This year I have noticed as Christmas nears that more people have wished me a "Merry Christmas" than in years passed. I take no offense at that. In fact, I very much like it. I'm not a religious person but I still consider Christmas to have a spirit that can lift all of us, of any religion or none.
Charles Dickens's story A Christmas Carol illustrates this well. The story of Christ plays no part in it. The three ghosts that visit Ebenezer Scrooge in his dream are not holy. There are some hints of Christianity scattered in the story, but they are subtle enough to miss. Yet for 181 years the story has captured the spirit of Christmas better than any other.
So even secure in my secularity, every year around this time I read A Christmas Carol and try to imagine changing my heart like Ebenezer Scrooge did his. To think more of giving (last week's theme) and less of taking. And it always works. For a week or two or three. And then I'm back to scrooging.
So while I am still bathing in its secular spirit, let me wish everyone a merry Christmas! God bless us, everyone! And let me hope that this year, this year, I can keep that spirit all year.
Let me add that I liked this week's newsletter a lot. Especially the suggestion when meeting people this holiday to "try to be the most loving, caring, and compassionate person in the room." That's a good goal. I will try.
It's hard to keep the holiday spirit all year round, but the idea seems to be to try to do so. It's both a promising idea and posssibly a bad one as well. It's always nice to be nice, and to feel nice. But it illustrates repeatedly that sustaining that "holiday spirit" over many days and months doesn't really work. Along about mid-January each year I'm reminded of this fact. We're human, and there are limits to how long we can sustain grief, happiness and other emotions. Never-the-less, it's good to try. Here we go again. Happy Holidays, and I mean it!!
Another Great E-mail this week! Thanks for teaching me about the timing Hannukah and Christmas! Love the quotations, especially your original one at the end and the one by Patsy Clairmont which spoke volumes to me. The cartoon was a bit grim, but funny. :)
Thanks for your kind words and other observations about this week's post. Turns out my "every dozen years or so" was slightly off. The next one comes in eleven years, but in the past century, it's only happened five times: 1910, 1921, 1959, 2005, and 2024.
Good morning, Mardy! I sometimes have an inkling of the person of the week, but this morning I had no clue at all, and it was a jaw-dropper to find out who it was! Of course, those are two of my favorite books.
Christmas has become an "on-line" kind of holiday for us, with Jack's family in distant states and our ability to travel being a thing of the past. All but two of our Christmas cards were sent on-line, too. I am blessed, now, to be within kissing distance of my son, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren. Happy Chanukkah to you and your so charmingly described bride!
Thanks for weighing in, Pat. The Puzzler, as it turns out, was easy for most people. Like you, we don't travel much anymore as well. On the 25th, we'll celebrate a traditional "Jewish Christmas": Chinese food and a movie!
Friday I spent the day being Marmee. I bought groceries for my 75 year old baby brother who is in assisted living, and an 84 year old pal in senior housing. Both have been a tad incapacitated because of falls. I bustled around their living quarters, tidying and dropping a few little Christmasy trinkets around. I bought the food they ordered and tucked it all into reachable spots. All the while I was channelling the March children marching off to take their own humble gifts to the needy. It was a very nice day. I came home empty handed and heart filled. Pretty proud of the way my mother raised me. Happy for my good health and pretty good knees and folks who make me feel useful. I say Merry Everything to every on, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Hannukah. Los Posadas, and the Winter Solstice.
Another wonderful post, Mardy, full of opportunity to sit back and ponder quietly. You always offer a few moments of respite from the craziness that seems to hoover relentlessly. Thanks for that.
Thanksgiving spoke to gratitude by each of us speaking to what we're grateful for and, as it is each year, it was a welcome to tears of gratitude for family. Christmas/Hannukah brings our family talent show - 3 minutes each - and it produces the same feelings of gratitude. Silly, fun, talented and great fun. It's a good season to just be.
Wishing all a fine winter solstice holiday festival season.
It is no coincidence that Passover and Holy Week fall at the same time. It's one of hundreds of prophecies fulfilled by Jesus. Passover celebrates the salvation of the firstborn son and ultimate deliverance of the Israelites through the sacrificial death of a lamb. Holy Week celebrates the salvation of mankind through the sacrificial death of The Lamb. "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29b, NKJV).
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Holidays!
This year I have noticed as Christmas nears that more people have wished me a "Merry Christmas" than in years passed. I take no offense at that. In fact, I very much like it. I'm not a religious person but I still consider Christmas to have a spirit that can lift all of us, of any religion or none.
Charles Dickens's story A Christmas Carol illustrates this well. The story of Christ plays no part in it. The three ghosts that visit Ebenezer Scrooge in his dream are not holy. There are some hints of Christianity scattered in the story, but they are subtle enough to miss. Yet for 181 years the story has captured the spirit of Christmas better than any other.
