I’m sure I’ve said this before; I love fall. Fall is the season that culminates itself in Christmas. Fall begins as soon as the first whiff of coolness enters the air. Fall is the Holiday Season. Why deny it? But it’s also new school clothes and shoes, pumpkins, dried corn and CANDY.
Halloween is about fun: candy, costumes, caramel apples. Why ask questions the children never do? Then Thanksgiving. Sadly, this holiday gets lost in the Christmas rush and I think Halloween will be next. It shouldn’t. Why does it have to be either/or? Shirley’s idea of welcoming the Christmas Spirit now would eliminate that. Why be mad because WalMart is full of decorations in October?
Why be mad at all? Madness is not of God and has nothing to do with the Christmas Spirit. Why not decorate (for Christmas) before Thanksgiving and give Thanksgiving it’s rightful place in this season of holidays?
The fall’s climax is Christmas. Not only is this a Christian holiday: the celebration of the coming to earth of the Son of God—sent to die so that reconciliation and salvation are possible—but it has also become a huge part of our cultural heritage. It is bad that non-Christians celebrate Christmas? Why? Didn’t God sent His Son to save both “Jew and Gentile”? Okay, so Christmas is the climax, and post Christmas the dénouement.
The Christmas season is my favorite time of year, but what follows can be icy. So how do we stretch the Christmas Spirit beyond December 25? Well, New Year’s celebrations are a given. But what about Twelfth Night—Epiphany to Catholics and Protestants—which is also the Eastern Orthodox Christmas? Why not keep the decorations up until after that?
So how is fall not the Holiday Season? Certainly not in Spirit. Bah Humbug.
posted in response to a blog entry by Shirley Buxton
10 comments
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October 4, 2007 at 9:26 am
Shirley
Good morning, Helen.
Have a happy, happy, fall day. Thanks for the link.
Shirley Buxton
http://www.shirleybuxton.wordpress.com
October 4, 2007 at 10:00 am
helenl
Hi Shirley, I love reading your blog and your devotional blog. Helen
October 4, 2007 at 7:16 pm
writeathome
Hi Helen,
I really enjoy the fall too. While I do love Christmas, I would have to say that my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. I would think that no matter what religious persuasion a person is, surely they can find something for which to be thankful. I like to be able to walk into a store and actually hear music that has something to do with God. Of course, I’d be a liar too if I didn’t mention that I like the fall, because Jennifer’s birthday and mine come in this season. Ah, so many reasons to celebrate. May you thoroughly enjoy the fall season.
October 4, 2007 at 10:36 pm
helenl
Hi Carol, It’s not that I don’t have much to be thankful for, because I do. But Thanksgiving dinner is a lot of work for me, while the guys watch football. Then after dinner, I deal with a greasy turkey carcass. Thanksgiving Day itself is about working and eating. I’m usually thankful that the day is over and that we can get on to Christmas. That’s why I suggested decorating before Thanksgiving. So after the work, it would be time to wrap presents and bake cookies and do fun stuff.
October 5, 2007 at 7:09 am
sarah
Hey, Helen. It’s so good to be reminded that I will be able to be with my family so soon! The biggest part of all the holidays, for me, is spending lots of time with my family. We’re pretty far from my mom, but I have some extended family out here, and it’s been lonely so far. So I’m excited for all the holidays!
October 5, 2007 at 9:26 am
helenl
Hi Sarah, I’m glad you’ll be with your family soon. We just spent six days with my Mom, sister and family, brother and family. It was great. But as far as Christmas goes, I’ve only been back to Joplin for the holidays three times since we were married in 1969. We may or may not see Bill’s family this year. So for the purpose of Christmas family is Bill, Troy, Victor and me.
October 5, 2007 at 11:55 pm
Jana Allard
Helen – I agree. We should decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving. I love the Christmas season, but like writeathome, I love fall. Bryn and I both celebrate our birthdays in October. We LOVE October! LOL More like Bryn loves October and I just celebrated my 20th anniversary of my 27th birthday.
My kids love Halloween, too. I always let them dress up and take them trick or treating. We just don’t dress in any evil characters. Bryn always wants to be a princess.
October 6, 2007 at 9:58 am
helenl
All this talk and my Halloween decorations are still in a box in the attic. I love the ones that go from Halloween to Thanksgiving. The colored leaves and the pumpkins. Like anyone thought it would bother me to leave them up year round. LOL
October 8, 2007 at 8:45 am
earthpal
Life should be celebrated and the Autumn is a wonderful time of the year for reflection.
Hollowe’en is fun. My kids get very creative and they love to make all kinds of scary stuff. I just hate all the teeth-rotting sweets they come home with after trick-or-treating. Lol. (Don’t tell them but I secretly get rid of some when they’re not looking).
October 8, 2007 at 10:03 am
helenl
Hi Earthpal. I think so, too.