Reflections on Organized Holidays

or Why Do We Do This to Ourselves? 

Once again, my friend Mary, inspired another post. She shared how stressful holidays are for her. I really thought it was just me. Unlike Mary, my sister, and countless other woman, who are trying so hard to keep the traditions going for her kids, I am taking a different approach.
No kids, no traditions, no stress.

I think it is really interesting that "we" (white people and maybe turkey farmers) have taken the fourth Thursday in November and turned it into a big-to-do. The indigenous people of our country may not have quite the same "romantic' view on this day.

On October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for the observance of the fourth Tuesday of November as a national holiday. In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday to the third Thursday of November (to extend the Christmas shopping season and boost the economy). After a storm of protest, Roosevelt changed the holiday again in 1941 to the fourth Thursday in November, where it stands today.

The "real" story has a lot more to do with football, parades, and food.
Don't get me wrong, I like parades and food but why have we created so much stress?

I am not going to pretend to understand what it is to be a mom. Child birth seems to trigger some switch in your head that you have to provide your children with the "wonderful" experiences you had a child. Did you really have that incredible Thanksgiving or is it an illusion?  

Ask any woman about how their mother pulled-off an incredible Thanksgiving meal, they we will say she did it with grace and it was prefect. The pie crust was flaky, mashed potatoes and gravy both lump-free,  homemade rolls fresh from the oven, and the cooked to perfection turkey. 

But was it really like that? Since I have observed many of my altogether-great mom-friends have private melt-downs, I am guessing the women before us had those melt-down, too. Maybe we should share those melt-downs so our daughters don't have same unrealistic expectations we have for ourselves.
 I personally have never attempted to cook a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. I believe in JUST Say NO! Okay, no one wants to come to our house anyway.

Driving home from Red Lodge yesterday, I heard Paula Poundstone discussing Thanksgiving with Garrison Keillor. I thought she said it perfectly. Have a listen

But on a little more serious note. Today, the Monday after Thanksgiving, my class shared the best part of their holiday. Guess what, it had nothing to do with the perfect meal and everything to do with the "doing". They talking about  spending time with friends and family, staying up late, watching movies, decorating the Christmas tree, and being with people they loved.
So as the Christmas season comes upon us.
Remember it is about the DOING!