There's nothing wrong with December except Christmas. As an adult I find it requires relentless planning, multiple to-do lists, and a plan of attack that resembles the invasion of Normandy. The most stressful part is shopping for things that we don't really need. What I'd really like to do is enjoy a few days off, walk in the snow, and cook some good food, without a shopping extravaganza attached.
Apparently I'm not alone; there are a number of people who would like to resist the holiday. But change takes time. While a "Buy Nothing Christmas" is theoretical for now, I can still use The Center for a New American Dream's useful tips for simplifying the holiday. And there's always a fun twist on gift giving. For example, I like the Heifer International mechanism of donations that buy farm animals for families across the world. Hey, a sheep is only $120! (Or a llama, water buffalo,goat, pig or the lyrically titled "trio of rabbits.")
See also: Adbusters
Overcoming Consumerism
Critical Living
...which is why i do all of my shopping on December 24th, with my dad. at that point, the mall's pretty empty, everyone there is looking forward to having the next day off, and the pressure for the 'perfect gift' drops about a hundred fold. it's kind of like putting your homework off till the last minute--while sometimes it backfires, you ultimately end up cutting out a lot of the crap and settling for exactly what needs to be there.
plus it's quality time with my dad. never a bad thing. (:
yay, Heifer!1 they're my favorite.
-g-
Posted by: gollum on November 22, 2005 11:01 PM