At this time of year there is an expectation that I’ll write something seasonal, offering words of wisdom about the Christmas festivities.
For those of you who enjoy Christmas, I sincerely wish you well. Have a great one.
But I was raised in a family of free-thinkers and was done with Christmas by the time I was ten. My brother and I stopped giving gifts to each other at that point and started exchanging envelopes of money instead. We saw through all the commercialism, opted out of the stress of Christmas shopping, and took this mutually agreed-to shortcut. The big excitement on Christmas Day then became discovering whether each of us had matched the amount of money given, or would end up in profit or out of pocket. We developed it to a fine art, it must be said.
I also remember with great fondness the twenty Christmas-free years when I lived in Bali, which is mostly Hindu, so they don’t celebrate Christmas at all. None of the friends I had there or anywhere else in the world expected a card, gift or even a festive greeting from me then, and I have let this continue since moving back to the West. Friends tell me this is a merciful relief. What the heck do you give to someone who’s a clutter clearing expert, after all? It’s almost certain to end up in the recycling bin.
I’m fortunate to have married a man who feels exactly the same way, so Christmas in our house is a non-event. My family, his family, and all our friends know that we love them, but they don’t expect us to play the commercial game. And it works absolutely fine.
For anyone reading this who would like to know more, here’s an article I wrote that explains how to broach the topic of not giving gifts, to gradually ease people in:
A different approach to giving and receiving gifts
Related articles
What to do with unwanted gifts
Christmas decorations clutter
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Copyright © Clear Space Living Ltd 2016
I really like this post, Karen. My husband and I moved overseas for three years for my job. We didn’t fly back home for Christmas, however, we sent a box to our immediate family of consummables–teas, soaps, etc. Nothing cluttery and just small quantities. Although we were not exchanging gifts we felt good to send something small to family, and this was greatly reduced from what we had done previously and felt so freeing.
My husband and I did not exhange gifts and instead we took great trips over the Christmas holidays. We admired the lights and music associated with the holidays, however, we weren’t caught-up in the frenzy. And surprisingly, we didn’t really miss the obligations of Christmas time at home.
Before we moved house we sold two large artificial Christmas trees. Although I am not ready to completely give up Christmas, when we return home my decorating efforts will be limited to fresh wreaths on the doors (rather than to store artificial wreaths from year to year in a yucky crawl space that smells funny), a few ceramic houses from Germany on the mantel with lights, and a tiny tabletop ceramic tree that lights-up.
When you stop ‘doing Christmas’ it gives you the gift of observing the holiday from the outside looking in and recognizing the absurdity of it. Those who celebrate the religious aspect of Christmas may go to church and have a nice dinner, but all the other craziness with spending and overindulging is not part of the spiritual aspect of Christmas–that is commercial and can be given up with glee.
You make a great point about canceling out the commercialization part of Christmas. But what about reminding your readers to replace it with acts of peace, love, spirituality and celebration? Even if you are not a Christian, Jesus’ mission to spread these things among humankind is a great thing to remember and practice all year long, but Christmastime offers a nice yearly reminder. One of your main clutter clearing messages is to get rid of the old that is weighing you down so you can make room for something new/positive. Why not do the same at Christmas?
thanks for your second paragraph! Right now I am waiting for my grandchildren to come over to eat and unwrap their presents. Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are very exciting for me!