The Spirit at Christmas
Even in our secular culture there seems to be a widespread sense that somehow money has lead to a denigration of the Christmas spirit.
You cannot serve God and money — Jesus
What Do I Mean by Spirit?
I think that most of us experience a sense of meaning. I think most of us have the sense that some things flow from the core of who we are in a way that other activities don’t. These experiences of meaning and individuality are what I mean by the spiritual aspect of our experience.
In most religious traditions there are times and places that are regarded as more sacred, more imbued with spirit, than others. There are religious festivals (to celebrate the founder’s birth for instance) and particular buildings or parts of nature (churches, sacred mountains, and so on). These ideas of special times and places can be hard to relate to for most modern Westerners. (Charles Taylor’s A Secular Age [Amazon-US | Amazon-UK] is an excellent account of the change in Western sensibility that brought us to this point).
However, even modern Westerners often do have a sense of times that are special. Childbirth is often experienced as far more than just another member of the species coming to life. Some people set aside particular times to work at a craft or for being quiet.
Secular and Profane
All these special times and place are distinguished by being different. The sacred/the holy are distinguished from the usual run of the mill. During a genuinely spiritual performance (such as a shakuhachi performance by Riley Lee) it would feel wrong to sit there thinking about the next day’s shopping — it would somehow be denigration.
One of the areas of life that is usually thought to be outside the sacred or holy is money. In my religious tradition (Christianity), this has taken many a bizarre twist and turn and lead to much injustice. There was the ‘inner worldly asceticism’ of the Puritans — for whom, to be a little unfair, it was OK to make lots of money as long as you didn’t enjoy it too much. There were all those lectures to the poor by the wealthy about how they shouldn’t be concerned with money. In our age of conspicuous consumption this can seem quaint or bizarre, or both.
Cards and Tinsel
In Australia, where I live, and in many other countries, there is something of a campaign to ‘put Christ back into Christmas’. [Historical note: the X in Xmas started out as the Greek letter 'chi', which is written similarly to our English "X". The chi is still used as an abbreviation for "Christ" by theological students.] This is regarded with sympathy by many people who don’t regard themselves as Christians — certainly not practising ones. And there is no counter-campaign to denounce it as a bunch of wowser Puritans trying to ruin the fun of our conspicuous consumption. Even in our decidedly secular Western culture, there is a sense of Christmas being special in some way — that crass commercialism is somehow inappropriate at this time of year.
Value(s)
A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything but the value of nothing. — Oscar Wilde
Even in our secular culture there seems to be a widespread sense that somehow money has lead to a denigration of the Christmas spirit. There is a sense of two sets of values, the commercial and the spiritual, and that they clash. This was pointed out by Oscar Wilde in his witty way and Jesus in his uncompromising, and discomfort-inducing, way.
Giving
The particular aspect of spirit that is meant to be highlighted at Christmas is the spirit of giving. In the Christian tradition God is self-giving; people participate in this spirit by giving freely to others.
There is quite a difference between a spirit of calculation and that of generosity. During those special times when we are flowing from our core, those times that have special meaning for us, it is rare to find a mean-spiritedness; these are usually times of elation, openness and hospitality.
Sometimes the difference in the one individual can be quite striking. I have known a number of people who have been very gifted in an area of their lives. These areas have included things like musical performance, visual art, sport, and even raising money. Some of these people had major personal difficulties, and some of them were decidedly difficult for most people to get on with. However, when they were alive in their gift, flowing with what they loved to do, all of them were quite unselfconscious, free of egotism and generous spirited (attributes some of them didn’t necessarily have when not engaged in their gift).
Generosity
For me, the spirit of Christmas is generosity. This certainly doesn’t fit with commercialism. For me, the sacred has a generosity about it, an overflowingness that is unselfconscious.
What do you make of Christmas? I’d like to hear, is it a meaningful time for you? If you are more of the ‘bah, humbug’ view I can well understand this and would like to hear from you, too. I would also like to know if your sense of spirit has a givingness about it — or whether this isn’t a factor for you. I’m looking forward to hearing from you in the comments.
Other articles by Evan Hadkins
This article was last reviewed by Dr Greg Mulhauser, Managing Editor on Monday, 21st December 2009.
The URL of this page is:
http://counsellingresource.com/features/2009/12/21/the-spirit-at-christmas/
21st December 2009
I don’t like Christmas. The reason is that it always puts social demands on me at a time of the year I am least able to cope with it.
