Interesting how different times of the year have a different feel to them. For millennia, most of the Western world has built its schedules around agriculture, with planting and harvest defining what would be done when. I would argue that now, in the United States at least, the school schedule tends to dictate things. Maybe I feel that way because I live in a town with three universities, but it seems like most of us find summer to be a logical time for vacations, and the fall has a certain sense of newness to it.
Whatever the case, the holiday season is a special time. For some it’s especially bad, with memories of loved ones who are no longer with them or with exacerbated feelings of loneliness as they see others enjoying the holidays. Some people have unpleasant anniversaries at this time of year, a remembrance of a past hurt.
I like the holidays. I like the music. I like the foods. I enjoy the sporting events. Above all, I enjoy time with family.
We usually go to my parents’ house for Thanksgiving. Even though they live within an easy drive from us, we don’t seem to get over there very often. My sister who lives in the Ft. Worth area usually comes, with some of her family. As our kids get older, schedules get more and more complicated.
Christmas Eve is usually spent with my mother-in-law. In Argentina, Christmas Eve is much more important than Christmas Day; people gather for a meal and stay up until midnight. There are lots of fireworks throughout the evening, with midnight becoming a chaos of explosions and light. We don’t do fireworks in Abilene nor do we usually stay up until midnight, but we enjoy that time with her.
On Christmas Day, we usually drive to San Angelo to my parents’ house. Both of my sisters are usually able to come, along with their families. The house is packed to the brim, but it’s quite an enjoyable time.
We don’t tend to do much for New Year’s. In Argentina, the celebration is very similar to that of Christmas Eve. For the Archers in Abilene, it is usually a much quieter affair.
What about you? Are the holidays good for you? How do you typically spend them? Any unusual traditions in your family?
The holidays are wonderful for me – I used to be pretty arrogant and cynical and intellectual about them.
“Who needs holidays? we’re supposed to love each other every day.”
“Why only celebrate your love for someone once a year?”
“Shouldn’t we be thankful every day?”
“Jesus wasn’t born in the winter.”
“Shepherds don’t keep their flocks in the fields at night in wintertime.”
“Dec 25 is a pagan holiday.”
etc etc, ad infinitum et nauseum
As God has reshaped me, and the kingdom dream has caught on in my heart, I see Christmas as a bit of spiritual conquest, where what once was a pagan holiday has been transformed (mostly) to glorify the King of Kings. I’m ready to take aim on Halloween now!
Thanksgiving is still my favorite, though, b/c of the gentler, less hectic aura surrounding it. I think thanksgiving was at the heart of most of the ancient Israelite festivals, and while I’m still a recovering legalist, I’ve finally accepted that God loves being celebrated, and loves to celebrate with us.
Nick, I am glad your no longer cynical about holidays. Your absolutely right when it comes to the pagans. The church had to either eradicate them by the sword or force them into the flock and as a result had to compromise taking in Isis for Easter. I think if you study your history the queen of heaven is also pagan. The catholics took it for mary, and finally the winter solstice being Christmas. Oh well, The kingdom, King of kings and new Jeruselem, well that is another issue altogether. No need to bring that up cause I know we wont see eye to eye…….BTW enjoy the holidays
With all the good memories I had of Christmas growing up it would seem like a hard thing to leave behind. But in my experience it wasn’t all that hard and haven’t really missed it in the past 25 years. The Lord is sweeter than ever before. I’ve even experienced the Lord in learning how to respond to “Merry Christmasses” in a Jesusly human way. People need Jesus.