A partner of 
December is considered one of the most active and exciting months involving two events that are calendrically close to each other: Christmas and New Year’s. In these periods, advertisements, news, events, movies, etc., create a general expectation by emphasising joy, togetherness, and happiness.
Such events and special days may create situations we cannot always access in our fast-paced lives. Therefore, special preparations and plans are understandable.
However, these idealised portrayals for December can create a sense of obligation, urging us to prepare and plan accordingly. While Christmas and New Year offer opportunities for connection and joy, it’s important to acknowledge that not everyone may share the same enthusiasm or have the means to participate fully. Individual circumstances, personal preferences, and cultural differences can influence how people experience this time of year. Moreover, not everyone may be in the mood or available to celebrate these events for various reasons.
So, let us talk about something not talked about much and unlock December spirit together.
Christmas and New Year- From Past to Present
Decorations, food, gifts, and trees are the visible part of the season, with their other ignored parts. While we often talk about how we can compensate for what we have done for the Earth and its systems, the reality is that we are still adding additional costs; the festive season is one of the periods that negatively contribute to the situation.
While the modern celebrations of Christmas and New Year bring consumerism and commercialism nowadays, they were not always celebrated in these ways, with their root in ancient traditions and religious beliefs.
Pagans and Christmas/New Year Tradition
Paganism is the ancestral religion of the whole of humanity.
As a nature-based religion, paganism recognizes place, nature, and all related elements, including their diversity, worship around them, and spirituality. For Pagans, December was a period dedicated to their loved ones because they were agricultural communities, and the winter was meant to be the end of the harvest season. Ornaments on trees represented their gods and were a part of their “festive tradition”. Gift-giving and several other festive traditions that exist today are adopted from a lifestyle in which nature was the core of everything.
How did we adopt their tradition and reverse the meaning from environment-based worship to environmental hazard? In recent centuries, the commercialisation of the period has transformed it into a global phenomenon. The focus has shifted from religious significance to only gift-giving, festive decorations, and holiday shopping. While these traditions can bring joy, it’s important to be mindful of excessive consumption and its impact on the environment.
Approaching the festive period, taking some time to think of the significance and the purpose of the Christmas and New Year can bring us a refreshed perspective. We can act without compromising nature with a mindful and sustainable celebration. Yet, there is already a created expectation from the season. Now is the best time to explore and notice them.
Societal Expectations of the Period
Spending
Special day preparations can result in spending extreme amounts of money each year on decorations, personal purchases, gifts, food, etc. These activities become unchangeable during the period; therefore, people are coded to do them as their Christmas or New Year routine.
From the sustainability perspective, it is a waste of money and resources, but you can integrate sustainability into your Christmas. Here are a few tips for easy and natural decorations/presents.
Eco-Decorations
- Foraged Decor: Gather pine cones, twigs, and leaves from your local park or garden. Create beautiful centrepieces or wreaths.
- Dried Slices: Slice oranges and lemons and dry them in an oven or dehydrator. String them together to create garlands or use them as ornaments. It is beautiful, and it will make your house smell amazing!
- Cinnamon Stick Ornaments: Tie cinnamon sticks together with ribbon to create fragrant ornaments.
Sustainable Gifts
- We shared sustainable gift ideas in one of our published articles. Explore super beneficial and lovely gifts for Christmas and New Year.
Subjectivity of December Experience
Financial hardship can be a reason not to be a part of the December spirit. Therefore, special holidays, fancy celebrations, and exclusive gifts may not be possible for many people. Considering all this, not asking questions about other individuals’ New Year or Christmas activities, gifts, and plans is not indifference but rather warm empathy. No one feels obliged to explain anything to each other and feels like something is not going as it should. Festive periods don’t turn out to be a source of unease if someone does not do anything special.
Christmas can be the way you define it. Don’t forget that you don’t have to fit into the image of how others celebrate it. Many families celebrate these holidays because it’s an opportunity to come together, while others can decide to spend it with their friends and simply share an evening with a well-cooked meal. There is no need for fancy decorations, presents or fireworks… this holiday is about celebrating the year that has passed and looking forward to a new one. Make the best out of it in whatever way you want!
Gathering with Others
On Christmas and New Year’s days or nights, should we always be with a group of people and celebrate the days with others? Well, spending time with friends and families is great if we have a good relationship with them or we have a chance to come together. Yet, every one of us has our own story in life, which brings changes from year to year.
Maybe;
Anything can be possible for us to spend these events alone, this year or in the upcoming years. Whatever the case is, we can feel various emotions. The first thing to remember is every single emotion is natural, and nothing lasts forever. You can turn the festive period into special days reserved for yourself.
- Prioritize self-care activities like meditation, yoga, or spending time in nature.
- Be creative – paint, etc.
- Create a cosy atmosphere at home with soft blankets, warm drinks, and your favourite movies or TV shows.
- Connect with loved ones through video calls or online games.
- Embark on a solo adventure to a peaceful destination.
Having a Whale of Time
Another expectation from this period of the year is having fun. Everything is primarily organised for this purpose. But what does it mean to have fun?
Do we always have to be with others to enjoy the period, or purchasing Christmas items is the way of joy? Can’t people have fun just by themselves in their ordinary flow of life?
The main source of joy is usually internal peace, which we can also have in the state of being alone. However, feeling lonely is not the same. We can all have feelings of loneliness in a certain period of our lives, and it affects our life quality and satisfaction in many aspects. Festive times may be a time when we notice this or feel it intensely. If we have emotions that are hard to cope with and have negative effects on us, asking for help and support is crucial.
Remember! Joy comes from us, not from an external source.
Final Tips to Unlock the December Spirit
- You can participate in Christmas volunteer groups, which can give you a sense of harmony by helping others. You can additionally connect with other people and alleviate your uncomfortable emotions.
- Small acts of kindness.
- You can prepare a nice dinner with the food you like the most. Light your candles and have a romantic meal by yourself. A movie you want to watch or some music you like can accompany you.
- If you have your loved ones living far away, you can get in touch with them and share your experiences and emotions. Sharing feels better.
- Do not compare your event with others. Limiting your social media use may help you in this way. As we know, these platforms are the places where people share their happiest moments.
Have a relaxed and peaceful holiday!
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these third-party sites, we may earn a small commission at NO ADDITIONAL cost to you. These commissions are a necessary source of income to cover our costs, allowing us to continue bringing relevant information to all our users. Learn more here.
