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Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2007 /  Wondering what would happen at Christmas if ...?

Sr. Janet Schaeffler, Special to The Michigan Catholic
Published December 21, 2007

C. S. Lewis wrote (in "Twentieth Century," Volume CLXII, December 1957) that there are actually three Christmases. One is a popular holiday. Another, as he described it, "the commercial racket." And the third is a Christian festival, the real Christmas.

The popular holiday is often thought of as a time for every reason for a party, a chance to get away from it all. Holiday cruises are advertised in the paper as the time to "live it up." For some the popular holiday must involve alcoholic beverages – and sometimes their abuse. For some, it includes expensive dinner-dances or travel.

The "commercial racket" of Lewis has developed from the exchange of small presents. Mr. Pickwick took a cod with him to Dingley Dell; the reformed Scrooge ordered a turkey for his clerk, and children were given fruit and small toys. But as Lewis pointed out, the idea that not only all friends but even all acquaintances should give one another presents and send one another cards, is quite modern and is largely a result of the advertising campaigns of American businesses.

What is the result? Long before Dec. 25, everyone is physically worn out with the daily struggle in overcrowded malls, mentally worn out by the effort to remember all the right recipients.

During times of economic uncertainty, reports of large Christmas sales bring a sense of hope. We buy more than we should because we're told that "it is good for the economy; it is good for us." Are long cash register receipts becoming the reason for the hope of the season?

What about the real Christmas? In the midst of this, Christians celebrate the season of Advent, preparing to celebrate the birth of Him who said, "I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

What happens to the Christian festival of Christmas when it is placed alongside today's popular holiday, alongside "the commercial racket?" Is the real Christmas perhaps like the center of an onion that has become wrapped and wrapped with layer upon layer of coverings? Coverings that were meant to enhance the real meaning, but some, that perhaps made it too cumbersome and have buried the real meaning. Is it time to peel them away and discard them?

What is abundant life? What – in today's world – is enough?

A couple of years ago, when my great-nephew Tyler was 6 years old, at the beginning of December, he said to his mom and dad, "I don't want lots of presents this year. I want to get presents and food for the kids who don't have lots of things. I really don't need any more things. I have enough."

• What would happen if … your family listed last year's Christmas expenses?
  • Note where you would like to reduce (or increase) your holiday spending.
  • Talk about what your family values in the real Christmas and how you can peel away anything that might stand in the way of the real Christmas.
     
• What would happen if … you evaluated your parish/school program and other activities/schedule to see if they promote a simple holiday?
  • Do they bring families together or cause more stress?
  • Are they prayerful, focused on the liturgical season, concerned for others, for the environment, etc.?
     
• What would happen if … you discussed your Advent/Christmas traditions and activities together as a family?
  • What have you always done?
  • Is that what you really want to do?
  • What brings you abundant life?
  • Are there some that are stressful and unsatisfying?
  • Is it time for a change this year?
     
• What would happen if … gifts of experience and creativity were the norm rather than store-bought gifts?
  • Reestablish contact with a long-lost relative or friend.
  • Gifts of your time (week of sewing, help with a computer, "fix-it" hours, etc.).
  • Grandparents can make a personal "talking book" on audio or video cassette for grandchildren faraway.
     
• What would happen if … we gave gifts to those not in our inner circle?
  • Secretly shovel the snow off your neighbor's front walk.
  • Take a decorated miniature Christmas tree to someone in a hospital or nursing home (someone you don't even know – ask who doesn't get visitors).
  • Tip someone who doesn't expect it.
     
• What would happen if … we supported alternate gift shopping?
  • Catholic Relief Services promotes Fair Trade through its Work of Human Hands program, which brings fairly traded handcrafts, chocolate, and coffee from low-income producers all over the world.
  • Global Exchange offers an entire catalogue of fair trade products made by people in developing countries for the holidays.
  • Ten Thousand Villages provides vital, fair income to people in developing countries by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories.
  • The Ministry of the Arts by the Congregation of St. Joseph promotes the unity of creation through art by the sisters.
  • Heartbeats, a religious gifts catalogue of inspirational gifts made by world artists.

Sr. Janet Schaeffler, OP, is the archdiocesan associate director for adult faith formation for the Office for Faith Formation/Catechetics.