Holidays

My views on how we should celebrate them

An Essay by Kate Garoutte-Smith, circa 1995

• New Year's Eve: partying of course! Also a chance to reflect on the past year and learn what you can from the experiences you had- what was good, what was bad, and how you might do things differently in the future.
• New Year's Day: recovering! Also a chance to look forward to the year ahead and think of things you'd like to accomplish, set goals for yourself, etc.
• Valentine's Day: A day to let the ones you love know how much they mean to you.
• St. Patrick's Day: wear green so that you don't get pinched. :) Take an interest in Irish history and all things Irish.
• Earth Day: Do something earth-friendly. Hug a tree. Kiss a squirrel. Wait, no, don't kiss a squirrel, he might not like that. Refrain from doing anything earth-unfriendly, if you can. Take the bus instead of driving. Ride a bike. Go on a nature hike. Look around, and really see the beautiful world you live in.
• Spring Equinox: A time to pause and enjoy mother nature's rebirth.
• Easter: Celebrate like Spring Equinox. If you have children, do the egg and bunny thing cuz it's fun. :)
• May Day: Give flowers to people you care about, share the beauty of spring with someone.
• Memorial Day Weekend: GO TO EGIL'S! :)
• Summer Equinox: Get out and enjoy the weather!
• Fourth Of July: A time to celebrate America, whether or not you believe in your country.  Look at the good things. Set off and watch fireworks cuz it's fun. :)
• Autumn Equinox: Celebrate nature.
• Halloween: party! In costume, preferrably. A night to cut loose and play dress-up and give out candy to kids (well, the ones that have parents that still let them trick or treat!). A time to indulge hedonistic tendancies. And watch scary movies.  :)
• Thanksgiving: Eat lots of food and give thanks for everything you are thankful for. Spend time with family, and be thankful that you have them in your life.
• Winter Equinox: Celebrate nature.
• "The Holidays" : For us, Xmas has nothing to do with Jesus Christ, unless it's to exhibit his caring and generous nature. It's a time to celebrate winter, to get in touch with old friends and relatives (holiday cards), a time for togetherness, kindness, and giving. We exchange gifts, we demonstrate charity and goodwill. We don't say "Merry Christmas", we say "Happy Holidays". Our symbol is not the cross, it is the peace sign. We don't have nativity scenes, we have nature scenes. And we believe in Santa Claus. :) And we watch holiday cartoons- it is a time to be child-like (not childish) and enjoy everything with a child-like innocence and wonder. I think we need to write our own holiday songs, because too many of them are xian related, and there aren't enough non-xian ones.