From a few not-so-subtle comments from fellow Harborites you'd think that the Hogaclan being a no-Santa house is about as nasty as me punching, say, a small woodland animal directly in the face.

I'm sure we've all heard lots of complaints over the "over-commercialization" of Christmas - perhaps you're someone who's made this complaint yourself. But see, we here have Christmas just like we want it. We think about food, and giving gifts, and maybe giving eachother some. We think about who we're going to help out and in what way.* We decorate with greenery and, now that my children are older, construction paper. We listen to different music. We enjoy - I mean I really enjoy - the lights around town. I feel not one iota of shopper's stress because I make, not buy, the vast majority of presents we give and for those we don't give gifts to, we make an exhaustive list to send them homemade cards. I am so practiced at not thinking about extravagant gifts that I don't even pine for them. At all.

When I was a child Christmas was exciting for the things I've listed above. I remember, even when I was little detecting a schmaltzy tone to the "Santa" line even as I blithely participated . Even my parents' verify - it was about the "goodies", the presents, the food - not the actual man in the red suit.

Even so, I'm not militantly anti-Santa. Just because we don't buy in doesn't mean it's a problem that so many, many others do. In fact our family is going to a Santa event tomorrow - because it's fun. Just like perhaps you non-Christians might enjoy songs that mention the baby JC and you non-pagans enjoy the tree.

And lastly - my kid isn't going to ruin your kid's Christmas. First off, Sophie and Nels know that when someone talks about what they believe, it's important to listen, not to barge in with what we in the family believe (P.S. this goes for different food choices, different faith traditions or lack thereof. It's called teaching your child manners, and I do take it seriously).

As December descends I encourage one and all to have a meaningful Christmas whatever beliefs, traditions, religions or militant lack thereof, fairy tales, legends, or silliness fits your family!

* I think I've found a local family this year; perhaps in part helped by my SN&F proceeds such as they are.

Labels: holidays