December brought Christmas time to Norway. Red and green, sparkling lights, smiling faces, shopping... Far from simple, if you ask me.
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| The Christmas market opened on December 1st. |
This morning Radio BBC Scotland, which my husband loves to listen to, posed the question if online shopping will kill conventional trade, especially in the holiday season. The British were quoted to spend around £10,000 (around $16,000) a second online all in the name of Christmas, starting yesterday, or Mega Monday.
People were conversing about our "duty" to support "high street" and to enjoy all the holiday ephemera combined with the appropriate audio background in the name of the "Christmas spirit".
Did I tell you that a great percentage of Brits have still not repaid their credits from last Christmas?
Really?
Can't we just have a cozy, quiet family Christmas? Non-commercial? And in accordance with our current circumstances? All these wants disguised as needs by the big business, that we're force-fed only to fuel their money-making machines... we can live without that and enjoy way fuller lives.
Once you get brave enough to evaluate your priorities and differentiate between what is important and what is not in your life, everything will get clear.
You don't need THINGS to be happy. Same goes for your loved ones. Or your friends. Happiness, if nestled in a subject is not in your possession.
Think hard enough.
Find out what makes the people around you happy.
Do it for them.
They will love you in return.
And you will be happy.
That is the Christmas spirit. Simple and clear. Make someone happy.
You don't need to do what everyone does to do the right thing. Because there is not just one right thing. Be flexible, adjust to the rhythm of YOUR heart.
Let this Christmas be the first step on a road you have been afraid to take. Because if your dreams don't scare you, they're not big enough.
- Make it a simple Christmas.
- Avoid big shopping areas. Support local artists and crafters.
- Hand-make simple gifts that are filled with your presence. They will be dearly appreciated by grown-ups and will guide children.
- Help someone in need and don't expect anything in return.
- Remember that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Christ, it is a quiet, self-reflecting period of the year when people spend time with their families.
EDIT: Here are some amazing ideas the Kanelstrand readers shared in the comments that I am sure you will be inspired by!
- Don't spend beyond your means. (Riorita)
- Make or buy handmade. (Paige)
- Bake your gifts! (Anne Lawson)
- Make mindful choices because most Christmas gifts end up in a landfill. (Annightflyer)
- Ignore Black Friday. It's OK to wait. (Kim)
- Stay out of the malls. (Melissa)
- Buy on Etsy. (Melissa)
- Teach your children about the season of Advent, a time of preparation and waiting. Hold off on Chrismtas decorations, songs, movies until much later in December. The children need to know that it is NOT YET Christmas... it is Advent. (Melissa)
- Give the gift of travel. (Artisanallunwound)
- Support local artists. (Lisa H.)
- Give the gift of experience, f.ex. daddy & daughter sewing class. Since it is typically moms who spend creative time with their children, it's an unusual, but surprisingly fun way for dads to enjoy creative time, too. (Lisa H.)
- Focus on shared time and shared experiences instead of stuff, f.ex. see a ballet performance with a friend. (La Alicia)
- Use your own produce for gifting. We have a LOT of lemon trees on the property...WAY to many lemons for even a large family to consume...so I am making lemon baskets for my friends. I got the baskets from the thrift store... I have shredded paper grocery bags for the base. In the basket I am giving homemade lemon curd, my favorite lemon recipes, and of course beautiful fresh organic lemons. I have also composed on a list for each person entitled "The gifts you are to me" which I have put on a small handmade wooden scroll. (Being Julia)
- Scour the thrift stores for good books in good condition. The compile a personalized stack of 3 or 4 books per person (books I know from past experience that person would like) tied with a ribbon and a handmade book mark. This is always a hit as they are surprised and pleased that I would notice through conversation the books they would enjoy. (Being Julia)
Now, let me know, how are you going to simplify your Christmas cleberation this year?
It's just nuts to me that people put themselves into debt over Christmas or Hanukkah. I'm sure the people they're buying gifts for wouldn't want them to do that!
ReplyDeleteWe've made a larger effort to make and buy handmade gifts this year. So far, 16 of them fall into this category! (Omg, that sounds like we're buying for a million people. We're not. Some folks are getting several small things from us.)
I think very often it is about showing status... not necessarily making others happy... But it is delightful that you are making and buying handmade! Hopefully you will inspire the people who receive those gifts to to the same next year.
DeleteI love to buy gifts for people I love because I want to, not have to. I definitely take care not to spend beyond my means!
DeleteWhat gets me aggravated is this,all that money consumers spend for gifts and toys and stuff will end up in landfills sometime in the future.Sad.
ReplyDeleteYou are quite right. Unfortunately the ones who buy said gifts never think about that...
DeleteInstead of buying lots of gifts, we're making homemade gifts to give to family! We'll only be buying a very small amount of gifts (for the kids). Also, you'll be proud to know that I didn't go Black Friday shopping as I had planned. I thought about it, and I thought about the one big ticket item that I was going to be buying...And I thought, it's OK to wait. Wanted to let you know that! =0)
ReplyDelete~Kim
http://2justByou.blogspot.com
Yay, great! I am proud with you, Kim! Isn't the feeling amazing! Thank you for letting me know, I appreciate it!
DeleteI love this (and thanks for the gorgeous photos of a Norwegian Christmas Market!).
