At all the appropriate
holidays and celebrations
everyone enthusiastically participates.
At the proper times they go to the proper places,
and eagerly do the proper things.
How can anyone who just drifts and wonders,
who can't even be sure of themselves,
Take
seriously all these rituals,
all this herding?
(Lao Tzu)
Santa Claus
Santa Claus was not always a mythical Hollywood character.
St Nicholas was born in Patara on the southern coast of Turkey. He was
raised as a Christian and used his whole inheritance to assist the needy,
the sick, and the suffering.
No reindeers. No North Pole. No elves. No present lists. No Christmas
cards, tinsels, trees, cakes, holly, mistletoe or carol singing.
Deviate from the essence and all is lost.
Wasting
more than money
The North East is ablaze with Christmas lights. Houses are being
decorated with hundreds of flashing illuminations. The trend intensifies
each year.
Meanwhile, we are experiencing intermittent power cuts.
Decorations
If you think that's tacky, come and have a look
around where we live...
One house has that Santa you described, plus Blackpool illuminations, plus new
addition - 7 foot mock snow-globe with Santa scene.
That's just one house, I think they're aiming to be seen from space.
(Up
My Street)
Boycott Christmas?
If you have no desire to waste hundreds
of pounds on pointless gifts - in a celebration of greed and obedience - then
you could boycott Christmas altogether...
http://www.xmasresistance.org/
http://www.buynothingchristmas.org/
http://adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd/bnxmas/
Is boycotting Christmas the answer?
Well, it is one option. But there are others. Why not consider a return to the
essence of Christmas?
Give to those who are genuinely suffering and in need.
Give freely and without any need for gratitude or recognition.
Re-discover Christmas through your kindness and your generosity...
Page created 4 February 1998