[LittleLisaMarie]

Hello again. Guess with the weather being cold I have to much on my mind these days but watching tv and listening to all the hype about the holidays comming i just cant help but wonder, what happened to the Real Meaning Of Christmas?

I myself have allowed myself to fall into the media hype of Christmas and the Holiday season. I have to be thankful that I switched my youngest two children to Catholic School. Now I am reminded of my faith and able to get back in touch with it.

For the last 3 weeks we have been going to Sunday mass and I have to say it helps me feel better about myself. But it worries me that so many have moved away from the true meaning of Christmas. It is not about the most popular toys or electronics or the the name brand clothes. Its about family and being together and good feeling you get from GIVING and not just about recieving. I am guilty of overspending on Christmas for my children, nothing brings me as much joy as seeing them open up their favorite gifts and be so happy. But what is more important is that they understand why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. I am proud of my youngest one who is in pre k becasue he came home and said that the teacher started talking about Advent. She asked everyone "whos birthday is on christmas?" Austin proudly said he raised his hand and said Jesus! he said most of the kids were yelling out "its Santas birthday". He also told the teacher that every Christmas morning we take the little baby Jesus and put it in the manjor that is under our tree. So at 4 years old he is already understanding what Chrsitmas is about . I wonder if we asked many children today what Christmas is and they would have no idea. Its really sad. I am doing my best to have them excited about shopping for others, we even go to the main post office on 34th street every year and pick a child and get gifts for them. I know im babbling but its kind of sad how materialistic our society has become....it all starts with our children. We need to teach them early that we dont need all the hottest toys or biggest presents....its nice when we do get them but we have to teach them how special it is to give as well. My older two understand it well. While they have a huge Christmas list , they also have their Christmas lists as to what they are getting for everyone else. I just hope I am doing a good job in raising them that giving is much better then recieving.....and being at Church every SUnday is helping alot.

Love ya
Thanks for listening.

LittleLisaMarie

[lazell]

Amen!!!!!!!!!

[Rachael]

I'm Jewish, so I don't celebrate Christmas. But the whole idea of trying to make Hanukkah equal to Christmas and reducing BOTH to a retail shopping holiday having nothing to do with EITHER holiday but is based on showing how much you love your family and friends by how deep into debt you can go into the next year and making sure your kids have the newest electronics makes me ill. I stay as far away from malls as I can this time of year.

The "Christmas season" doesn't start for me until the first performance of the Northwest Boychoir's A Festival of Lessons & Carols Final Concert Featuring the Northwest Boychoir & Vocalpoint! Seattle.

Again, I don't celebrate Christmas, but for the last 7 or years this has put it into perspective for me. "Patterned after the Christmas Eve observance at King's College in Cambridge, England, A Festival of Lessons & Carols has become an annual holiday tradition for thousands of families in the Puget Sound region. This classical performance consists of holiday readings, each followed by a traditional holiday carol performed by the choirs and a carol sung by the choirs and the audience members."

The Northwest Choirs

(yes, that is my son, top left at the site - dreadlocks and all)

I have watched these boys grow up, some of them from the age of 6 right through to where they go off to college. It is the most amazing transformation to see these boys, being total terrors that boys can be (my son being THE worst, I'm afraid) go from that to where they put on their robes, open their mouths and the voices of angels are heard. That transformation, those beautiful voices - what a gift. Not just for them, but for all who hear them.

For me, listening to the verses, feeling the music vibrate through me, singing the carols, and seeing that transformation - getting away from the hustle and bustle of the "outside," that is the Christmas season for me.

The final performance always is done with an orchestra made of members of the Seattle Symphony. It is recorded and played Christmas Eve on a local classical station. My son only gets to hear what Lessons and Carols sounds like from the inside. But on Christmas eve, we get in the car, drive around area neighborhoods to look at Christmas lights and listen to Lessons and Carols. We see the celebratory lights of others, listen to the verses and music and have a chance to spend time together.

Driving around with my son shrouded in the quite calm of Christmas Eve, listening to the voices of angels - that is the Christmas that speaks to me and says bah humbug to the rest.

[LittleLisaMarie]

Yes I agree. Its the same with all the Holidays.....its sad what it has turned into. Again I am just as bad, im not saying i dont fall prey to it as well, dont make it right though.
Im just glad that I have been able to bring the church back into our house here and start to focus on things here other then Santa and XBox360 ......
Again I do enjoy watching the expressions on my childrens faces when I am able to provide them with the magic of Santa and believing in him...however its just as rewarding to see them get excited because they went to the store and purchased something for another....

LittleLisaMarie

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by LittleLisaMarie

Again I do enjoy watching the expressions on my childrens faces when I am able to provide them with the magic of Santa and believing in him...however its just as rewarding to see them get excited because they went to the store and purchased something for another....

LittleLisaMarie

I so agree. There is nothing as rewarding as seeing that expression on our children's faces when we are able to magically give them something...and absolutely NOTHING as rewarding as seeing them get excited when giving to others.

It is part of that "transformation" thing I mentioned.

[LittleLisaMarie]

Totally agree...