Christmas Gift Giving; Give Less and Have it Mean More

by Priscilla Parham⁽¹⁾
http://motivatingmessages.ning.com/

What's your favorite or most unique holiday tradition? Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or a different holiday for many people around the world the winter season is a time for giving gifts and practicing traditions.

It would seem the American Christmas tradition has evolved to the present custom of showering family and friends with lots of presents, a mountain of gifts. The frenzy to be first in the department store lines at 5am on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving has become increasingly startling. Nothing more than a "living in the material world fest."

Wouldn't it be nice if we could give less and have it mean more, really start giving gifts with intention? Is there a more ideal way to celebrate the holidays and still give gifts?

Let's take a brief look at a number of diverse Christmas traditions practiced by some countries from around the world.

Austria - December 6 in Austria is when Heiliger Nikolaus or St. Nicholas, rewards good children with sweets, nuts and apples. On December 24, the Christ Child brings presents and the Christmas tree for the children. Gifts that are placed under the tree are opened after dinner on Christmas Eve. The whole family sings Christmas carols and wishes each other: FROLICHE WEIHNACHTEN!

Ethiopia - Christmas known as Ganna is celebrated on January 7th. This celebration takes place in church. Men and boys sit separately from girls and women. People receive candles as they enter the church. After lighting the candles everyone walks around the church three times, then stands throughout the mass, which may last up to three hours. Gift giving is a very small part of Christmas celebration. Children usually receive very simple presents such as clothing.

Greece - Often a fasting period starts almost 40 days before Christmas. As Christmas draws near a big Christmas Day feast is prepared. The traditional circle of the whole twelve days starts on Christmas Eve and is completed on Epiphany day, Jan. 6th. Greek Christmas carols (calanda) are sung on the mornings of Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and January 5, the Eve of the Epiphany. Gifts are exchanged on January 1st, St Basil's Day.

Greenland - Families do alot of visiting, sharing coffee and cakes. Everyone in the village gets a gift and children go from hut to hut, singing songs. It is tradition on Christmas night that the men look after the women, waiting on them hand and foot.

Syria - On December 6, a special Mass is held in churches in honor of Saint Nicholas Thaumaturgus. Christmas Eve everyone in the family, carries a lit candle, to stand around an unlit bonfire outside their house. When the fire burns, psalms are sung, and when it sinks, everyone leaps over the embers making wishes. Early on Christmas morning everyone goes to Mass. But it is on New Year's Day that children receive presents.

Gift giving is an absolutely wonderful gesture but when you shift your main focus to creating or maintaining traditions or emphasizing spiritual meaning then your intentions speak loud and clear. It's our true intentions that matter most.

Savvy gift givers know, "Blessed are those that can give without remembering and receive without forgetting."

Become part of something that is sweeping the world with inspiration. You will find a wealth of spectacular material including free affirmations, beneficial worksheets and other useful tools for your enjoyment at http://motivatingmessages.ning.com.

Priscilla Parham coaches on awareness and goal setting for your health, your business and your relationships, motivating and inspiring others to rebuild from the inside-out.

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Article submitted Saturday, December 06, 2008 & read 144 times.

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