Christmas, in October, seems to be the way of life here.
I went into our local Garden centre today to be confronted by wall to wall Christmas....or as they would have it, 'Noel'
There were trees brightly lit, singing Santas (would you really want one on your mantelshelf?)
There were reindeer, gifts, baubles, cards....any amount of 'things'.
It saddens me somewhat.
Things were different 'in my days'.
Which makes me sound old.
But we had such excitement over the little things that made up Christmas.
Nothing started until well into December.
We spent hours secretively making presents for the family. Shops were not full of ready made decorations.
The same old tree lights came out every year, with my Grandpa struggling manfully to find a spare bulb for the one that wouldnt light up.
Anticipation was in the air.
I think maybe the anticipation now is outworn by the time Christmas really comes around.
And sadly, there is very little in our shops that points to why we celebrate Christmas.
I'm not being Mrs Grumpy about all this, but I can't help feeling that the way we grew up was somehow more real, less commercial, and had more room for the birth of a Saviour.,
Things were different 'in my days'.
Which makes me sound old.
But we had such excitement over the little things that made up Christmas.
Nothing started until well into December.
We spent hours secretively making presents for the family. Shops were not full of ready made decorations.
The same old tree lights came out every year, with my Grandpa struggling manfully to find a spare bulb for the one that wouldnt light up.
Anticipation was in the air.
I think maybe the anticipation now is outworn by the time Christmas really comes around.
And sadly, there is very little in our shops that points to why we celebrate Christmas.
I'm not being Mrs Grumpy about all this, but I can't help feeling that the way we grew up was somehow more real, less commercial, and had more room for the birth of a Saviour.,
19 comments:
This is so very true! We are missing a lot and jumping seasons as it were...
Commercial interests seem to drive the celebrations these days, and it is sad. Anticipation can be so delightful if it doesn't carry on for too long. I like reading about the old ways of doing things. That said, I am thinking about gifts I'd like to make and want to get started soon.
I couldn't agree more. Stores here have been displaying decorations for awhile now, and Hallmark channels are already showing their holiday movies. As you said, there is very little in either that points to why we celebrate Christmas.
There are a lot of Christmas things out in the stores here too but I must admit it doesn't bother me. I don't have good memories of Christmas as a child so that once I had my own home and family I tried to make up for lost time. And that includes getting an early start ( but not in October!!!)
I'm so with you about the overproduction of Christmas. It's all about the dollar, I'm afraid. And you're right, the anticipation is far gone by the time Christmas does get here. It is sad, I so agree!
I think you have struck a chord with so many of us here. Something I hate about it all is that you can't even buy a magazine after the September ones and the supermaket had a Christmas magazine all about the things you should be getting started on in August. Bah humbug to all that although I know that if you want to make a cake that should be done in September or handmade gifts it's no good waiting till December but how much simpler it all was when we had so little and it didn't even enter our heads to start on it all till just before hand! Shops full of cards, gifts and the must-haves already but nowhere a sign of the reason for it all. I refuse to be drawn in and will not be doing any of it till November at the earliest.
I don't want to shock you, but we saw Christmas stuff in our Dutch version of B&M in the Netherlands at the end of August! Pure horror to me!!
You memories are so sweet. I love the old ways. Modern commercialism takes away much of the joy.
Amen!
You are so right and no, you are not Mrs. Grumpy.
I have to agree with the anticipation of it all, it's not there anymore because we've been conditioned to go with what is happening all around us in the stores. By the time Christmas arrives the shelves are nearly bare because you are forced to buy now or you miss out. I'm not ready to buy Christmas things now, but if there is something I need, then I had better get or I won't find it in December.
And trying to find what represents the real meaning if Christmas is certainly not easy these days.
When you shared about your dad trying to get the string of lights working it brought back many memories of our own home and the chaos of lights strung throughout the living room while dad tried to get all the bulbs working.
My husband still does that with our outside lights, he refused to just give up and throw them away.He had even spliced them together to keep them going.
Let us do all that we can to keep Christ in the center of all that we do while we celebrate the birth of our Savior.
Great posting,sweet friend~
I wait until December to begin decorating for Christmas. I enjoy fall & Thanksgiving too much to skip them.
I am working on a gift though. I'm making a felt nativity for my grandson. Each character in the Christmas story is made of felt. I'll make a board covered with flannel & he can arrange the pieces on the board to tell the story. I have Mary, Joseph, the baby & the manger, trees & camel finished. I still have the wise men, angel & more animals to make. I think I will enjoy it more than he will though!
Hi! I have to agree. I think there should be more emphasis on the true meaning of Christmas but on the other hand I have to start early making gifts or I would not get anything done. I like Jenny's idea of the felt nativity scene. Nancy
I totally agree with your thinking. We also visited a large store the other weekend and I couldn't believe all the decorations were for sale already !!! yes people are over all the hoop la by December 25th, which is terribly sad. I'm simplifying my Christmas to the basics and the true meaning as each year passes. Blessings to you ! Linda
I agree with you. It really is too much to see decorations in the shops so early. In the past there was anticipation, excitement and certainly religious awareness.
Bigger than our whole world! Love that quote. I'm always excited to see décor that points to Jesus for Christmas but not in October. :) Hobby Lobby is one shop you can count on for meaningful decor. Since our U.S. Thanksgiving doesn't come around till the end of November we always hold off with decorating for Christmas till December. Growing up there were many Christmases with no presents under the tree. We had a fresh Sunday clothes to wear to church on Christmas and food to eat.
My husband and i saw Christmas decor being put out in our local hardware stores back in Sept! Yes. That is way too early, in my opinion. I wish the season didn't start for retailers until Dec 1st. And it is was too commercialized now. Very little that is honoring to the Lord or even focusing on Jesus is to be found. Bah Humbug! :-)
I agree. I haven't even put out fall decorations, but I will after Halloween.
Yesterday there were so many huge boxes in the seasonal aisle at the grocery store! I could hardly get around to grab some fall napkins. It's getting more, more, more.
Yes, it was the Lynn you know who came to visit!
I agree with you! It seems that every holiday is rushed. Bathing suits and Valentine candy appear in the stores even before the New Year arrives! But it is especially sad that Christmas is so commercialized.
I love the quote you shared! May we who bear His name honor Him in our celebrating!
Barbara, thank you so much for the beautiful card! My very first mail in my new home. ♥
I agree 100% with you about all the Christmas decor in the stores. I remember when it didn't go out until after Thanksgiving! I think it felt more special then. xo
I thought I'd respond here to your comment re:the Blue Grass Christmas CD I found. It's called O Santa, where art thou? Silly name I guess but it's referring to the film O Brother, where art thou? A film which has blue grass music in it. It's a crime/comedy set in 1937 during the Great Depression. Another CD I bought is called Christmas in the Smoky Mountains and it says it features Authentic Appalachian instruments such as the hammered dulcimer. I hope it turns out to be all I'm hoping it will be. At least at a dollar a CD I haven't spent a lot of money.
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