlie]

I like the cool white ones outside, but I much prefer the warmth of the little incandescent ones inside...

We used to drive around and look at the lights in the wealthier neighborhood down the street, before the recession hit. They did (or hired people to do) some nice, tasteful light displays.

[owlice]

Resolving to wake up in one's own bed on Christmas morning simplifies the holidays in all kinds of ways, especially if one has offspring.

Traditions I like and try to keep:

• eating white pizza at an Italian restaurant on December 23, with Christmas crackers and paper crowns for all (to wear during dinner in public, yes indeed!).
  
• making and giving (especially giving) candy cane reindeer. These are great little presents that let me give something to someone else but are so little that no one who receives one feels the need to give me anything back. I love that. So I make dozens of them (with a glue gun and tweezers, I can make 6 dozen in one evening with a few holiday specials on TV) and hand them out to coworkers, the cleaning staff at work, the people in the cafeteria... lots of people.
  
• going to a caroling party that started... 35? 36? years ago; some of the group are now grandparents and bringing their grandchildren to it. Children take turns ringing the doorbells, we sing, often in harmony and sometimes with accompaniment (guitar and/or recorder and/or percussion), and then after singing, we eat, talk, laugh.

One of the best holiday gatherings ever -- one we all still talk about -- was the ornament-making party with my friends. This had to have been ... 20 years ago? People brought all kinds of different things to use to make ornaments; the bag of shells one of the guys brought was a huge hit. Oh, the things people came up with; we laughed ourselves silly that night!! A four-legged starfish and snail shell became a trapeze artist whose trapeze had broken (yes! This is a Christmas ornament!), and I hang a small singer made out of a snail shell on my tree every year and smile, remembering that party.

I think if I were to try to build traditions now, the ornament-making party would be one to aim for, perhaps in odd-numbered years with some other kind of gathering -- caroling, perhaps -- in the even-numbered years.

[ny biker]

You know, I know that things get stressful, but I think many of you don't realize how lucky you are. If I resolved to wake up in my own bed on Christmas morning, it would mean I was spending the holiday alone, far away from everyone in my family.

Being invited to lots of parties means lots of people like you. So you have to dress up and act happy, boo hoo.

Even dealing with crowds at the stores is a good thing -- it means the economy is improving. For the past two Saturdays I've gone to a shopping mall that used to be a madhouse in the month of December. They even hire people to direct traffic in the parking area. But both days I've been there, there was no traffic, it was easy to find parking, and the stores were not that crowded. Frankly, it worries me.

Just be thankful that you have reasons to be busy and people to be busy for.

Peace on earth, good will towards men, etc.

[lph]

Just be thankful that you have reasons to be busy and people to be busy for.

Well said! I tend to stress out easily at social obligations, and can lose sight of the positive side of that. Thank you

[indysteel]

You know, I know that things get stressful, but I think many of you don't realize how lucky you are. If I resolved to wake up in my own bed on Christmas morning, it would mean I was spending the holiday alone, far away from everyone in my family.

Being invited to lots of parties means lots of people like you. So you have to dress up and act happy, boo hoo.

Even dealing with crowds at the stores is a good thing -- it means the economy is improving. For the past two Saturdays I've gone to a shopping mall that used to be a madhouse in the month of December. They even hire people to direct traffic in the parking area. But both days I've been there, there was no traffic, it was easy to find parking, and the stores were not that crowded. Frankly, it worries me.

Just be thankful that you have reasons to be busy and people to be busy for.

Peace on earth, good will towards men, etc.

I do appreciate what you're saying, but I'm not sure my own angst over the holidays has anything to do with not being appropriately grateful. The fact is that many people put ridiculous amounts of pressure on themselves and others during the holidays, and in so doing, sometimes miss the true spirit of the season. Obviously, some of the hassle of the holidays is worth it. I go out of my way to spend time with those I love; I venture to guess that most of us do. But some of the rest of it is just noise that I could do without.

I think the point of this thread was to discuss how to find balance during the season; to enjoy friends and family without feeling totally strung out in the process of shopping, baking, traveling, partying, decorating, etc., etc., I think that's a worthy discussion and one that doesn't make us into ingrates.