How do you "de-commercilize" Christmas?
This is what we try to do to take the "commercialism" out of Christmas.
We have an advent calendar book. Each night starting Dec 1 (we start tonight) it has an inspirational story -- normally about a child or family learning the meaning of Christmas -- a song, and a scripture. I love doing these! I made them as gifts for everyone two years ago.
Also for Christmas everyone in our immediate family only receives three gifts : something precious, something practical, and something fun. Santa does come but only brings one family gift and stocking stuffers.
We have a stocking for our son David who died five years ago. We fill it up w/ good deeds we do throughout the month of Dec (we write them down and paper and slip them in the stocking). We're hoping as our family grows one day we'll be able to fill up the stocking before Christmas. =D
Christmas Eve we read the Christmas story while throwing in songs periodically to keep the kids entertained.
We have a $5 gift limit for extended family so we have to get creative and put real thought into the gifts.
There is a song my sister and I used to sing when we were little:
Specta-rama-jingle-icious-tinsel-ribbon-istmas
It is about the commercialization that has happened to Christmas. Great song but I can't find it anywhere! If anyone knows where to find it let me know. I can only remember 1 verse and the chorus.
Specta-rama-jingle-icious-tinsel-ribbon-istmas
Things we do this time of year to take the place of Christmas
It's a fact the birthday of the King has somehow missed us.
Specta-rama-jingle-icious-tinsel-ribbon-istmas
We shop for cards and trees and such in snow and sleet and ice.
When Santa says be good we try to take his sound advice.
There's traffic at the shopping malls that no one can believe
and packages that must be wrapped in time for Christmas Eve.
Anytime I go shopping and see all the traffic this song pops in my head.
This Christmas let's all remember the words of Howard W Hunter in Christmas '02 Ensign:
"This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an emeny. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again."
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5 comments:
You've inspired me to make my own advent calender! You are so crafty!
I love the background on your blog! he he ;o)
I really love the traditions you have. Since you have talked about them on CM I have been very tempted to copy your idea about the three gifts. I love it!
Don't forget to send me your e-mail address so I can add you to my private blog?
I found your blog through a place to dream. We do the 3 gift thing too with our daughter. Our husband and I don't do gifts. However, we don't do santa either. It's nice to see others trying to avoid the commericalism of christmas.
Second verse is something along the lines of ....
A coat for mom, a tie for dad ,
a dress for Jenivive,
and don't forget that card for john he sent us one last year,
with cards to hang and food to cook and tress to decorate
until the seasons over we forget to celebrate ...
I'm trying to find more online, thats as much as I can remember w/ the chorus ofcourse
You may no longer be looking for this, but I found the musical.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gettin-Ready-Miracle-Tom-Fettke/dp/083419550X
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