Christmas. A time for warm hearts, charity, generous gifts, red, white and green sweaters,, with the prize’s going is glowing candles and laughing children tumbling through wrapping paper and bows like fallen leaves. This may have been the essence of Christmas since it, along with the Christmas tree, was popularized in America in the 1850’s, but when FDR moved Thanksgiving one week earlier in 1939, to accommodate retailers who needed more time to sell their goods, Christmas took on a life of its own.
Today, Christmas remains a time of unity and community. It defines us and our nation. Christmas brings the best of us together and helps us put life’s nasty little details aside for a few weeks. And it’s an excuse to go all out for those we love. Like us. And let’s be honest here. Me.
Christmas is when we share time and love with the people who are special to us. And did I mention gifts?
Thomas Nast’s famous depiction of Santa Claus appeared in Harper’s Weekly in 1881
Back then, in the spirit of our blog, gifts might consist of treats and sweets, decorations for the tree, and for those most endeared, gold jewelry or an exquisite fountain pen.
By the 1950’s, after the wars, people could afford to be a little more extravagant. Magazines and newspapers could advertise – oh no – liquor and even cigarettes.
Yardley perfume, Motorola radios were two of the must haves of the day. “Must have,” of course, was not part of the vernacular.
Boys got new shoes, dad got a tie, girls got a pretty dress, maybe a doll, and mom got something to cook or clean with, alas.
The pandemonium that is Christmas today was a long time in the making. But here we are. And am I glad. That means a new smartphone out there has my name on it. So does a humongous TV that will listen to me when I talk.
Aside from electronics, gadgets and gear, perfume, clothing and jewelry, I find that for the people in your life who think they have everything, experiences make the best gift. A night in a B&B, tickets to a concert or game. A personalized playlist with a ginger candle for a Sunday brunch. A cool book like Chris Scott Wilson’s BackStage Pass Red Car Jazz Club, or here it is…
A snow polo experience offered by Moda Operandi with Nacho Figueras at the St. Regis Aspen Resort. He’s yours for the experience for $7785. So long smartphone.
Of course there are other ways to celebrate. Some people like the idea of giving personalized gifts, handmade and handcrafted especially for the recipient. Often they give a personal service like extra babysitting time, back scratching and/or a foot massage. The gift certificate could be a stocking stuffer or a message in a small beautifully wrapped box.
And like last year, ugly Christmas sweaters reign as the hot Christmas theme party. Invite your friends to wear the ugliest Christmas sweater for silly prizes for the worst of the worst.
For many years we have had a White Elephant Christmas Party for special friends. You give or rewrap a gift that you think is the worst, stupidest, tackiest, or just plain bad gift that you can come up with. For 4 years, I was giving away wedding presents that I couldn’t return. It’s crucial that the gift wrap is beautifully done so the package entices the recipient who gets to choose the gift by a lottery. Pick a number and go in order. #1 picks from the pile of gifts. #2 has a choice of picking #1’s gift or picking from the gift pile. If #2 picks #1’s present, then #1 gets to choose again from the pile. And merrily we roll down the line. After doing this for years, some people have ended up with their own original gifts. More often than not, the box is nicer than the gift. Remember: one person’s trash is another person’s treasure…sometimes. It is all done in good spirit with good food and drinks. We also take a vote on the worst gift. For us, it’s more fun than Secret Santa.
So whatever your Christmas theme, party, or way of celebrating – or if you have no theme and you have no intention in taking part at all, Happy Days to everyone.
GoGoGolosh 