'Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store ...'
Sr. Janet Scheffler, Associate Director for Adult Faith Formation
for the Archdiocese of Detroit
Published December 8, 2006
And he puzzled three hours, 'til his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! 'Maybe Christmas,' he thought, 'doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more!' "
Our Christmas season is the greatest cultural paradox. Faith, family and tradition have been replaced by consumerism. Ponder these statistics:
- In 2001 (so imagine what it is five years later) the average American planned to spend $1,042 on holiday gifts. (Annual per capita income of a Vietnamese citizen: $280)
- It takes four months for the average credit card user to pay off holiday bills.
- The total U.S. credit-card debt is more than $600 billion.
- The number of extra tons of trash produced in the U.S. each year between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day is 5 million.
How does this coincide with the message of the first Christmas, of Jesus becoming human, in a simple manger?
Some ideas for a simpler, richer, true-to-the-spirit of Christmas:
Gifts of time: coupons that promise: a monthly lunch date with an elderly relative or friend; an outing to the zoo, museum, or park; babysitting; hiking, camping, biking or swimming.
Homemade gifts: a personalized basket, filled with homemade muffins, cookies and jam; a family calendar marked with important dates such as birthdays, anniversaries and family gatherings a frame one of your best photographs; record interviews of parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles on audio/video tape, discussing their memories of the person you plan to give the tape to, or your family's history; homemade soups or dinners that can be frozen for future use.
Gifts of wonder: Leave anonymous gifts – for neighbors, co-workers, children, etc.
Gifts for children:
- Instead of making your annual contribution to the dead toy pile in your child's room, give gifts they can't break: pen pals; adoption of an animal at a wildlife organization; gift certificate for an outing together.
- Spark their imagination: old business forms, file folders to play office; a book of skits and plays; a subscription to a magazine that explores the larger world; gifts to develop imagination: art supplies, building materials, music and books, especially multicultural ones.
- Make each child a book describing highlights of your year together.
- In the spirit of Christmas charity (and knowing that new gifts are coming), December is a good time for children to go through closets and donate toys (even good ones) to groups that can use them.
- Give your children the chance to make others happy: help them to make homemade gifts; become involved in outreach projects at your parish/in your community.
Remember your elders: We tend to focus on children during the holidays; it can also be the perfect time of the year to connect with the eldering. Don't let the busy-ness of the season get in the way of the visit to the eldering relative, neighbor or friend. Before we realize it, months are quickly gone. Make time for those eldering friends and relatives who enjoy the company of your family.
Be kind to the Earth: Save paper by wrapping gifts in comics or newspaper bags decorated with markers, rubber stamps or homemade art. Recycle gift boxes and ribbons. Buy products that don't hurt the planet, such as food and beauty products made from natural ingredients, products with very little packaging and goods produced locally by small businesses and artisans.
Celebrate the Christmas Story and your Christmas story:
- Purchase a Christmas crib the children can touch. Family heirlooms are fine, but children should be able to pick up the statues, touch them and move them around as they tell the story over and over.
- Listen to one another answer:
My favorite part of the Christmas story is when _____;
My favorite Christmas gift I ever gave was ____;
My favorite Christmas ever was ____;
My favorite Christmas meal is _____;
I love Christmas because ______;
My favorite funny memory of Christmas is when _______.
- Pray the "O Antiphons" during the last week of Advent. See www.rc.net/wcc/antiphon.htm.
- Visit www.whychristmas.com for the Christmas Story and information on Christmas customs and traditions.
- And lastly, every night of the remaining Advent and coming Christmas season, before going to bed, ask yourself, "Whose life did I make brighter today?"
Sr. Janet Schaeffler, OP, is the archdiocesan associate director for adult faith formation for the Office for Faith Formation/Catechetics.
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