It’s Time To Stop Being Grumpy About Christmas
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For a holiday that emphasizes peace and joy, there’s a lot of controversy about Christmas. But one of the oddest, and increasingly frequent, complaints about the holiday is that it starts too early and lasts too long.
I get it – you walk into a box store in August and the Christmas trees are up. So strong is the commerce element of the holiday that it’s easy to forget it’s about something other than cheap electronics and plastic toys.
Magazines, blogs, and newspapers join in with their annual, requisite articles on surviving the holidays, focusing on all these parties we’re theoretically attending, populated by sophisticated people in formal attire. It’s stressful just reading the articles, and I never attend parties like this.
But Christmas doesn’t have to be this way, and for that reason, I painted These Gifts Are Better Than Toys, focusing on a likable looking Santa who is intently painting a Nativity set. For me, it blends the happy holiday fantasy of Father Christmas (whom some religious people, in their fervor, want to totally obliterate) with what many people acknowledge as the reason for the season (I know, the phrase is overused).
In this context, Christmas can’t start too early or last too long, because Christmas IS a time of peace and joy. The spirit of Christmas — the gift giving, the times together with family and friends, the joy of creating — can’t start too early, or last too long.
More info: 2-steve-henderson.pixels.com
These Gifts Are Better Than Toys
For a holiday that emphasizes peace and joy, there’s a lot of controversy about Christmas. But one of the oddest, and increasingly frequent, complaints about the holiday is that it starts too early and lasts too long.
I get it – you walk into a box store in August and the Christmas trees are up. So strong is the commerce element of the holiday that it’s easy to forget it’s about something other than cheap electronics and plastic toys.
Magazines, blogs, and newspapers join in with their annual, requisite articles on surviving the holidays, focusing on all these parties we’re theoretically attending, populated by sophisticated people in formal attire. It’s stressful just reading the articles, and I never attend parties like this.
But Christmas doesn’t have to be this way, and for that reason, I painted These Gifts Are Better Than Toys, focusing on a likable looking Santa who is intently painting a Nativity set. For me, it blends the happy holiday fantasy of Father Christmas (whom some religious people, in their fervor, want to totally obliterate) with what many people acknowledge as the reason for the season (I know, the phrase is overused).
In this context, Christmas can’t start too early or last too long, because Christmas IS a time of peace and joy. The spirit of Christmas — the gift giving, the times together with family and friends, the joy of creating — can’t start too early, or last too long.
More info: 2-steve-henderson.pixels.com
These Gifts Are Better Than Toys
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Ha, our daughter calls me the grump - when I start complaining about too much Christmas too soon. By soon, "I" mean before Halloween even gets here. Once Thanksgiving is over then there is no such thing as too much Christmas. Your painting is wonderful and I will be sharing it (via your link) with her. For sure.
Our children call us out on a lot of things . . . Thank you for your kind comments, Bill, and for sharing the article. May you have the most wonderful holiday season -- regardless of when it starts!
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Thank you, Dorothy. There's a reason Christmas is the favorite season of many, and it would be good to keep it that way!
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Thank you, Dora, for your kind words. I really like painting images that encourage and bring a little happiness into people's day.
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Thank you, Sierra, for your kind words. May your Christmas season be a happy, joyous one, filled with family, friends, laughter, good food, and the best of the season.
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Steve, just beautiful. Love the blending of symbolism and your thoughts are absolutely relatable.
Thank you, Linda, for your kind words. May the joy of Christmas be a gift in your life, all year round.
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Thank you, Savonnah, for your kind words. May the spirit of Christmas, with all its joy and warmth, be yours this Christmas season and throughout the year.
Load More Replies... Ha, our daughter calls me the grump - when I start complaining about too much Christmas too soon. By soon, "I" mean before Halloween even gets here. Once Thanksgiving is over then there is no such thing as too much Christmas. Your painting is wonderful and I will be sharing it (via your link) with her. For sure.
Our children call us out on a lot of things . . . Thank you for your kind comments, Bill, and for sharing the article. May you have the most wonderful holiday season -- regardless of when it starts!
Load More Replies... Thank you, Dorothy. There's a reason Christmas is the favorite season of many, and it would be good to keep it that way!
Load More Replies... Thank you, Dora, for your kind words. I really like painting images that encourage and bring a little happiness into people's day.
Load More Replies... Thank you, Sierra, for your kind words. May your Christmas season be a happy, joyous one, filled with family, friends, laughter, good food, and the best of the season.
Load More Replies... Steve, just beautiful. Love the blending of symbolism and your thoughts are absolutely relatable.
Thank you, Linda, for your kind words. May the joy of Christmas be a gift in your life, all year round.
Load More Replies... Thank you, Savonnah, for your kind words. May the spirit of Christmas, with all its joy and warmth, be yours this Christmas season and throughout the year.
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