Usually I see ads all over the place for ABC Family's 25 days of Christmas. This year they seem to be oddly abscent. The mainstay of this holiday programming block is the 10 or so classic Rankin Bass stop motion animated Christmas Specials including; "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty the Snowman," "The Little Drummer Boy," "A Year Without a Santa Clause," "Jack Frost," and many more... I own most of these on DVD b/c I love them so much, but I feel sad to not see them being broadcast this season. I think they might have showed "A Year Without a Santa Clause" (one of my personal favorites) one time last week, but usually these Christmas things are going non-stop on the Family Channel, Cartoon Network, and Nickelodean. Is it just me, or does anybody else miss seeing these tride and true family Christmas specials broadcast "en masse" during the month?
To me it just feels like something is missing, like another little piece of holiday tradition has dissolved, and it makes me sad, especially since my own personal holiday celebrations seem to get smaller every year, what with people getting older, moving away, and other complications.
I guess I'm just pining for my younger days, but isn't that a big part of Christmas? We all gather around to give each other fun gifts in honor of (if you're agnostic/atheist) an admittedly imaginary jolly old man in a red suit, or if you're religous... well, I think most people do the "Santa Clause thing" in this country, or some other variation of this present giving ritual.
I don't think Christmas is too commercial, although people say it is. Maybe they just think it's not "Christian" enough anymore, but it was never really that "Christian" to begin with. After all, it's widely believed that if Jesus was a real person it is extremely unlikely he was born in the winter at all. I'm fairly sure the reason Christmas is on the 25th is b/c the Emperor Constantine, who converted to Christianity, and was a major influence in spreading it's popularity, moved the date of the celebration to coincide better with the already ongoing pagan celebrations of the Winter Solstice.
Also, on a side note, there is vastly more historical evidence for a single real person as the origin of the Santa Clause story than for the existence of Jesus as portrayed by the stories of the Bible. That isn't to say the "real Santa Clause" lived at the North Pole with reindeer and elves, etc. I'm fairly sure he has been identified as having been a German Monk.
So I think the real meaning of Christmas does have to do with presents. However, as they say with presents, "It's the thought that counts." It doesn't matter that your present may not be exactly what the person wanted, but getting a present, and an appropriate present does show how well you know the person, and how much care you put into thinking about them. A present represents caring, and caring is important. That's why we get so moved by those stories of people selling their prized possessions to be able to give their loved one the present they want.
Yes, it's true that companies try to exploit the season, but it's also true that if you're looking for presents it's easy to find deals around the holidays. You could also make presents.
So for me the holidays are about a few things; family, food, Santa Clause, and presents. Family is obvious I think... food, b/c what better time to break out the butter and sugar than when your family is around? Santa Clause I kind of explained, but for me he symbolizes the spirit of the holidays, a time to get together with loved ones and celebrate life, and a brief return to innocence before the coming of the New Year. And of course, presents, as I said, are a way of expressing caring, although of course their are other ways to do that.
So I hope you all have a Happy Holiday Season, and maybe if we all ask Santa Clause very nicely, next year the Christmas Specials will return! :)
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