Every year, I promise myself that Christmas will be easier and less stressful. Have I ever succeeded? One year, I decided to escape the holiday chaos in the UK and spent Christmas in the Canary Islands. It was an extraordinary experience. Christmas Day was spent lounging by the pool, with hotel staff serving 'Christmas' cake (not the traditional fruitcake, but Madeira cake) at various intervals. Santa Claus even made a dramatic entrance by parachuting onto the beach. The hotel was filled with people seeking to escape the seasonal stress. While many missed their families, they felt the need to get away. One man in the next room spent every Christmas away from his family, preferring solitude over the traditional British Christmas experience. He didn't find this unusual at all.
One thing that struck me was the friendliness and dedication of the hotel staff. Curious about their holiday schedule, I asked the receptionist. He explained that they didn't have a long Christmas holiday. They only had 24 hours off on Christmas Eve to attend Mass and enjoy a celebratory meal with family and friends. No presents were exchanged on Christmas Day; instead, gifts were given on January 6th, the Feast of the Epiphany, when the wise men brought their gifts to Jesus. Even then, the presents were modest. By late afternoon on Christmas Day, all staff had returned to work, as did most workers throughout the island.
As we sipped champagne at breakfast and spent the day basking in the sun, I had a lot to ponder. I still love Christmas and its Christian significance, but the shopping aspect overwhelms me. Despite my efforts to avoid it, I had to be more organized and distribute presents to friends and family well in advance of traveling to warmer climes. I enjoy giving gifts, but I often worry about their appropriateness. While I don't have a formula for gift-giving, I try to cut down on spending without appearing miserly, support charities with my purchases, simplify the shopping process, and start early. All you can do is try!
Is it just me, or does Christmas shopping still largely fall to women? Are we the ones who start worrying in February about gifts for children or grandchildren? Are we the ones who see something in June and think it would be perfect for Aunt Mathilda at Christmas? The internet offers wonderful opportunities to ease the pressure of shopping. Having moved from a bustling city to a small island with limited choices, online shopping has become a growing activity, if not an obsession, in our household.
But does Christmas have to be this way for us? According to a survey by the American Psychological Association, 69% of people feel stressed by the lack of time, 69% are stressed by the lack of money, and 51% are stressed by the pressure to give or get gifts during the holiday season (source). Perhaps it's time to rethink our approach to Christmas and focus on what truly matters.
Christmas should be a time of joy and reflection, not stress and anxiety. By simplifying our approach and focusing on meaningful traditions, we can reclaim the true essence of the holiday season. Let's make this Christmas less about the hustle and bustle and more about the moments that matter.
For more insights on simplifying your life and focusing on what truly matters, visit FemaleMatters.
This article has been crafted to provide a fresh perspective on the holiday season, incorporating detailed insights and statistics to offer a comprehensive view.
