I hear so many people get down about the holidays. I can see why. It's gotten so silly with the fighting over the PC terms and paying 3 grand for an Elmo doll. But I came from a poor military family so the holidays rarely had anything to do with gifts. Its about the lights, and the music and the food and the fire and the family. It's about hot choclate and turkey and silly carold and music. It's about eggnog and that freaking AWESOME french vanilla whipped cream that they only put out once a year (what is up with that any ways?) It's about my grandmothers pies, and sitting in the living room at 5 am with nothing but the tree lights on. It about telling the silly stories that go along with each ornament that goes on the tree (Yeah I have a story for them all, I'm sad)
So what do the holidays mean to you (outside of religion and presents)?
2007-12-19 17:22:11 · 16 answers · asked by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Christmas used to be my favorite holiday -- it always meant going out on the christmas tree hunt in the pasture with dad taking it home and decorating it. Going to grandma's seeing the entire family together. Eating a huge dinner - hurrying to clean up so we could open presents. Scrambling over one another and opening gifts trying to outwait grandpa because he would never open his gifts until everyone else was through but never being able to out wait him. Seeing the star on mom's tree and the angel on grandma's tree. Being together.
Now I live 2000 miles from my family, grandma, grandpa, my uncle and aunt and dad have died. My children don't seem as interested in family time and getting together so I never know who or if any of them will show up.
SO --- I started my own traditions. I now go to a nursing home on christmas day. I take presents of fuzzy warm socks and lotion. I go to the alzheimer's wing and visit with patients that have no one to share Christmas with them. I help them open the present and I sing their favorite Christmas carol to them. I put the fuzzy socks on their feet and I rub their hands with lotion. They usually start singing with me.
I just got engaged (so recent I haven't even told anyone yet lol) so things will change, new traditions again. I will continue the nursing home visit - not sure if my fiance will go with me or not because he said it sounded to sad for him.
I guess to me -- Christmas is sharing and giving of yourself. A time to remember that we are not here alone, nor were we meant to be alone. To know what beauty this world would be if we could all put aside our differences and realize that this would be a wonderful peaceful world if everyday could be a day of sharing.
2007-12-20 00:52:37 · answer #1 · answered by Cinthia Round house kicking VT 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Spending time with the people I care about, namely family. Anyway, we can tell funny stories about previous holidays, drink eggnog/cider/hot cocoa, sing carols while in a circle around the tree, visit downtown where all the shops are decorated, seeing the twinkling lights from outside our house, and mainly celebrate all our little family traditions. We have this one tradition where we write each person's name on a piece of paper and draw one out of a hat. Then we write a poem for whoever's name we draw out. Also, we have this tradition where we make pudding. We put randomly select a bowl to put an almond in. Whoever's pudding has the almond, they will have good luck for the next year. Also, around New Years, we eat alot of black-eyed-peas (the food) because my mom says that they bring good luck. Ever since she was a little girl, her family would eat those peas around the holidays. Simple traditions like these make the holidays fun and special, aside from just the gifts. Volunteering around the holidays with a can-food drive or at an animal shelter will help people realize that it is far better to give than it is to recieve. Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukah! Wonderful Yule!Fabulous Kwanza!....and all the rest. :)
2007-12-20 12:36:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To be perfectly honest, without the religious significance of Yule, I wouldn't have anything to do with the holidays. They mean little more to me than pain and loneliness. Memories of what can never be regained, thoughts of what has never been possessed and dreams joy that are decimated by the reality of suffering. The PC thing doesn't mean anything to me (I'm about as UN-Pc as you can get) and I wouldn't have an Elmo doll if THEY paid ME grand. No, for me the holidays, what ever they may be, are nothing more than a reminder of days when my only pain was a skinned knee...not the GAPING HOLE where my heart and soul used to be.
2007-12-20 01:46:31 · answer #3 · answered by kveldulf_gondlir 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I know this may sound strange, but I feel a pang in my soul, an emptiness where once was Monroeville Mall's General Tso's Chicken. They used to have the best General Tso's in the world... seriously. It was so good. Just sweet enough, not too spicy. About 5 or 6 years ago they changed ownership and it hasn't been the same since. They also took away their sweet tea.
So for me, a little, the meaning of Christmas is good General Tso's.
2007-12-20 08:06:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Without the religious significance in yule it would simply be another day. Outside of that, I usuly wish I had a significant other in my life a little more often this time of year.
As for non-religious seasonal stuff, I do love the eggnog for my eggnog pancakes. Make normal bisquick pancakes, but instead of milk use eggnog. Best pancakes on earth.
2007-12-20 05:49:12 · answer #5 · answered by VickiGirl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Being together with my family - all 2 of them and our friends (more than 2). Aside from the religious stuff (which we love) - it is about the food, the good spirits (if you can get around being constantly broke and ENDLESS commercials), and good friends.
Making my cheesecake (with some secrets to it), Bert bringing the mead, Stewart telling us some story about his time in the military or as a dancer, Jackie getting Mom to laugh..... all of it.
2007-12-20 01:32:49 · answer #6 · answered by Aravah 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Family and Food.... lots and lots of Food! =) The gift part isn't a big thing for me anyway, except to give to the kids. Especially since I get to tease them for the week leading up to Christmas "I know what you got"
2007-12-20 07:15:41 · answer #7 · answered by River 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Family. My family is scattered across the country, but we all go to Mom's for the holidays and we get to see each other. My nieces (23, 19, and 15) all enjoy "going to Grandma's", and even post about looking forward to it on their MySpace pages.
2007-12-20 01:27:01 · answer #8 · answered by Nandina (Bunny Slipper Goddess) 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Out of my belief, nothing really.
Holiday IS about belief. I don't have family to speak of apart from dad who's a catholic (better not go there, believe me), I don't have friends, and my cat isn't very fond of celebrating Yule with me.
So I sit at home, bake Jul Brot for myself and try to have a little chat with any God who might feel inclined to hang around if he/she has nothing better to do. At least someone might *possibly* talk to me today.
Hooray...
2007-12-20 08:27:02 · answer #9 · answered by Ymmo the Heathen 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you answered your own question better than anyone else could. I personally don't celebrate any other "Holiday" during the month of December besides Christmas. So for me it is about the birth of my Lord and Savior cut and dried. I am certainly happy that this time of year means something special to you
2007-12-20 01:27:48 · answer #10 · answered by livigninchrist! 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