Celebrating Christmas

After discussing Christmas in class and considered all the factors that I have been doing, as a result I began doubting my own existence. Every year I have been celebrating Christmas because I was told to celebrate it in order to have a good life. The three aspects, religion, family, and Santa Claus were involved in my celebration of this holiday. Me and my family have been following these patterns like most of the people. We celebrate it because we have been communicated that it is a very important holiday. I never questioned the importance of it until this Christmas.

What is celebrating Christmas? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_worldwide Decorating your house with the traditional image of Christmas (Noel, red boots, abundant Christmas tree, candy canes, etc.) Mom cooking dinner for hours and hours for the family. Having baby Jesus figure at the corner of the room. Pretending to be kind and loving with everyone. Exchanging Christmas presents or lying to children about a man leaving presents overnight. Singing traditional songs along with others.

-I think that people are so hypnotized by culture that they are not aware of their actions. celebrating Christmas is not wrong, but is not right either. It is an idea that was brought upon us many years ago for "community" purpose. the importance of Christmas is communicated generation by generation. If celebrating it makes people happy and it is taken as an opportunity to be harmonically with others then how grandiose it turned out to be. But, if throughout the year until this date people has been hating, destroying, and crying and then hypocritically celebrating Christmas... What are they playing at?
They have been playing the same game we all play before and during Christmas. We are all mediocre and hide it, so that other don't know we are. I call it human nature living under culture. After all it is impossible for us not to live under culture.


What happens if we do not celebrate it?
Those who do not celebrate do not "fit in". Those who do not celebrate it are called heretic, loners, miserable. And those who do not celebrate actually believe that is their reality. Even if it is decided not to celebrate it because there is no profound reason found, that person is it identified as someone who opposes this worldwide holiday. If we do not celebrate Christmas, then our house will not be beautifully decorated. We would not have "that" special dinner. We might not receive presents from family or friends. Life would go on.

-I think that it is not right not to celebrate Christmas, but it is also not wrong. It is simply not celebrating because of any reason there might be. For example: "I have no one to celebrate with", "I see no point", "Too much work for a holiday", "the economy is really bad right now", etc. Either way there is always a reason to celebrate or not to celebrate Christmas. But they all apply to their respective culture.

So, what should we do in this holiday?
Once again people are trapped between two or even more alternatives. It is up to them to decide what to do based on whatever is more convenient. At a very young age we were taught right and wrong. Even if our right and wrong did not match others, we would still think, act, and criticize based on our own, because we are right and they are wrong. Someone who decides to celebrate Christmas thinks is the right thing to do, the normal thing to do. Someone who does not, take for instance a Chinese, thinks is the right thing to do, the normal thing to do. So, which one is it? Do we celebrate it or not?

-I personally think that these type of questions are futile. There is free will in this world after all, even if most people have never experimented it. I think people "should" do whatever they want to do, as soon as they do not spread any malice to others. If it is decided to practice or to celebrate any holiday, then so be it. If it is declared that there is a right or wrong in reality relating Christmas, then so be it. Everything is the way it is, will be, and have been. Whatever decision is made regarding Christmas celebration you will always end up being wrong in some one's opinion.


My Christmas this year...
This year I decided not celebrate Christmas for the first time. I communicated this to my family and they respected my decision. My father and my grandparents are Chinese, so they were not against my decision at any point. My sister wondered my sudden reaction, but she did not opposed it. As a family we agreed to celebrate it in our own way or not to celebrate it at all. The way we performed this agreement was by simply having dinner at an Italian restaurant. It is my sister's favorite restaurant, so she was there to have a longed great dinner with us. I went along to have dinner at a restaurant with my family. My father was there to be with his daughters and enjoy himself during this special night. I did not give any presents to family nor received. We did not decorated our house, or cooked dinner. I saw this night as any other.

I could say that my family sees mostly Christmas as an opportunity to be together, and I am very happy they do so. As for me, I do not want to see Christmas or any other holiday as a reason or excuse to be with others. Or to be kind to others and give presents. Or to go to church and celebrate Jesus birth. I now realize that I am and have been a mediocre too, and I did not like it. However, it is not going to change. Regardless of what I do I will still be strongly influenced by what I THINK is right and act according to it. But, even though the circumstances i have no feelings of regret for not celebrating Christmas and I am still living a good life. From now on I will celebrate any holiday because I chose to celebrate it not because that is what I am supposed to do. Everyday is important, everyday is an opportunity, why wait for a holiday to express your feelings?