Are Holiday Still So Meaningful To You As They Were?

Discussion in 'Holidays & Traditions' started by Carlota Clemens, Jun 19, 2015.

  1. Carlota Clemens

    Carlota Clemens Veteran Member
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    To me, one of the most expected and enjoyable season of the year was always Christmas season.

    I couldn't explain with words all what it meant to me in childhood, but probably I don't need to explain it because it's likely all of us felt much in the same hopeful way when we were kids.

    As time went by, perception around Christmas time began to change, but since a couple of years ago, perhpas more, perhaps less, I don't longer feel Christmas holidays are as meaningful as they were for me.

    Similarly, other festivities seems to be phasing out of my life, and while I think this feeling is associated to the absurd consumerism we can observe around special dates, I'm sure there is something more happening with this.

    When it comes to Christmas, I might explain it because of my faith being deteriorated as well, but some other celebrations are like if something would be missed in essence, but can't find what is it.

    Do you still feel holiday traditions to be same for you as they were years ago, or is only me feeling that way?
     
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  2. Allie Seay

    Allie Seay Veteran Member
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    The Christmas season is not quite the same for me either, Carlota. I mean, of course it's not the same as when we were kids. I wouldn't expect it to be, but I am kind of surprised that really none of the traditions I grew up with are the same in my home now. Even the things we do that are the same, aren't the same. I don't really know how to explain that, but it's true.

    Probably it's because I never had any kids of my own and Ken's kids were grown by the time we got together. I don't know. I only know that Ken and his kids and their families are not real big on Christmas anyway. We get together, have a meal and exchange presents, but it comes off feeling a bit lame because I always get the feeling everyone does it just because they think it's expected.

    The best part of Christmas for me is definitely when I find my quiet time with God and celebrate within.
     
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  3. Corie Henson

    Corie Henson Veteran Member
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    The only holiday that I am serious with is Christmas or I should say the yuletide season. Over here, it starts as early as December 1 and end on the first week of January. Quite a long celebration but it is enjoyable for most because the general mood of the public is cheerful.

    For other holidays, it's just an ordinary day. Valentine's is for commercialism only since you have to spend for the flowers, candlelight dinner, gifts. The same with Father's Day or Mother's Day where you need to buy gifts or bring along your parents to a cruise. In other words, holidays were meant for spending money and that is plain commercialism. And if we will analyze those holidays, it is plain and simple that those were inventions of commercial establishments.
     
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  4. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
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    Having been single and living away from the rest of my family for a large part of my life, holidays don't mean that much to me. While I was raising my son, and again when we raised our nephew, they had more meaning, but my wife and I don't do a lot that is different on holidays than we do any other day. Oh, we have a tree for Christmas, and a few other decorations. We exchange gifts but since it's all coming out of the same pot, a lot is lost there.

    When I was the program chairman of a state college EMT program in the 1990s, I went to class one Thursday morning, as usual, a couple of hours early so that I could prepare for my day. I would be in classes from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm so there was always things that needed to be done. Shortly before 8:00 am, I began wondering why my students weren't trickling in. Then, at 8:00 am, there still wasn't anyone there. Finally, the security guard came by and asked why I was at work on Thanksgiving. I hadn't realized.
     
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  5. Ruth Belena

    Ruth Belena Veteran Member
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    Holidays have become much more commercial than they used to be. When everyone else is spending money on gifts and celebrations, I prefer to do something more meaningful.

    Personally, Christmas Day was never the same for me after the death of my father when I was 15 but I kept up with celebrating the holiday period until I was much older. When I worked in retail I really enjoyed the approach to Christmas because it was so busy and I found it quite exciting.
     
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  6. Ruth Belena

    Ruth Belena Veteran Member
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    Holidays have become much more commercial than they used to be. When everyone seems to feel the need to spend money on celebrating, I prefer doing something more profitable with my time.

    Christmas Day was never the same for me after the death of my father when I was 15, but I did keep up with celebrations until I was much older.

    When I worked in retail I really enjoyed the approach to Christmas because it was so busy and I found it quite exciting. Since then I have never minded having to work at any holiday time. Not having children of my own or any near relatives, I don't feel the need to do celebrate something just because everyone else is doing it.
     
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  7. Hannah Davis

    Hannah Davis Veteran Member
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    When I was a kid Christmas was filled with excitement and anticipation. Now that I am an adult its more about family and the true spirit of the holiday. I find that I prefer to think more about the true meaning of the holiday then I did when I was kid. So, yes the holiday isn't the same but I think that for me its better then it was as a kid.

    I also think about the Forth of July, when I was kid I think this holiday had more meaning for me then it did then . My parents tried to make it a good day for their kids. They would plan a picnic and my father use to set off flares. Yes, I am talking simple flares, the kind that don't do much, yet we thought they were the greatest things. Now I think of the Forth of July as any other day of the week, so that holiday has definitely changed for em.
     
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  8. Bill Boggs

    Bill Boggs Supreme Member
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    Most holidays were fun growing up. Later on they meant a day off for some of them. Since retirement they are a date on the calendar. Birthdays were always the biggest event around our house and among our family.
     
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  9. Carlota Clemens

    Carlota Clemens Veteran Member
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    Sometimes I have found a give store is closed and ignoring why I've have to go back home blaming whatever reason they closed so early or didn't open, ande then realizing it was a holiday that I forgot, LOL

    But certainly many of those holidays used to enclose certain magic through the eyes of a child, and were enjoyable in childhood and for as long as we grew up, latter the charming began to vanish or consumerism killed it, and when it comes to events like the fourth of July or the independence day of any other country, I think the enchantment is gone because governments are not contributing to make us feel proud of our nation

    However, there are still some festivities that may be truly enjoyable still, and certainly birthdays call to celebration more than other holiday.
     
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  10. Colinda Abner

    Colinda Abner Veteran Member
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    I agree that holidays are not the same as when I was younger. At Christmas, the house was always filled with a lot of family members. As those family members passed away, there were less and less people. It just didn't feel as festive without a lot of people around. I still enjoy it very much as my daughter and her four children live with me. We still practice the same tradition of getting pajamas on Christmas eve. That has been a tradition since I was a little girl. I love the coziness of it just being my little family, but I sure miss the loud, loving get together's that we had when I was young.
     
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  11. Angel J More

    Angel J More Veteran Member
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    I have always been a Christmas person. It's the only time of the year where families here in our country truly make all efforts to gather. Ironically, it was during the Christmas season two years ago when my younger brother passed away. After that, our family has even become closer, appreciating more the blessings of life and family especially as we celebrate Christmas. We have tried to focus on the Reason for the Season-- Jesus Christ and his birth that paved the way for our salvation.
     
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  12. Corie Henson

    Corie Henson Veteran Member
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    In 1986, the Philippines experienced the so called people power that ousted President Marcos and installed in his place Cory Aquino who was cheated in the 1985 snap election. That date in history is celebrated as a holiday to remind the people of that event. But after some years, fewer people would be joining the parade and the festivities in the particular area called EDSA. Now, February 25 is still declared an official holiday although the public seem to not care anymore.
     
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  13. Helene Lawson

    Helene Lawson Veteran Member
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    They aren't as meaningful as they were in the past as I was a little child, but still I enjoy to celebrate Christmas, Easter or other Holidays.
     
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