So even secure in my secularity, every year around this time I read A Christmas Carol and try to imagine changing my heart like Ebenezer Scrooge did his. To think more of giving (last week's theme) and less of taking. And it always works. For a week or two or three. And then I'm back to scrooging.
So while I am still bathing in its secular spirit, let me wish everyone a merry Christmas! God bless us, everyone! And let me hope that this year, this year, I can keep that spirit all year.
Seconded. Happy Holidays!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Christmas season, John. Most interesting.
Let me add that I liked this week's newsletter a lot. Especially the suggestion when meeting people this holiday to "try to be the most loving, caring, and compassionate person in the room." That's a good goal. I will try.
Thanks, John. Believe me, that will be my goal as well!
Happy Holidays, Mardy.
And you you, my friend.
It's hard to keep the holiday spirit all year round, but the idea seems to be to try to do so. It's both a promising idea and posssibly a bad one as well. It's always nice to be nice, and to feel nice. But it illustrates repeatedly that sustaining that "holiday spirit" over many days and months doesn't really work. Along about mid-January each year I'm reminded of this fact. We're human, and there are limits to how long we can sustain grief, happiness and other emotions. Never-the-less, it's good to try. Here we go again. Happy Holidays, and I mean it!!
Thanks for weighing in, my friend. A very thoughtful analysis that gives us all a lot to think about.
Fascinating note this week! Many thanks. Wishing all a wonderful holiday season....
Thanks so much, Barbara. Happy Holidays to you.
Another Great E-mail this week! Thanks for teaching me about the timing Hannukah and Christmas! Love the quotations, especially your original one at the end and the one by Patsy Clairmont which spoke volumes to me. The cartoon was a bit grim, but funny. :)
Thanks for your kind words and other observations about this week's post. Turns out my "every dozen years or so" was slightly off. The next one comes in eleven years, but in the past century, it's only happened five times: 1910, 1921, 1959, 2005, and 2024.
Good morning, Mardy! I sometimes have an inkling of the person of the week, but this morning I had no clue at all, and it was a jaw-dropper to find out who it was! Of course, those are two of my favorite books.
Christmas has become an "on-line" kind of holiday for us, with Jack's family in distant states and our ability to travel being a thing of the past. All but two of our Christmas cards were sent on-line, too. I am blessed, now, to be within kissing distance of my son, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren. Happy Chanukkah to you and your so charmingly described bride!
Thanks for weighing in, Pat. The Puzzler, as it turns out, was easy for most people. Like you, we don't travel much anymore as well. On the 25th, we'll celebrate a traditional "Jewish Christmas": Chinese food and a movie!
Friday I spent the day being Marmee. I bought groceries for my 75 year old baby brother who is in assisted living, and an 84 year old pal in senior housing. Both have been a tad incapacitated because of falls. I bustled around their living quarters, tidying and dropping a few little Christmasy trinkets around. I bought the food they ordered and tucked it all into reachable spots. All the while I was channelling the March children marching off to take their own humble gifts to the needy. It was a very nice day. I came home empty handed and heart filled. Pretty proud of the way my mother raised me. Happy for my good health and pretty good knees and folks who make me feel useful. I say Merry Everything to every on, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Hannukah. Los Posadas, and the Winter Solstice.
Thanks Marmee, I mean Marti! The world needs more people like you to spread the love and good cheer! Kudos to your mom.
GREAT SET OF QUOTES & HOLY DAYS INFORMATION.
Doing work you love (e.g,. collecting & arranging quotations) is a holiday from Holidays,
Thanks, Louis. Yes, my passion is not unlike a permanent Holiday!
Another wonderful post, Mardy, full of opportunity to sit back and ponder quietly. You always offer a few moments of respite from the craziness that seems to hoover relentlessly. Thanks for that.
Thanksgiving spoke to gratitude by each of us speaking to what we're grateful for and, as it is each year, it was a welcome to tears of gratitude for family. Christmas/Hannukah brings our family talent show - 3 minutes each - and it produces the same feelings of gratitude. Silly, fun, talented and great fun. It's a good season to just be.
Wishing all a fine winter solstice holiday festival season.
Thanks for your kind words and Holiday wishes, my friend. It is a wonderful time of year, isn't it?
Great post, Mardy. Thank you!
It is no coincidence that Passover and Holy Week fall at the same time. It's one of hundreds of prophecies fulfilled by Jesus. Passover celebrates the salvation of the firstborn son and ultimate deliverance of the Israelites through the sacrificial death of a lamb. Holy Week celebrates the salvation of mankind through the sacrificial death of The Lamb. "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29b, NKJV).
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Holidays!
Thanks for weighing in, Scott. I'd never made that connection before.
Seasons Greetings from London. My family are all here except for one son who lives in NYC but he will be home early in the new year.
Thank you for all the fascinating literary gold nuggets through the year. Have a good holiday and best wishes for 2025.
Thanks for your heartwarming words, Christine. It is nice when kids come home for the holidays, isn't it?