My mother is the daughter of a zen priest and we consider ourselves Buddhists. However, we enjoy the secular Christmas very much. My mother had these decorations packed away to bring out every Christmas.
I was going to add my dreidel but I can't find it. I'm sure it's still packed away somewhere.
I remember the holidays as being a time of sensitivity where I taught 1st grade in Illinois. I avoided most of the holiday decorations and put up a small but equal representations of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Diwali. Our music teacher also taught as many songs as she could find from the different celebrations of the season. We taught a unit called the Holidays of Lights. I was proud of the fact that we tried to teach the children that there were lots of different customs in the world. I was extra proud of my student's parents who respected and enjoyed the fact that I did not show favoritism to any religion. I rather loved that.
Oh, I did the same things when I taught school! It was such fun to teach about all the holidays and why they were celebrated and the meaning behind each. I, too, was blessed with parents who encouraged that. Your pictures are lovely and they're getting me in the holiday mood! I'm so excited that my oldest son will be here to share the holiday with his brother and I! I haven't seen him in three and a half years, so I'm really excited! Thanks for the holiday cheer -- regardless of what religion, it's about love and sharing and caring more than anything else.
ReplyDeleteHa, I've been feeling rather decoration-less among the Christmas-time posts of many bloggers. Now even YOU are showing them. "Secular Christmas"? I am still mulling that one. Is it possible? (You can tell I've been away a long time...)
ReplyDeleteGood on ya, Teacher Kay, for learning about and then teaching all the different traditions.
What a terrific teacher you must have been. It's such a marvelous thing to learn about the different traditions around the world, why certain cultures celebrate as they do.
ReplyDeleteAs a parent, I'd have loved it!
I have OODLES and TONS of Christmas decorations. I'm going to be home less than 10 days this month and I'm having a hard time talking myself into getting them out. I go completely nuts with Christmas decorating most years. Think I'm ready to dial it back a notch or two. We'll see what my son says about it tomorrow. He's visiting this week-end.
Our extended family and friends represent such a mix of religion, that I completely get the idea of 'secular Christmas'. It's our middle ground where we can enjoy the social parts of the holiday when together, while leaving the spiritual expressions for our own families at home. Not all of us go to Mass or light Advent candles, but all of us are enjoying the beauty of Christmas lights and trees, and inviting each other to celebrations with once-a-year visitors.
ReplyDeleteI would have LOVED to have you for a teacher, Kay! I think if children learned more about each other very young, we'd have a different (and friendlier) world.
Now I'm definitely the last one who hasn't decorated the house...I'll be unpacking boxes TODAY then, LOL--thank you for sharing!
When my son was in 2nd grade, there were two 2nd grade classes and those two women were some of my very favorite teachers of all times. They always did things together with the classes and made it fun. That was also the year my son got to learn about many different religions and celebrations. I thought it was awesome since it wasn't something I knew anything about myself. I learned a lot too.
ReplyDeletehey, way to go-you were a wonderful teacher I can tell. I have a son raised in my religion who no longer celebrates or believes in Christmas but thinks receovomg presents are okay. I guess that's what you call a secular Christmas. It's a strange situation but his wife is from Turkey and she likes the holidays. The world is diverse. I decorate very little because we spend the holiday at my son's who does celebrate it as a religious holiday.
ReplyDeleteLovely decorations you have. To me Christmas is about sharing and caring. I have tried to keep the gift giving low-key as it seems the true meaning of the holiday has been lost...How lucky your students were to have you as a teacher and the wonderful lessons you taught them.
ReplyDeleteKay;
ReplyDeleteYou were a great teacher, and you continue to teach all of us that follow your blog!
Jim put up some of our Christmas decorations yesterday. It looks so pretty and reminds me of Christmas's long ago in williamsburg!
I loved it when the teachers taught my kids all the different celebrations. People got offended though and everything came to a hault. It's too bad we can't respect our differences.
ReplyDeleteGood for you Kay for truly being a educator!
Hey Kay, I got tagged for a "6 random facts about you" and you're next. You can check it out on my blog in about an hour and a half. No obligation, you can always pass and wait for the next one!
ReplyDeleteThe tree is decorated in a very unique way. Very pretty.
ReplyDeleteThe school district in which we live has not allowed any seasonal decorations or celebrations for some time. I like you way better
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad that people have to get so sensitive and defensive and feel like their faith is under attack. There is no war on Christmas. It has always been a multi-layered time of celebration, based on the winter solstice. I like your way of honoring all traditions rather than not celebrating or acknowledging any. It's fun to celebrate!
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