CrankyBuddhist   the learning never ends …

Yesterday was Christmas and a quiet day it was. I’ve just resigned myself to having quiet holidays as a grown woman. It’s easier than pining for the rambunctious ones I had when I was younger and hung out with my family.

Luckily, I like quiet. I really enjoy quiet. Part of being quiet is not having to do anything. Choosing not to do anything. Or choosing to do something, but only if I want to. Quiet is also not having to listen to anyone, or to not speak if I’m not really into speaking. Quiet is a good thing. It’s a lovely thing. Beautiful.

So my Christmas was quiet. And peaceful. And beautiful.

And so the pendulum swings.

Over on blogher.org, Mata H. started a Christmas and Hannukah meme. The lovely thing about Buddhism is that all religious holidays are fair game for celebrating, and Christmas is my absolute favorite (right up there with Halloween and the Solstices!). Most of my Christmas celebrations are memories of Christmas past, since most of the people I used to celebrate with are either dead or not talking to me. During my young adult life, I didn’t have the cash flow to go home for the holidays for many years and a phone call on Christmas Eve was my only connection with the group. I’ll talk more about Christmas (maybe) as the day draws closer, but for now here is the meme:

CHRISTMAS MEME

1.Real tree or artificial or treeless? Any special traditions with the tree?

Currently treeless. But I love Christmas trees, live ones. The tradition with my immediate family tree while I was growing up was in the process of decorating it. Lights on the inside of the tree, then the bulbs, some deep inside and some on the edge, then icicles delicately and purposefully placed all over the tree. Most of our bulbs were family bulbs, I don’t know if they still exist somewhere or not. We put the tree up fairly soon after Thanksgiving and it stayed up until January 2nd.

One year Grandma decided to no longer have a tree at her house for the holiday. She decided this when she realized that the Christmas tree had nothing to do with Christmas and everything to do with that pagan holiday of the Winter Solstice.

2. Eggnog or Cider or Mulled Wine?

For me – mulled wine. Or just wine. I love good wine.

3. Spiritual or Secular celebration?

Growing up it was both. Now it’s just a quiet day of contemplation.

4. Favorite Christmas music?

All of the classics.

5. One special holiday memory.

In my family there are so many good Christmas memories, but in general, it was the Christmas Eve celebrations at my Great-Grandparents’ house. I probably had about ten or eleven of those before the celebration moved to my Grandparents’. This night was full of extended family, food and drink, Grandma’s cookies, a lot of laughter, and presents for everyone.

Tag: Anyone who reads this! (On your own blog or in the comments!)