ReplyDeleteI'll admit to this: I actually simplify Christmas by staying out of the Malls. That's good, right? The downside is that I do my holiday shopping all online (though I get lots through Etsy!!)...feeding the machine.
I have two small children, 5 and 2. I am choosing to focus on the season of Advent, a time of preparation and waiting. Mr. Hausfrau and I are holding off on Chrismtas decorations, songs, movies until much later in december. The children need to know that it is NOT YET Christmas...it is Advent.
Thank you for this gorgeous, timely reminder.
Popping over from the EBT...
You are very welcome, Melissa, I am glad you like the photos.
DeleteInterestingly, my family simplifies Christmas the same way. We keep away from Malls. It is not hard, considering how sick (literally and figuratively) we get of the whole hustle and bustle.
I think that buying on Etsy is one of the best choices you can make, through it you don't feed the machine but the wonderful crafty community!
You are doing great job teaching your children about Advent! That is what we do too. I cannot understand a whole month of festivities, it wears away with time!
Thank yo for sharing your precious experience!
I've bought local, bought handmade and we are also giving cash and travel. I love travel as a gift since it's an experience we can all enjoy. :)
ReplyDeleteTravel as a gift is a great idea, I have to employ it next year, thanks!
DeleteI've been concentrating the majority of my spending on local gift shops, handcrafted treasures from online and local artists and artisans and locally grown and made food and confections. If I can't afford original artwork by a favorite online or local artist, I'll often purchase a print or notecard from them and find a complimentary frame. I love handcrafting my own gifts as well, and our young daughter and I enjoy working on arts & crafts projects together & creating gifts.
ReplyDeleteThis Christmas one of the gifts I am giving my husband & daughter is a "gift of experience." A dear friend & mentor owns a beautiful sewing & creative studio, & she mentioned that she's enjoyed teaching "daddy-daughter" classes during which both the dads & daughters learn to hand sew a sock monster. Since it is typically moms (like me!) who spend creative time with their children, it's an unusual, but surprisingly fun way for dads to enjoy creative time, too. Recently, I had checked out a paper airplane/origami how-to book from the library for my husband & daughter to enjoy together, & they had such a blast folding & flying their planes, so it seems like a good idea to try the sock monster class. Hopefully, my hubbie won't think it's strange! : )
How cool and unorthodox! I would love to give that gift to my husband and our daughter, sounds like great father-daughter bonding time!
DeleteGifting experience is unforgettable!
We have a LOT of lemon trees on the property...WAY to many lemons for even a large family to consume...so I am making lemon baskets for my friends. I got the baskets from the thrift store...I have shredded paper grocery bags for the base...In the basket I am giving homemade lemon curd, my favorite lemon recipes, and of course beautiful fresh organic lemons. I have also composed on a list for each person entitled "The gifts you are to me" which I have put on a small handmade wooden scroll.
ReplyDeleteOther ideas...I have been scouring thrift stores for good books in good condition. (I often use the New York Times best seller list for fiction and non-fiction...Amazon is also a good resource). These books are usually plentiful throughout the year and typically cost $1.00. I then compile a personalized stack of 3 or 4 books per person (books I know from past experience that person would like) tied with a ribbon and a handmade book mark. This is always a hit as they are surprised and pleased that I would notice through conversation the books they would enjoy. Most of the gifts I give are made of repurposed materials from thrift stores. It is then inexpensive, thoughtful, and resourceful and the money goes to causes I want to support. And...lastly...I am knitting beautiful bulky wool infinity scarfs for my friends in cold weather areas...with a tag saying 'warm wishes'. (I've made six so far...it is relaxing and meditative...) It is all very simple, personal, and rewarding to me...I can't imagine being in the stores...THAT kind of Christmas is over for me. I have been on this journey for years...but last year Sonya helped me make the final break with the consumer Christmas...Thanks Sonya!
Oh, Julia, you are such a joy! I absolutely love the way you described YOUR Christmas! I would love to know you personally so we can exchange handmade love. Books have been in my top spot for Christmas presents ever since I can read, so I can understand why people feel touched y your thoughtfulness and kindness.
DeleteThank you for sharing the simplifying journey with me!
This Christmas I'm focusing on shared time and shared experiences instead of stuff! ;) I've already gone to see the Nutcracker Ballet with a friend and we had a ball!
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful! Thank you for another great idea!
DeleteThis year I am time-rich and not-so-money-rich, so I am making and baking for presents. There have been some wonderful suggestions in the comments. I love the idea of the stack of books -- I will begin that in 2013 -- as well as going op-shopping for baskets and other containers. Thank you all, and good health in 2013.
ReplyDeleteBaking presents is another wonderful idea, thanks for sharing! Hope you have an extraordinary 2013 too!
DeleteI love this post! What a great list of wonderful ways to celebrate the holiday. I am all about simple holidays. Having all the family together is all I need for the holidays.
ReplyDeleteValerie
Everyday Inspired
The system is definitely broken if it requires that people go on a shopping binge, in order to meet its quarterly goals... Sigh.
ReplyDeleteThis year I'm making all my own decoration from things I already have. Paper + twigs! Simple stuff that will make me feel proud and serene when I look at it, and not guilty for having filled my home with plastic from China...