On the Other Hand

[arisbe]

"Many Americans make Thanksgiving into a religious festival. They agree with Lincoln, who, upon declaring Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863, said that "we have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven." They ascribe our material abundance to God's efforts, not man's.
" That view is a slap in the face of any person who has worked an honest day in his life."

Comments

[prester-scott.livejournal.com]

Ooo, you touched a hot button. I myself could stand to make the whole of my Christmas celebration with Midnight Mass and the feast days that follow. The commercial aspect does not interest me at all. I am particularly irritated with the American convention of insisting on having parties right smack in the middle of Advent. One day, when I'm bolder, I'll refuse to attend them all.

[rengal.livejournal.com]

Your thoughts are so wonderful to read. The article was a bit of hooey, but I understand it's motives and it is certainly prompted some good responses.
arisbe wrote: "As someone else pointed out, Capitalism Day is still called Christmas. Personally it pleases me to put off the major religious celebration until Theophany a week later."
That's pretty cool. Coming from a multi-religion family (Mormon, Roman Cath., Byz. Cath.) Christmas takes on a sort of generic-ness that I find at times upsetting. I like to exchange a gift on the feast of St. Nicholas.

prestor_scott wrote: "The commercial aspect does not interest me at all."
Nor I. It is, however, a custom of my family to return hospitality with hospitality and be gracious in kind. So, if I know someone will be giving me a gift, I will reciprocate in kind.

I would like different traditions in the family I will help guide. However, it will be a challenge to live in this culture but not be of it.