What Happened to Christmas?

I didn't really plan on talking about Christmas in this blog but I realized today that I should take a moment to explain that Kwanzaa is not being celebrated by my family in replacement of Christmas. It is in ADDITION to it. Being a fairly "new age" type holiday many people are ignorant to even the simple basics of Kwanzaa. I know I was at first. What appealed to me however were the principals it developed and that it really could be tailored to fit any type of family. Next years festivities may be very different than this years for us. In any case so far I love how it is bringing me and the kids closer together and focusing on some important values I really want them to explore. It's also been fun thinking of creative ways to celebrate each principal.

We still plan on celebrating Christmas of course because that is a religious holiday we believe in as well. It is a time to recognize the birth of Jesus Christ (although it wasn't on December 25th exactly) and to remember what Jesus was sent here to Earth for and to continue that model in our lives; Love, family and the spirit of giving. NOT expecting presents. NOT counting presents against our siblings or other family members. NOT family stress and drama aired out. NOT judgment and criticism. Love, peace and family togetherness is what I want to feel on Christmas. Material things have engulfed our society and just adds unnecessary stress and negative energy to a time when Unity is all you should feel. By removing the present receiving aspect from Christmas my hopes are that my children will always remember Christmas for what it truly is and give to others and do for others as Jesus did for us. Removing presents on Christmas is not making my son "grow up too fast" as one family member told my son. And as another family member told me I can "do what [I ]want in [my] house" as if I was doing something wrong by wanting my children to not conform to what society has turned the community into (spoiled materialistic ungrateful people) - I do hope my children will take the principles of Kwanzaa with them in other peoples houses and lives and remember the real meaning of Christmas as others are focused on presents in their houses. Because on 12/25 of this year in my house we will be talking about Jesus, going to church, possibly working at a soup kitchen and wishing good blessings on the rest of the world. If that makes my son grow up too fast so be it. He can regain his youth I guess as he opens his Kwanzaa gifts?

Ideally I would love for other family member to stop by at least one time during our Kwanzaa and celebrate with us as a family and learn about a principle with us but new things are difficult for many to grasp and believe it or not I have a very judgmental/critical family (this does not apply to every member of course), so for now it will just be me and the kids and really I couldn't be any more blessed.

Happy Holidays!