pameladlloyd: Alya, an original character by Ian L. Powell (snowball fight)
[personal profile] pameladlloyd
I want to wish each and every one of my friends a joyous holiday season, regardless of their beliefs or the specifics of their celebrations, or even whether they celebrate, at all. If it comes to that, I hope that this coming year will be full of good things, happy moments, and many, many causes for celebration.

Although none of the members of my family are Christian, we still celebrate the holiday season with what I sometimes call the pagan trappings of Christmas. We have a tree and everyone gets presents on Christmas day. I am, at this moment, listening to a Bing Crosby version of "The Holly and the Ivy" via Pandora.com, which I discovered via someone on my flist (but, I don't remember which of you it was and I can't turn up the entry). Before I remarried, I sometimes considered moving our celebrations in a more inclusive direction, that recognized the traditions of non-Christian groups, or to a more overtly pagan one, but I never really followed through on this. Some family traditions are hard to change, even when the underlying beliefs that are seen as the reason for those traditions do not apply. So I, an agnostic, enjoy the opportunity to celebrate and to share a special time with my family, as do my husband and stepsons, Buddhists all, who celebrate Christmas with a fervor of cooking, huge amounts of candy, and an insistence that Santa is a very real spirit being.

Some of my friends don't celebrate Christmas. They may celebrate other traditions, or none at all. There is an intensity to this holiday that can be overwhelming, even for people who are Christians, much less for the innocent bystanders who don't celebrate and yet may feel barraged with Christmas sentiments wished upon them by well-meaning friends and even strangers. For those of you who are feeling overwhelmed, annoyed, or down in the dumps, I hope that you will find peace and comfort. I wish you good things, now, and in the coming year.

Happy holidays, all.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-12-25 01:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wild-heart.livejournal.com
I had a ferocious case of Grinchitosis up until a couple of days ago. Today? Well, I woke up to a purring cat. The sun is finally shining after nothing but rain and clouds for weeks. My love and I are planning a cooking experiment later today. I have nowhere I have to be other than HOME.

It's a wonderful, perfect day.

The secular goodwill and good wishes are, IMO, the "reason for the season." Let the fundies do as they will. We'll be making merry in our own way today and tonight.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-12-25 05:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pdlloyd.livejournal.com
May all your days be wonderful, perfect days. :)

(no subject)

Date: 2008-12-27 07:03 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pdlloyd.livejournal.com
A purring cat, sunshine, and cooking with your love sound like a close approximation of heaven to me. (No religious overtones intended in the reference to heaven. *g*)

I love your interpretation of the reason for the season.

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