For those who hate it, though, I have some suggestions that might help you shake things up.
Christmas alternatives
- A zombie movie marathon. Or, if you prefer, some other kind of horror movie marathon. Horror movies make me happy, so this one works for me. See what you think. Another alternative would be clown movies. Clowns are freaking horrifying.
- A fast. Yes, a fast at Christmastime. Try NOT eating everything in sight. If you’re at “home” for the holidays with family that wants to feed you this one might be particularly exciting. Try not to offend Grandma.
- Read a non-Christmas-themed book. Maybe check out the banned books list from the ALA. Many of them were banned due to Christian ideals, so it's relevant.
- If you’re a writer, write a summertime story. Really non-seasonal. Make sure there’s a lot of sun and watermelons. Aussies, write something based on another planet.
Let me know if you have any other suggestions for those attempting to avoid this unavoidable season. Otherwise, Merry Christmas!
As ever I loved your post, even as I completely participate in every cheesy element of Christmas (as well as some inner, private ones)and am epically failing every one of your suggestions! :D
ReplyDeleteI'm eating everything in sight though--reveling in sappy Christmassy movies, and . . . well, epically failing your alternative Christmas (except that yes, I think I've avoided offending Grandma!)
I love your advice to read a banned book (ALWAYS good advice), but need to disagree with your comment, "Many of them were banned due to Christian ideals, so it's relevant." PSEUDO-Christian ideals, perhaps, but nothing more than that. ;-) (Hey, what's Christmas without a good argument!?!) An interesting (to me anyway) side note is that the Bible, the Talmud, and the Koran have all been banned or censored for religious reasons at various times by various people--and the funniest part (again, maybe just to me) the bible was actually banned by the Catholic church periodically! Oh us church people. Freaks, all!
In all seriousness though, a lot of people experience misery over Christmas time because of the bizarre expectations and pressures of the season. Your advice is stellar. Say no, and yes, watch a zombie movie or two (or, like my son, shoot a few!)
Um, please forgive the awkward repeat of "epically" failing and the odd word omission, plus any other typos. I blame the wine! :)
ReplyDeleteEv, of all the words that could be repeated, "epically" works for me. ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd you make a good point. It is peuso-Christian ideals, not anything direct-from-source, that vilify these stories.
"Oh us church people. Freaks, all!"
Don't think that religious people hold the market on being freakish! Leave some room in freaktown for the rest of us! ;) Though I hadn't heard that the bible was banned by the Catholic church. Really? ...REALLY?
Funny thing is, one of the staple Christmas movies, The Little Drummer Boy, was one of my all time favourites as a child and probably one thing that spurred my interest in drums and music (to appear at a much later stage, though).
ReplyDeleteAdam B @revhappiness
Oh by no means did I mean to imply that we religious people hold the market on being freakish, lol. That would be no fair (and no fun!) for everyone else, at all. :D
ReplyDeleteLet's edit that sentence so it's a more accurate rendering of the truth, shall we?
Oh us people. Freaks, all!
And re: REALLY? Yes. :) Not slamming Catholics at all, btw. In my personal experiences, Protestants are generally more censorious than Catholics.