It's THAT year. I don't know how this idea of THAT year started, but it's THAT year. It's a bittersweet concept. See, THAT year is when we have our huge family reunion at Christmas time. I don't know about your family, but when my extended family gets together it's the most awesome, stressful, fun, crazy, disappointing time that can be crammed into a week and a half. Obviously, not every year is THAT year. Our family is pretty spread out around the country so THAT year only happens every two or three years or so. On off years, it's really just me, my mom and dad, and my siblings and maybe that awesome aunt and uncle that come in from California just to see us. On off years, we have our own little traditions. We read the same book during December, we have our own little Christmas eve celebration, our own decorations, our own tree, and our own order to how Christmas day goes. It's great.
But it's THAT year. All our traditions and things we love about Christmas are thrown out the window in a whirlwind of aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, bickering, laughter, game nights, home cooked meals, and grandma's pie.
So which one do I prefer? I don't know. I know what's gonna happen on the off years. I like it. But anything goes on THAT year. That's what makes THAT year so bittersweet.
I guess everyone has their own image of Christmas. How it should be. Snow. Mistletoe. Carols. Family. Food. Presents. Lights. Everyone loves Christmas. It, literally, is the highlight of the year. The best movies come out at that time. Stores around the country that have been in the red all year suddenly see their sales spike. The whole country is just a happier, merrier place. Everyone knows what happens on December 25th and gets excited about it. Even the grinches.
This is where you punch your computer screen in because now I've gotten you in the Christmas spirit in mid-August. Sorry about that. Christmas is the highlight of the year.
But what about Easter?
See. Easter is nothing compared to Christmas. It's kinda of a letdown, actually. On Christmas, you get presents and everyone's warm and fuzzy and cozy. Easter, however, is really the only day you HAVE to go to Church without risking losing all your Christian points (You get a "get out of church free" card at Christmas, though). Maybe you get a couple chocolates in a basket (that is, if you follow that demonic cult called the Easter Bunny). Whoop-dee-doo.
You get the same amount of chocolates in your Christmas stocking and that doesn't even include the presents. And that's holy chocolate. Jesus gives you chocolate at Christmas. If you get an egg or chocolate at Easter, though, that's Demon-spawn.
Now, we're all Christians here. We know the true meaning of Christmas and Easter (HINT: Santa and the Easter Bunny are NOT involved). So isn't Easter just as, if not more, significant as Christmas?
So what gives? Why is Christmas so much more fun than Easter?
I don't know for sure, but I can't help but think that we enjoy Christmas more because of the presents and "spirit" and commercialization. But that's just me.
I guess the key is that Christmas and Easter are equally significant. Ultimately, they don't mean squat without the other. They're inextricably linked. It's like they're married. They're both are the happiest times of the year. We should remember that.
So enjoy your Christmas. I'm going to. It is, after all, THAT year. Unto us a Savior is born.
And enjoy your Easter, too. He is Risen. It's party time.
So Merry Christmas! And Happy Easter!
No comments:
Post a Comment