Christmas. Right around the corner. Sneaking up on me. Can you feel it? I’m hesitant to suggest that Christmas is a humbug, but honestly? I’m not feeling the Christmas spirit – yet. It just doesn’t seem to be measuring up to my expectations. Thing is, I don’t know what my expectations were (or are), except that maybe I think I should be feeling more joyful. Because if Christmas doesn’t bring joy, what will? Besides winning the lottery, that is. I haven’t done that either so, yeah, the joy is lacking all the way around.
But, wait! There’s still hope! During the holidays, one of my favorite things is to watch some classic movies. They have a way of making me feel good, and they help me find my way to holiday joy.
- A Christmas Carol: This is my Christmas Eve go-to classic, the 1951 British version, with Alastair Sim. “I wear the chain I forged in life. I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it.” We all wear the chains we forged in life (sometimes you can even feel the drag behind you), and this movie is my reminder that we are fully capable of lessening the length of our fetters, simply by changing the way we view the world around us and our treatment of others.
- It’s a Wonderful Life: A Christmas day staple, great for watching while the smells of Christmas dinner waft through the house. If Scrooge’s metamorphosis has taught me I can lessen my trail of chains by how I treat others, George Bailey reminds me that I likely have no clue how many lives I’ve touched, and in how many different ways. And the more I work at it, the more lives I will continue to touch, hopefully in a positive way.
- Miracle on 34th Street: I’m a fan of the original, 1947 version. This movie reminds me to believe. In something. In anything. Even in Santa Claus. Definitely in the magic of the season.
- Holiday Inn: Because why not? With Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby, the dancing and singing are awesome, and it’s definitely a feel good movie all the way around with the usual story line of – spoiler alert – boy meets girl, boy loses girl, and boy gets girl back – during a lovely rendition of White Christmas.
- Sound of Music: While not technically a Christmas movie, it does contain the song My Favorite Things, which definitely puts it well within the Christmas movie genre in my book. This movie reminds me that sometimes you have do what’s right, regardless of the potential cost, over what’s easy.
- The Family Stone: My most recent addition to my all-time favorites list. The Family Stone (2005) reminds me that families, no matter how dysfunctional they may appear, are all that we have left at the end of the day. The twists and turns of life often take us and our families in unexpected directions, so it behooves us to cherish every moment with them.
I think joy may be a journey which has no final destination, per se. It has an ebb and flow, at least for me. Valleys and peaks. And while at this moment I may be in a valley, these movies have a way of lifting my spirit, heading me toward the next peak. They make me laugh, and cry, and they remind me to try to always be grateful for all that I have. Perhaps, more importantly, they create a desire in me to do better, to be better. To be more generous and compassionate and loving. This journey? It’s a long one, sometimes a tough one which I admit I’m not always very good at, but a worthwhile one, with peaks of overwhelming joy sprinkled in periodically along the way. Kind of like finding that unexpected brown paper package tied up with string.
~ jwb ~
I also have been thinking about The concept of getting in the Christmas spirit. Christmas is defined as an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a religious and cultural celebration. In the modern world version of Christmas the greater Part of humanity Christmas has no legitimate meaning at all. A poem, ” a visit from St Nicholas” (1822)
Helped popularize the tradition of exchanging gifts the phrase ”
the crib in the tree precious symbols we can downing time the true meaning of Christmas “. This phrase was used in numerous Christmas films since 1960s. So how can one who does not believe in this religious celebration of Jesus Christ birth expect to have Christmas Spirit? I don’t believe they can Christmas lights ornaments gifts food are all lovely things indeed. But they will not fill the heart with the Christmas spirit.Can a non-Christian enjoy Christmas and have Christmas spirit. I believe about as much as he or she would enjoy a Hanukkah.
I think that the “spirit of Christmas” can indeed be separated from the birth of Christ. I think of Christmas more as a reminder to be generous and compassionate, and don’t have to believe in Christ to do so. And I guess, from my point of view, if we really are celebrating the birth of Christ, we wouldn’t be putting up Christmas trees and lights and giving gifts to each other, but rather would be going to our local church to pray for our salvation and honor Christ and God. While Christmas movies bring me joy, it’s because they remind me to be generous, loving, compassionate. Some that I like do have the underlying theme of God (being visited by ghosts and angels presumably sent by God), but God is what you believe God to be. For me it’s the Universe, Mother Nature, the Force. It’s not about Christ, a story which I, personally, do not believe. Obviously though, God is in the eyes of the beholder, as is Christ, and Christmas means different things to different people. Whatever works to make us better human beings is what I’m an advocate of!
Typo error on my first reply, the phrase was as followers, ” the crib and the tree, precious symbols which hand down in time the true meaning of Christmas”