Why? Why not?
In the spirit (or maybe not so much after this post is finished) of the season today's Miscellaneous Monday post comes to you courtesy of Facebook!
This was the interaction I recently had with my mother, and as you can see from the last comment she poses an interesting questions.
While I don't believe the answer will be very appealing to many in her generation (and while I would be happy to field comment that refute what I am about to say [especially from today's youth]...and even more so would be happy to repost when I am thusly refuted!) I feel I have an answer.
Why don't we (yes, I will include myself, for the time being, in said "younger generation") do these time-honored traditions? I think one of the answers comes in the question: traditions.
While I do not wish to make this a Wordy Wednesday I do find that word to be quite telling of the current situation. However, before I reach Traditions there are a few, simpler explanations:
Time: There is an actual time commitment that comes with writing, addressing and mailing Christmas cards. And putting up a tree? And then having to take it down again?? The hard cold truth is I only make time for what's important. Why is this no longer important you ask? .....
Money: It might not seem like a lot but cards are expensive!!! And buying a tree is the difference between making rent and not, let alone the decorations for the tree (and then of course there's the issue of storing said decorations all other times of the year). Have you visited the card section in your local super market lately? Sure you don't have to buy the fancy ones but I only spend money on what's important to me. Why is this no longer important you as? ....
Well, now we come to Traditions!
Traditionally, Christmas was about family! Traditionally Christmas cards were a time to let family and friends know how your year was (thus, the Christmas letter) and to feel connected to those who you don't see all the time. And Traditionally Christmas was based around church. So what has changed?
Family: When I was a kid, decorating the Christmas tree was a family event. The ornaments had meaning, and stories, etc. The nativities represented Christ and the Christmas cards (okay, I'll be honest, the Christmas cards never really mattered that much to me) Now that I live alone it's just, well, work (and money I don't have, and space I don't have). In general the dynamic of "family" has changed and with that change comes a change to the traditions that revolve around "family".
Connections: In the world of cell phones, Facebook, Skype, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin, Wazzup, ipads, webcams and all other forms of social media and technology connections aren't a problem. I already know what aunt mildred did all year because I could get a play-by-play on her Facebook (she's a hip Aunt Mildred). I even sent her a birthday wish on Facebook (or an E-card if you're not a Facebook person), so the need for a "snail mail" card seems unnnecessary.
Now, I'll be the first to admit that all of the above "connections" fail miserably on many counts at actually connecting us (an argument for another time), but whether they do or not is irrelevant. All that's relevant is what is perceived because traditions are:
: an inherited, established, or customary pattern
of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom)
: cultural continuity in social attitudes,
customs, and institutions
It's all about the social. When the social climate changes so to do the traditions. Now, I do not wish to make a judgment call as to whether the change is good or bad (I'm trying very hard, in fact, to eliminate polar extremes from my mentality and vocabulary), but these are my observations as to why. Feel free to refute!
Regardless of if you are a Christmas Tree decorator, a Christmas Card maker or prescribe to neither I wish you a Merry Christmas!!! Now, I must be off to mail my Christmas Cards!
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