holiday

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December 13, 2009

Dear Santa, please give the poor kid something, too.

Posted by Grendel's Mother under holiday, kindness
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I just read somewhere—sorry can’t remember where so you’ll have to trust me on this—that Americans spend a total of $185,000 on stamps for letters to Santa. Let’s think about that for a minute. So an average household with young children spends a few cents each year on these letters to Santa. That’s what we call sofa change.

Now I know that the post office needs the cash to support its operations and that this money is important revenue for them. Having said that, I can think of a lot of charities, families, and poverty-stricken kids who could use a fraction of that 185 grand. According to the US Census Bureau, in 2008 14.1 million American children lived below the poverty level. Without debate as to what is considered poverty, whether compared to other Americans or the rest of the world, the fact is that kids living in our communities are suffering.

So let’s do some math. $185,000 divided by 44¢ equals approximately 450,500 stamps (or letters). If all of the 14.1 million poor kids were to receive a holiday gift that costs approximately $13 (maybe some shoes, a coat, a toy), than we would need to multiply that postage cost by about 1,000. It may seem like a lot, but if everyone gave, not just those with little kids, then we could make a difference (albeit small) in a child’s life this season.

So, here is what I would suggest. Just some things you may want to think about this season.

Drop a dollar into the Salvation Army bucket outside the supermarket. It’s only a dollar to you, but it could add up if everyone gives. Or make an online donation right now.
Don’t put a stamp on that letter to Santa. Instead, ask your child to put part of his allowance toward a charity so some other child could get a gift.
Take one of the many toys meant for your child and give it to the Marines, or the Salvation Army, or the church near your house, or any of the charities that help kids and families who are struggling.
Buy a few extra cans of food at the supermarket next time you go and donate them to a shelter.

There are many things that all of us can do that cost so little but could add up to so much. So go ahead and look in your sofa cushions, you need to clean up for the in-laws anyway, right? May your holidays be filled with grace and generosity.

December 10, 2009

Deck the halls.

Posted by Grendel's Mother under holiday
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I love decorating my house for Christmas. And I love seeing all the decorations around town and the neighborhood. I especially love looking at the houses that go all out. You know, Clark Griswold style. There’s one in every neighborhood. And I’m glad it’s someone else’s house.

We know that outfitting our homes with decorations is fun and helps the economy, but have you ever wondered where the various ideas and traditions came from? We have pretty much managed to tie in various pagan and secular traditions with Christmas themes. I think it’s fine to decorate with trees and lights and poinsettias and plastic deer, just as long as we remember why we are celebrating. The birth of Jesus. It doesn’t matter that He was probably born in the spring, just as long as we celebrate it.

In fact, Christian leaders from long ago—in an attempt to get people to recognize Jesus and become a Christian—often used established celebrations and traditions. Late December was a time that people celebrated the solstice. You can imagine a need for people who didn’t have central heating or refrigerators to have one big blast in the middle of a dreary winter to celebrate life with food, burning logs (Yule log), bringing the only tree that lives during the winter into the house as a sign of life, and singing. The days were short and the winter was long for them. So why not establish Christmas, a time of celebrating salvation (life everlasting), of giving (Christ’s gift to us), and of love and cheer during that time? I love it for all of those reasons.

And plastic Santas with twinkling lights and blow-up reindeer are cool, too.

What?

December 6, 2009

How do we keep our balance? Tradition.

Posted by Grendel's Mother under holiday
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Everyone has traditions for various holidays and special events. My family has a few at Christmas time.

On Christmas Eve day we go to church for a candlelight service and then for dinner we have fondue. We’ve been doing it at my house for the past few years and so I break out about three fondue pots and put out a spread of cheese, meat, and chocolate fondue. The kids then watch a movie while the grown ups watch our bellies expand before our eyes.

Each year my mom makes a beautiful gingerbread house from scratch. She gives it to the kids and they love it, eating bit by bit until their cat finally gets to it.

Another tradition is leaving goodies out for Santa. Last year Harmon was sick and went to bed early on Christmas Eve, so Tyler decided to do Harmon a favor and put out something of Harmon’s for Santa. It was a nice little art project of the macaroni and marker variety that depicted …wait for it… a menorah. Yup, the boy put out a picture of a menorah for Santa. I can’t even type it without laughing.

That’s all the Christmas traditions I can think of for now. When I was young we spent a few Christmas holidays traveling and my mom would bring along a mini tree with us. But now we pretty much go to my brother’s house and watch the kids open up a plethora of gifts. My brother has our old train set up under his tree and the boys like to play with that. I would say being together is the best tradition of all. That and stocking stuffers.

What are your favorite traditions?