I have bipolar disorder, panic attacks, and ADHD. I definitely don’t do as well when the days get short (christmas, in the north). I am always required to complete a lot of tasks when I need to rest, and to attend social events whether I am able to cope or not. If I beg off, I am a heartless person who hates Christmas. People get their feelings hurt. If I do the christmas thing anyway, I have panic attacks, I’m miserable, and no one wants me around. I feel like I can’t win.
What I need is a third way, of course. Being honest helps, but that only works for people who know about your disorder. I think a lot of people with mental illness have similar issues. Being made to feel guilty because you don’t feel cheerful is rather nasty, and a real trap for people already in depression.
If I could create my own holiday season, it would be a lot less busy and a lot quieter. It would feature things we made ourselves for the people who really matter to us. And, it would be more compassionate towards people who are different, who don’t worship Jesus, or who (like myself) are really angry at God for dumping so much misery on them and don’t feel like celebrating.
I liked the section on giving. I find that when I am using my special talents, I am my ‘best self’. I see it in others as well, but you described it better than I have been able to do.
I hope that all of you find the Christmas that helps you be your best self, that has meaning for you and helps make you whole.
22nd December 2009
Hi Brook, I think I’d like your style of Christmas celebration lots more than the current practices. I wonder if there is a sort of semi-honesty along the lines of, “I’d like to be there but there are medical issues I need to attend to” kind of thing. People would probably respect you not wanting to specify the issues. I know that for many people Christmas carries a lot of emotional charge (usually negative), reminding them of past traumas. I’m glad you liked the section on giving. I hope you find a way to get through this Christmas feeling reasonably good. Thanks for your comment.
23rd December 2009
We’ve never bought into the Christmas mania so Christmas is a quiet, peaceful time for us. We don’t go to parties and avoid stores as much as possible between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It works for us.
23rd December 2009
Thanks Jean (Cheerful Monk), we like quiet and peaceful too. And we try to avoid the stores as well – we try to choose quieter times to go as much as possible. Thanks for your comment.
23rd December 2009
Hi Evan
I really like your description and observation of people who, when ‘in spirit’ just kind of flow thru it and with it, then in other situations or the rest of life are exactly the opposite. I think we’ve all seen this demonstrated, eccentric generous millionaires, mad but brilliant scientists, etc., however they are generally known for the eccentric or mad.
As far as what I think about spirit having a sense of givingness, I think they are synonymous, inseparable, if one considers true giving/spirit to be two different things.
As far as what I think of Christmas, I have some very opposing views. The idealist in me hears in my head, a line from a song sung by Peter, Paul & Mary: “Why can’t we have Christmas the whole year around?” An attitude displayed rather than an event. My opposing side often is screaming in my head: Wait, stop, we’ve got it all wrong! Let’s try again…
Have a nice holiday season, Xmas, reindeer, candy canes and whatever else you choose to include or exclude Evan!
Barbara
23rd December 2009
Thanks for your comment Barbara. Wishing you a joyous holiday season!
2nd January 2010
I am not sure how ‘money’ can affect anything. Money in itself is not an agent – it’s the meaning we attach and what we do… maybe making materialism into a religion is a problem? There seems to be a hint of demonising money itself here… giving it a power it doesn’t have….?
Bit late – but happy end of holidays to you, Evan, and to all!
2nd January 2010
Hi Sarah. Not sure. I’m thinking about the ‘we’ in “it’s the meaning we attach and what we do”.
I certainly thinking making materialism into a religion is a problem – there has been a bit of this about lately, what with Dawkins and Chris Hitchins and so on.
Hope you had a great holiday Sarah.
3rd January 2010
I did, thanks! :-)
Sorry, I don’t understand what you mean by “I’m thinking about the ‘we’ ?
3rd January 2010
I’m thinking about money as social reality – the meaning our culture ascribes to it may be different to the meaning a particular individual ascribes to it.
There can be different meanings ascribed to the same thing or relationship I think.
3rd January 2010
absolutely – which is why I had problems with the sentence “there seems to be a widespread sense that somehow money has lead to a denigration of the Christmas spirit.” I don’t see how money itself can do such a thing – whereas the various meanings it carries for different societies and individuals might well…
For example, giving a significant sum of money to charity (as many people do, with Christmas appeals etc) and giving just the right presents to loved ones (whatever they cost) seems to express the Christmas spirit perfectly, whereas the “shopping as religion” madness I see in the UK does not.